About Us
Message from the UW CIPE Director
As we look back on a particularly impactful year, we stand on the threshold of a significant milestone: celebrating our 10th Anniversary in the upcoming academic year. As we mark this 10-year milestone, I am deeply honored to steward the strong foundation established by our visionary partners and team members – past and present. Looking back at the center’s decade of growth, evolving from an ambitious vision into a nationally recognized model for centralized interprofessional education, I am inspired by how far this community has come and excited about where we are heading next.
Over the past ten years, UW CIPE has transformed how health professions students learn, collaborate, and prepare for practice. Through the collective dedication of our school and program partners, leadership, academic/clinical mentors, and student learners, we have built a thriving culture where interprofessional collaboration is not merely encouraged but embedded into the very fabric of health care education at UW–Madison – an achievement that sets our institution apart.
Here at UW–Madison, we ground learning in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP), bridging education and collaborative practice while emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning. This instills in learners that IPECP is no longer just an educational framework; it is a vital strategy for advancing the Quintuple Aim: improving population health, enhancing the patient experience of care, supporting workforce wellbeing, advancing health equity, and ensuring high-value healthcare delivery.
This past year has been especially transformative. I want to express my deepest gratitude to our incredible CIPE team, our school and program IPE Leads, and our community and clinical partners. Together, through countless hours of intentional collaboration and visionary work, you successfully redesigned our curriculum to launch our new IPE Foundational Competency Sessions this upcoming academic year. Through these efforts, we are actively moving IPECP forward at UW–Madison.
As health care continues to evolve, contemporary IPECP demands that we bridge classroom learning directly with team-based clinical practice to address systemic health disparities, prevent clinician burnout, and enhance patient outcomes. Looking ahead to the next several years, our strategic priorities will center on expanding clinical practice integrations, fostering interprofessional research and scholarship, and building sustainable health-system partnerships that amplify our collective impact across Wisconsin and beyond.
Thank you to our university leadership, faculty, health system partners, and especially our energetic student learners for your ongoing partnership, passion, and commitment. Together, we have achieved a decade of transformative progress, and together, we will continue shaping the future collaborative health workforce.
Warm regards,
Jennifer (Jen) Timm, DNP, RN, PHN
Director, UW Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (UW CIPE)
Clinical Associate Professor, School of Nursing. University of Wisconsin–Madison
About the University of Wisconsin–Madison Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (UW CIPE)
UW CIPE is a University Center established in 2016 and is supported by the University Health Sciences Leadership Council, consisting of the:
- UW Provost Office
- UW Deans of the Four Health Sciences Schools:
- School of Medicine and Public Health
- School of Nursing
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Veterinary Medicine
UW CIPE collaborates with numerous UW academic programs to deliver high quality interprofessional education for learners across the learning continuum.
In addition to the four health sciences schools, UW CIPE collaborates with others, including the School of Social Work, Occupational Therapy Program, Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership, and the Center for Pre-Health Advising to engage learners in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP).
Strategic Directions
UW CIPE Strategic Directions, 2025-2030
The 2025-2030 Strategic Directions for UW CIPE is now viewable through a two-page Executive Summary and a complete, 16-page volume, both of which are linked below.
UW CIPE Committees & Taskforces
In line with its 2019-2024 Strategic Directions, the UW Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (UW CIPE) has (re)structured its Committees to provide the Center with strategic guidance, support and consultation in achieving its vision, mission, and priorities. The UW CIPE Committees also demonstrate the Center’s commitment to engage and collaborate with all stakeholders, and to ensure inclusive and shared governance.
The Steering Committee provides leadership for the Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE) at University of Wisconsin–Madison and beyond. The Committee’s role is to provide support, guidance and oversight of UW CIPE’s progress towards achieving the UW CIPE Strategic Directions.
Steering Committee Membership
The Steering Committee includes members from all health/social programs, schools, community at large, and clinical partners as listed below:
- Barb Anderson
- UW ICEP Chair
- barbara.anderson@wisc.edu
- Richard Barajas
- SVM- Outreach and Community Engagement Manager
- barajas@wisc.edu
- Laura Birkeland
- SMPH – Director, Master of Genetic Counseling Studies Program
- lebirkeland@pediatrics.wisc.edu
- Lisa Bratzke
- SoN – Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- bratzke@wisc.edu
- Shobhina Chheda
- SMPH – Associate Dean for Medical Education
- sgc@medicine.wisc.edu
- Melgardt de Villiers
- SoP – Vice Dean and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- melgardt.devilliers@wisc.edu
- Karen Kopacek (Alternate)
- SoP – Associate Dean for Student Affairs
- karen.kopacek@wisc.edu
- Sharon Gartland
- Director, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program
- sgartland@wisc.edu
- Michele Glynn
- Director, Education & Development for Nursing & Patient Care Services, University Hospital
- mglynn@uwhealth.org
- Elizabeth Petty
- SMPH – Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
- epetty@wisc.edu
- George Quinn
- WCMEW – Executive Director
- gquinn@wcmew.org
- Roberta Rusch
- UW CIPE – Assistant Director
- rrusch@wisc.edu
- Peggy Schmidt
- SVM – Associate Dean for Professional Programs
- peggy.schmidt@wisc.edu
- Sweta Shrestha
- SMPH – Associate Director, Master of Public Health Program
- sshrestha@wisc.edu
- Sushant Srinivasan
- Medical Director, UW Health Clinical Simulation Program
- srinivasan8@wisc.edu
- Jennifer Timm
- UW CIPE – Director
- jrtimm@wisc.edu
- Sue Wenker
- UW CIPE- Interim Director & SMPH – Director, Physical Therapy Program
- wenker@pt.wisc.edu
- Kevin Wyne
- SMPH – Director of Research and Professional Development, UW Physician Assistant Program
- kwyne@wisc.edu
Zachary Zahos
UW CIPE – Academic Program Specialist
zahos@wisc.edu
The Advisory Council’s role, as a strategic advisory and consulting body, is to provide strategic guidance and consultation to UW CIPE in achieving its mission:
To work collaboratively locally, nationally and globally to champion, integrate, and advance Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE) to achieve the Quintuple Aim: better population health, better patient care, better value, better provider work experience, and better health equity.
Advisory Council Membership
The Advisory Council members represent the community at large and UW Centers/Programs across campus:
- Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS) Director (or Representative)
- Center for Patient Partnerships (CPP) Director (or Representative)
- Center for Pre-Health Advising (CPHA) Director (or Representative)
- Global Health Institute (GHI) Director (or Representative)
- Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP) Director (or Representative)
- Nursing Professional Development- UW School of Nursing Director (or Representative)
- Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) Director (or Representative)
- SMPH Office of Health Professions Research Director (or Representative)
- Student Representative
- UW CIPE Director (or Associate Director) as the Chair of the Council
- WI LEND Director (or Representative)
- Wisconsin Area Health Education Centers (WI AHEC) Program Director (or Representative)
- Wisconsin Center for Nursing (WCN) Director (or Representative)
- Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) Director (or Representative)
- Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association (WPHCA) Director (or Representative)
The UW CIPE Interprofessional Competency Module Program Oversight Committee, or CIPE Module Oversight Committee for short, provides the UW CIPE with a macro level perspective on the improvement, expansion, and integration of the Competency Modules across the health/social sciences programs.
Current Committee Membership:
- Lacey Alexander
- UW School of Nursing
- lalexander2@wisc.edu
- Susie Barnett
- UW School of Pharmacy
- susanne.barnett@wisc.edu
- Laura Birkeland
- UW Master of Genetic Counseling Studies
- lebirkeland@pediatrics.wisc.edu
- Ruthanne Chun
- UW School of Veterinary Medicine
- ruthanne.chun@wisc.edu
- Michael Cropes
- UW Physical Therapy Program
- cropes@pt.wisc.edu
- Theresa Fishler
- UW School of Social Work
- tfishler@wisc.edu
- Casey Gallimore
- UW School of Pharmacy
- casey.gallimore@wisc.edu
- Sharon Gartland
- UW Occupational Therapy Program
- sgartland@wisc.edu
- Jaime Goldberg
- UW School of Social Work
- jhgoldberg@wisc.edu
- April Hall
- UW Master of Genetic Counseling Studies
- alhall2@wisc.edu
- Jamie Hess
- UW School of Medicine and Public Health- Medicine
- jmhess@medicine.wisc.edu
- Lisa Imhoff
- UW School of Pharmacy
- lisa.imhoff@wisc.edu
- Leah Kechele
- UW School of Nursing
- lkechele@wisc.edu
- Daniel Rortvedt
- UW Occupational Therapy Program
- djrortvedt@wisc.edu
- Roberta Rusch
- UW CIPE – Assistant Director
- rrusch@wisc.edu
- Sweta Shrestha
- UW Master of Public Health Program
- sshrestha@wisc.edu
- Peggy Schmidt
- UW School of Veterinary Medicine
- peggy.schmidt@wisc.edu
- Jennifer Timm
- UW CIPE – Director
- jrtimm@wisc.edu
- Kevin Wyne
- UW Physician Assistant Program
- kwyne@wisc.edu
Zachary Zahos
- UW CIPE – Academic Program Specialist
- zahos@wisc.edu
The Education Sub-Committee provides guidance and support to, and assist the UW CIPE and its Steering Committee in achieving the new UW CIPE Strategic Directions with a focus on the Education Strategic Priority Area.
Current Education Sub-Committee Membership:
- Susanne Barnett
- UW School of Pharmacy
- susanne.barnett@wisc.edu
- Amy Stickford Becker
- UW School of Medicine and Public Health- Medicine
- aebecker@wisc.edu
- Laura Birkeland
- UW Master of Genetic Counseling Studies
- lebirkeland@pediatrics.wisc.edu
- Beth Fields
- UW Occupational Therapy Program
- befields2@wisc.edu
- Casey Gallimore
- UW School of Pharmacy
- casey.gallimore@wisc.edu
- April Hall
- UW Master of Genetic Counseling Studies
- alhall2@wisc.edu
- Jamie Hess
- UW School of Medicine and Public Health- Medicine
- jmhess@medicine.wisc.edu
- Bethany Howlett
- WisCARES & UW School of Medicine and Public Health- Medicine
- bethany.howlett@uwmf.wisc.edu
- Daniel Rortvedt
- UW Occupational Therapy Program
- djrortvedt@wisc.edu
- Kate Rotzenberg
- UW School of Pharmacy
- katherine.rotzenberg@wisc.edu
- Jennifer Timm
- UW CIPE – Director
- jrtimm@wisc.edu
- Roberta Rusch
- UW CIPE
- rrusch@wisc.edu
- Sue Wenker
- UW CIPE & UW Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
- wenker@pt.wisc.edu
- Zachary Zahos
- UW CIPE – Academic Program Specialist
- zahos@wisc.edu
The UW CIPE Taskforces have been created to assist UW CIPE and its Committees with the development and implementation of new IPE programs/initiatives/opportunities at UW–Madison and its partners.
The UW CIPE Badger and Path of Distinction (PoD) Taskforce is charged with assisting UW CIPE with the development and delivery of the UW IPE Path of Distinction along with the UW IPE Badges. The Taskforce is also in charge of the review and approval of future UW IPE Badges. The Taskforce is reporting to the UW CIPE Education Subcommittee.
Taskforce Members:
- Laura Birkeland
- UW Master of Genetic Counseling Studies
- lebirkeland@pediatrics.wisc.edu
- Zachary Zahos
- UW CIPE
- zahos@wisc.edu
- Jennifer Timm
- UW CIPE – Director
- jrtimm@wisc.edu
- Roberta Rusch
- UW CIPE
- rrusch@wisc.edu
- Sue Wenker
- UW CIPE & UW Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
- wenker@pt.wisc.edu
The UW CIPE Awards and Fellowship Taskforce is charged with assisting UW CIPE with its Mischler Student IPE Scholarship and the Joint Dual IPE Distinguished Fellowship applications and the reviews. The Taskforce is reporting to the UW CIPE Education and Scholarship Subcommittees.
Taskforce Members:
- Beth Fields
- UW Occupational Therapy Program
- befields2@wisc.edu
- Zachary Zahos
- UW CIPE
- zahos@wisc.edu
- Elaine Mischler
- Community Representative
- elaine.mischler@gmail.com
- Kate Rotzenberg
- UW School of Pharmacy
- katherine.rotzenberg@wisc.edu
- Jennifer Timm
- UW CIPE – Director
- jrtimm@wisc.edu
- Roberta Rusch
- UW CIPE
- rrusch@wisc.edu
- Sue Wenker
- UW CIPE & UW Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
- wenker@pt.wisc.edu
