The 2019-2020 academic year was an exciting year for the Interprofessional Health Council (IPHC) and, despite an interruption in activities as a result of COVID-19, the IPHC was still able to provide a number of opportunities for students from different healthcare disciplines to come together to socialize, reflect and learn about each other’s professions and education, and to hear from a number of speakers.
In the fall, the IPHC hosted three general meetings and featured guest speakers, including Dr. Hossein Khalili, the Director of the UW-Madison Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (UW CIPE) and Kathleen MacMillan, a member of the IPR Global Steering Committee. The IPHC also hosted a yoga session led by the University Recreation Services during midterms to help our members unwind and de-stress!
While spring meetings did not go as planned, the IPHC made great strides for propelling the organization forward with revisions of the IPHC constitution and the election of new Executive Board Members for the 2020-2021 academic year. Highlights of the IPHC constitution revision include the creation of different types of membership to encourage more student involvement in the organization.
Another major change in the IPHC that occurred in the spring was the official move of the IPHC from the School of Pharmacy to UW CIPE. The IPHC will have a presence on the UW CIPE Web site at www.cipe.wisc.edu. The UW CIPE leadership will help IPHC Executive Board Members with the organization of events and activities, as well as guide the new Board Members as they transition into their new roles.
The IPHC is looking forward to another great year and welcomes new officers to the Executive Board: Clayton Skogman (President – Medicine); Lizzy Braun (Vice President of Membership – Pharmacy); Michelle Gotteiner (Vice President of Events – Veterinary Medicine); Kelly Thomas (Secretary – Pharmacy); and Brittney Moore (Treasurer – Veterinary Medicine). New Program Representatives, who are also members of the Executive Board, include: Taylor Shufelt (Pharmacy); and Chantal Bougie (PT). There are still vacancies for program representatives for ALL programs (i.e. Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, , Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Veterinary Medicine etc.)
For more information about the IPHC, its membership, and openings for positions as representatives for your health science program, please contact Roberta Rusch, MPH, UW CIPE Associate Director at rrusch@wisc.edu.