Foundations First: Cultivating and Retaining Champions of Interprofessional Collaboration

This seminar explores the creation, development, and institutional integration of IPEP (Interprofessional Education and Practice) Champions within the University of South Florida (USF) Health system and their expanding role across health disciplines. The presentation will outline the foundational steps taken to conceptualize interprofessional education within the USF Health system and highlight how that vision gave rise to a sustainable, faculty-driven champion model that now spans multiple colleges, schools, and programs. Attendees will gain insight into the intentional development of USF’s IPEP mission, vision, and goals, and how these guided the formal designation and support of faculty “champions” committed to advancing interprofessional education. The session will explore the champions’ roles in shaping experiential learning, supporting curricular integration, and aligning IPE with standards in nursing, physician assistant education, healthcare quality, and simulation best practices.
Participants will also learn how this grassroots leadership structure has led to increased faculty engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and even international cooperation. The session will include a practical discussion around operationalizing this model: gaining department-level buy-in, coordinating across units, managing resources, and sustaining momentum.

This session aligns with Theme 5: Developing and Sustaining Leadership in Interprofessional Practice and Education by presenting a replicable model for cultivating IPE leaders across departments. It directly addresses sustainable leadership development, retention, and cross-disciplinary integration through faculty empowerment and systems-based planning.

After attending this session, participants will be able to:
Apply practical methods to create and support IPE champions within their institution or department.
Describe the purpose and impact of interprofessional champions on curricular and experiential learning integration.
Identify strategies for sustaining IPE leadership models, including faculty engagement, resource coordination, and alignment with professional standards.

Immediately actionable knowledge:
A sample IPEP Champion position description and responsibilities matrix
Strategies to initiate department-level IPE buy-in
A planning template for launching or scaling a champion model

Active Learning Strategies
Polling to assess participants’ current IPE leadership structures
Jamboard or Miro collaboration to co-create a draft IPE Champion model or description
Chat-based resource sharing to foster cross-institutional idea exchange

Priority Criteria Fulfilled:
Demonstrates a sustainable, scalable leadership model
Strengthens faculty engagement and reduces burnout by distributing IPE leadership
Supports workforce development and educational innovation aligned with the Quadruple Aim
Promotes international collaboration in interprofessional education