Interprofessional Practice, Education & Research
Interprofessional education (IPE) brings together students from different health professions, empowering them to learn about, from, and with one another. By collaborating across disciplines, future health care leaders gain the skills they need to deliver better patient care and improve population health, work as effective teams, and make a positive impact on health outcomes.
About IPER
The Texas A&M Health Office of Interprofessional Practice, Education & Research (IPER) brings together students, faculty, staff and partners from across the health professions to learn, work, and advance knowledge collaboratively. The office supports the integration of interprofessional education throughout health professions curricula, assists colleges in meeting profession-specific accreditation requirements related to IPE, and provides experiential learning, faculty development and other resources that build the evidence-based skills needed for effective team-based care. IPER also advances interprofessional research, scholarship, and collaborative practice to prepare graduates and professionals to work effectively across disciplines and improve individual and population health outcomes. This work is carried out in collaboration with the Texas A&M Health colleges and schools, guided by the IPE Leadership Team composed of dean-appointed representatives, and supported by multiple planning committees with representation from the participating professions.
IPER Mission
The Texas A&M Health Office of Interprofessional Practice, Education & Research (IPER) is dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of collaboration among the health care professions.
Partnering with the schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health, the primary function of this office is to support interprofessional education (IPE) across all components so that our students consistently receive high-quality training that engenders collaborative practice and better health outcomes.
Our mission, which was developed collaboratively with the partner schools, is to:
- provide faculty and students with transformative interprofessional learning experiences that support the development of skills needed for patient- and population-centered, collaborative practice;
- advance research and scholarly activity of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice; and
- advance effective and efficient interprofessional team-based practice to improve individual patient and population health outcomes in Texas.
This mission is aligned with the Texas A&M Health Vision 360 strategic imperative to "develop next-generation interprofessional education." It is further aligned with the broader university's strategic efforts to enhance transformational education and student success, elevate professional education, strengthen and harness our research enterprise, and engage Texas and beyond to enhance our impact."
IPER follows the educational practice domains and core competencies of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative.
Christine Kaunas, EdD, MPH
Assistant Vice President Interprofessional Practice, Education, & Research (IPER)- ckaunas@tamu.edu
- 979-436-1197