Introduction:
Faculty development in academic health centers often relies on structured workshops and didactic formats, which can limit engagement and cross-disciplinary dialogue. To create a more dynamic, reflective, and community-building experience, our institution launched Faculty Movie Night in 2018—a quarterly series using public health-themed films as a springboard for continuing education, networking, and interprofessional discussion.
Method:
Held quarterly on Monday evenings at a local movie theater during its off-peak hours, each Faculty Movie Night features a documentary or fiction film centered on a salient healthcare or academic theme—such as women’s faculty advancement, Alzheimer’s disease, team-based science, or public health policy. Sessions are sponsored to cover theater rental for a 30- to 50-seat room, ensuring free attendance. Attendees arrive for an informal networking hour with the option to purchase food and drinks, followed by the screening and a structured, facilitator-led pre/post discussion. Discussions focus on team dynamics, ethical dilemmas, systemic challenges, and lessons for academic health center environments.
Results:
Since its inception, Faculty Movie Night has hosted over a dozen events with attendance across disciplines and roles, including faculty, staff, trainees, and community partners. Participants consistently report increased insight into interprofessional dynamics and appreciation for the relaxed, collegial format. Qualitative feedback emphasizes the value of storytelling as a powerful tool for professional reflection and system-level learning. Topics such as mental health stigma, racial health disparities, and collaborative leadership have catalyzed thoughtful dialogue and practical application within attendees’ professional roles.
Conclusion:
Faculty Movie Night demonstrates a novel and sustainable approach to interprofessional faculty development that blends narrative engagement with community building and reflective learning. By leveraging film as a shared medium, the series fosters meaningful discussion across professional boundaries and reinforces key themes aligned with the IPEC competencies and the Quadruple Aim. This model can be easily replicated in other academic health centers seeking creative, community-based formats for workforce development.
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.
