Interprofessional Education

Not everyone has access to a Geriatrician—a specialist who treats only older adults. CGWEP staff believes that everyone should have this access. As a result, we have developed Interprofessional Core Competency training to provide practitioners in rural and underserved areas with knowledge about caring for older adults’ unique needs.

Students and practicing professionals in Medicine, Social Work, Nursing and Pharmacy benefit from enhanced training in coordinated interprofessional patient care, diagnosing cognitive disorders, responding to end of life issues following Palliative Care principles, assessing the functional needs of older adults and responding to Sensory Limitations.

These competencies have been endorsed by the following:

• American Academy of Nursing
• American Academy of Physician Assistants
• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• American Geriatrics Society
• American Occupational Therapy Association
• Council on Social Work Education
• American College of Clinical Pharmacy
• Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice (OIPEP)

Training for pre-professional students

Students in each of the UNC Health Professions Schools will have training opportunities to participate in IPE case consultation in teams of up to 10 disciplines. 

OIPEP (Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice)

The UNC Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice (OIPEP) supports a campus-wide initiative for the intentional integration of interprofessional learning and collaboration. OIPEP designs and supports creative and meaningful ways to enhance student learning, build faculty scholarship and help departments meet accreditation goals.

RIPHI (Rural Inter-Professional Health Initiative)

UNC OIPEP also sponsors Rural Inter-Professional Health Initiative (RIPHI). This three-year pilot program allows UNC health professions students to serve and learn in some of North Carolina’s underserved rural clinic settings.