The Interprofessional Internship Program (IIP) at the University of Minnesota is an innovative internship model targeting students’ interprofessional competencies through hands-on, partnered engagement with community organizations to solve real-world challenges. Over its first five years, the program supported 36 projects with 19 community organizations and involved 69 students from 24 academic programs. Intern teams co-developed solutions addressing health workforce shortages, systems improvement, and rural healthcare issues. The IIP model incorporated direct mentorship, interprofessional teamwork, structured reflection exercises, and continuous assessment. Notable outcomes include significant intern growth in key interprofessional competencies and progress solving pressing challenges for partner organizations. This project demonstrates a replicable model for connecting creative health sciences learners to solve real-world problems while gaining interprofessional collaborative competencies needed when they join the workforce.
Faculty project partner liaison's and a student intern participant will both co-present, sharing their perspectives on this interprofessional community-based internship. The student intern will also share insights on how the program fostered personal and professional growth.
After attending this session, attendees will be able to:
1. Identify the goals of the interprofessional internship program at the University of Minnesota and the real-world problems the program aims to address
2. Explain the impact of the interprofessional internship on both student development and community partner outcomes.
3. Describe how the interprofessional internship model can be replicated in other academic/community settings to support interprofessional education and workforce readiness.
This lightning talk fulfills multiple priority criteria, including:
1. Highlight interprofessional collaboration ( authentic teamwork across at least two professions)
2.Involve learner as authors and presenters
3.Address Health equity or underserved populations
4.Demonstrate replicability and innovation (sharing programs that others could adopt, providing evidence of the impact)
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (National Center OICPD). The National Center OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
The National Center OICPD (JA#: 4008105) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs).
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Learners can claim CE credit by completing the Daily Evaluation.
