The Greater Texas Gulf Coast Engage Me Series (GTX-GEMS), led by the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice (OIPEP), exemplifies how sustained community forums can bridge academia, healthcare, government, and advocacy sectors to advance public health and interprofessional collaboration.
Hosted monthly from September to May, each GTX-GEMS session features panelists representing diverse professions and perspectives—including UTMB clinicians and researchers, public officials, advocacy leaders, and health system representatives. Topics span critical regional and national issues, such as adolescent behavioral health, health disparities, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and their new frontier on addiction treatment, headaches, and the healthcare workforce talent pipeline Events are free and open to the public, promoting equitable access and fostering inclusive dialogue through structured panels, community breakfasts, and live Q&A sessions.
GTX-GEMS is guided by an interdisciplinary Think Tank composed of faculty, students, and community stakeholders who identify emerging topics and analyze event presentations and discussion for potential advocacy, research or public health initiatives. This collaboration has led to a proposed interprofessional policy advocacy program, student capstone or dissertation projects, and public health partnerships, making the initiative a model for advocacy-driven, interprofessional engagement.
Preliminary data from the 2025 series shows strong participation from medical students and health professionals. Observational and survey data continues to inform improvements to accessibility and representation. Looking ahead, OIPEP plans to integrate predictive AI tools to develop an annual economic health report, using insights from these forums to forecast trends and inform regional policy.
This lightning talk will explore how GTX-GEMS fosters authentic interprofessional collaboration across sectors, empowers student involvement in public policy, and supports community-engaged learning. Attendees will gain insight into replicable strategies for designing inclusive public health dialogues that activate partnerships, inform research, and shape healthier futures for individuals, families, and communities.
