UW CIPE Evening of Distinction Celebrates Graduating PoD Students, Mischler IPE Education Scholarship & Academic Partners

On Monday, April 28, CIPE rang in the graduation season with an “Evening of Distinction.”

This special event celebrated UW-Madison’s young leaders in interprofessional education and collaborative practice. CIPE recognized the following seven UW IPE Path of Distinction (PoD) students graduating this year:

Clockwise from top-center: Tammy Mundale, Caroline Hess, Haley Buerger-Cole, Teresa Sundararajan, and CIPE Director Dr. Jennifer Timm. (PoD graduates not pictured: Firas Hikmat, Tori Salaba, and Kelsie Tingle)

Haley Buerger-Cole (Doctor of Medicine ’25)
Caroline Hess (Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing ’25)
Firas Hikmat (Doctor of Medicine ’25)
Tammy Mundale (Doctor of Medicine ’25)
Tori Salaba (Doctor of Physical Therapy ’25)
Teresa Sundararajan (Master of Genetic Counseling ’25)
Kelsie Tingle (Doctor of Pharmacy ’25)

Dr. Elaine Mischler, Ethan Elazegui, and Ruthanne Chun standing. — *From left: Dr. Elaine Mischler, Ethan Elazegui, and Dr. Ruthanne Chun (School of Veterinary Medicine).*

CIPE also honored Ethan Elazegui (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine ’26), recipient of the fourth annual Elaine Mischler MD Interprofessional Education Scholarship. Dr. Elaine Mischler was in attendance to extol the value of interprofessional education and bestow this scholarship to Ethan, who will conduct a research project using this funding to study empathy levels among UW-Madison medical, veterinary, and pharmacy students.

Congratulations to these eight brilliant scholars! CIPE will continue to support IPE PoD candidates as they pursue their scholarly work in interprofessional education into the next academic year. CIPE looks forward to welcoming the next cohort of PoD students this Fall.

Picture of a person standing in front of posters on easels. — *Stakeholder input for CIPE’s 2025-2030 Strategic Directions*

The Evening of Distinction also provided CIPE stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute input to the Center’s Strategic Directions plan for 2025-2030. If you would like to share feedback with UW CIPE, you may do so via this Qualtrics survey no later than May 31.

CIPE wishes to thank Dr. Elaine Mischler for her leadership in and continued support for IPE at UW-Madison. CIPE also extends its gratitude to its foundational academic partners: UW-Madison’s School of Medicine & Public Health, School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Office of the Provost. The Center’s learning opportunities would not be possible without the participation and support of the following academic programs: Genetic Counseling, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, Social Work, and Veterinary Medicine.

Sign with food platters. — Evening of Distinction refreshments

Woman speaking at podium. — Dr. Elaine Mischler presenting the Mischler IPE Scholarship

Two women standing next to one another. — CIPE Assistant Director Roberta Rusch and Anna Lemke (CIPE Student Hourly)

Two women holding award. — Laura Birkeland (Masters of Genetic Counselor Studies) and Teresa Sundararajan

Two people standing. — Dr. Ruthanne Chun and Ethan Elazegui

Image of CIPE swag on table. — CIPE swag display

UW CIPE is a University Center established in 2016 and being supported by the University Health Sciences Leadership Council (the UW Provost Office, and the Deans of the four health sciences schools – School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy and School of Veterinary Medicine). Our Mission is 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.