A Description of an Office of Interprofessional Education for Nine Health Science Programs in a Rural Health Setting

Campbell University has prioritized IPE by creating a dedicated IPE office with its own resources, staff, and budget. The eight colleges of Campbell University include The College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine. The College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences consists of eight health sciences programs: Athletic Training, Clinical Research, Nursing, Pharmacy Practice, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Public Health. All of the Health Science programs listed above are located on the Campbell Health Sciences campus or the main campus of Campbell University; all within a two-mile radius.

Campbell University is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina, a primarily rural community that presents Campbell students the opportunity to address a variety of needs common to rural areas. The close proximity of all health sciences programs, within this rural community, has afforded the development of a uniquely-poised Interprofessional Education office. The Office of IPE at Campbell is currently composed of one full-time faculty member at the Assistant Dean level and one full-time staff member who serves as the Director of IPE.

This distinctive structure of the IPE office, consisting of dedicated full-time employees, as well as the close proximity of all of health sciences programs within a rural community, provides Campbell University an extraordinary opportunity to provide interprofessional programming that influences learners across disciplines while also providing care to the surrounding community.

In this lightning talk, the Campbell IPE team will provide details and information regarding the structure and function of the office. Additionally, they will review and discuss the existing mechanisms surrounding curriculum, assessment, activities, and faculty development while also sharing plans for development in the future.