Below you will find UW IPE PoD students who have graduated with the UW IPE Path of Distinction Program completed. You can also view a few of the UW IPE PoD final reflections that some students were willing to share. We are so proud to have had the chance to watch these students learn with, from, and about other students, growing as a future leaders in IPE. We wish all of our scholars the best in their future endeavors!
Spring 2025 UW IPE Path of Distinction Graduates
Nine UW IPE PoD students graduated in Spring 2025, including Tammy Mundale, Doctor of Medicine; Haley Buerger-Cole, Doctor of Medicine; Firas Hikmat, Doctor of Medicine; Caroline Hess, Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Kelsie Tingle, Doctor of Pharmacy; Tori Salaba, Doctor of Physical Therapy; Teresa Sundararajan, Master of Genetic Counselor Studies. Congratulations!
Read more about these graduates below. Click HERE to read about the IPE Awards Ceremony, where we celebrated these graduates.
- Haley Buerger-Cole
Program/year: Doctor of Medicine, Class of 2025
What IPE means to me: Although individually, we all prioritize what is best for our patients, we underestimate how helpful it can be to put our different perspectives together to find solutions to challenges in healthcare. IPE brings minds from multiple different backgrounds and education to reach these solutions for our patients, our communities, and our own well-being as healthcare professionals.
Plans after graduation: Haley will be a family medicine resident physician at Froedtert/MCW in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin!
- Caroline Hess
Program/year: Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Class of 2025
What IPE means to me: IPE brings intentional collaboration with each disciplines own expertise to provide the highest quality care to patients. By learning with and from one another, we not only enhance patient outcomes but also grow as more compassionate and well rounded healthcare professionals.
Plans after graduation: Caroline will be a Wildland Firefighter with the US Forest Service in the Nez Perce – Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. Following this season, I plan to use my BSN RN in Wisconsin as an ICU Nurse with the goal of being a Flight Nurse.
- Firas Hikmat
Program/year: Doctor of Medicine, Class of 2025
What IPE means to me: It means understanding each other’s roles, communicating effectively, efficiently, and respectfully within a team, and growing together to provide the best patient care possible.
Plans after graduation: Internal Medicine Residency.
- Tammy Mundale
Program/year: Doctor of Medicine, Class of 2025
What IPE means to me: Interprofessional education involves learning alongside professionals from various disciplines to improve collaboration, communication, and patient care. It enhances teamwork, personal growth, and career development by fostering a deeper understanding of each other’s roles in delivering holistic healthcare.
Plans after graduation: Tammy is starting internal medicine residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester
- Tori Salaba
Program/year: Physical Therapy, Class of 2025
What IPE means to me: IPE is a cornerstone of healthcare and is important for ensuring high quality care and bettering the outcomes of patients. Effective communication, trust, understanding, and empathy are critical elements to developing a collaborative, positive experience for patients and healthcare professionals alike.
Plans after graduation: Tori is working on securing a job in outpatient orthopedics/sports.
- Teresa Sundararajan
Program/year: Master of Genetic Counselor Studies, Class of 2025
What IPE means to me: I continue to take the time to make sure every voice is heard on the interdisciplinary team and share my skills through a collaborative approach to provide high quality patient care.
Plans after graduation: Teresa plans to move back to Milwaukee and secure a genetic counselor position either locally or remotely.
- Kelsie Tingle
Program/year: Pharmacy, Class of 2025
What IPE means to me: In order for a team to work together effectively, I think that it is important for the different members to have a good understanding of who the other members are and what their respective strengths may be. Interprofessional practice and education means to me that we are always educating ourselves on our teammates and how they view their role and ability to be most effective, as well as what they need from us. This is all done to provide the highest quality of care to our patients
Plans after graduation: Kelsie will be completing my acute care PGY1 pharmacy residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Following that, I plan to pursue PGY2 training and board certification in oncology.
Spring 2024 UW IPE Path of Distinction Graduates
The following students graduated with the UW IPE Path of Distinction designation in Spring 2024:
- Charis Benjamin, Doctor of Medicine
- Joanna Hagan, Master in Public Health
- Holly Keddington, Master of Physician Assistant Studies
- Claudia Miller, Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Hope Schier, Doctor of Pharmacy
- Julia Schiller, Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Catherine Still, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
- Hannah Than Win, Master of Genetic Counselor Studies
- Benjamin Weber, Doctor of Medicine
Spring 2023 UW IPE Path of Distinction Graduates
The inaugural recipient of the UW IPE Path of Distinction designation was Sarah Uhm, Master in Public Health, Class of 2023.