From Panel to Practice: Using Interprofessional Storytelling to Enhance Understanding of Social Determinants of Health

Within interprofessional education (IPE) curricula, students consistently express a need for real-world examples that illustrate how interprofessional teamwork operates in practice. As learners advance beyond foundational competencies toward culturally responsive and community-driven care, integrating practitioner perspectives becomes essential, particularly when in-person experiences are logistically challenging. This lightening talk shares findings from a social determinants of health (SDoH) expert panel in a required IPE course, demonstrating how interprofessional storytelling can bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical application.

Over 900 first-year students from nine health professions (Dentistry, Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine, Optometry, Physical Therapy, Podiatry, Physician Associate Studies, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine) attended a 1.5-hour webinar featuring five interprofessional panelists. Each panelist shared a personal story illustrating strategies for addressing SDoH within their field and offered real-world examples of team approaches to tackling social needs in marginalized and underserved populations.

Following the webinar, students provided anonymous feedback and completed both the Assessing Student Competence Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health (ASCK-SDH) Scale and a reflective writing assignment comparing how SDoH shaped care within and across professions.

Of the 608 students who provided session feedback, this session was rated the highest of all six IPE events (mean = 4.46/5). Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses revealed five key takeaways: recognizing the importance of SDoH in shaping patient care, outcomes, and access; the value of diverse perspectives, reinforcing the importance of teamwork in addressing healthcare challenges; the role of empathy, cultural humility, and non-judgmental care in building patient trust; the power of personal storytelling to enhance engagement; and the impact of effective communication and advocacy in reducing disparities.

Notably, analysis of the ASCK-SDH revealed that 98.9% of students agreed or strongly agreed that interprofessional teams are better positioned to assess SDoH than individuals, underscoring students’ appreciation for interprofessional collaboration in addressing complex community needs. Reflections revealed shared challenges across professions, such as economic and logistical barriers to healthcare access and cultural considerations. Unique profession-specific differences emerged with respect to insurance disparities and norms, varying emphasis on patient advocacy and preventative medicine, and contrasting patient autonomy frameworks in human and animal medicine.

This session engaged learners through authentic storytelling and promoted strategies to improve care for underserved communities. By spotlighting interprofessional stories and translating lived experiences into practical insights, this initiative illustrates the value of storytelling to deepen learners’ understanding of SDoH and prepare them to advance health equity in diverse care settings.