Dusti
Annan,
EdD
Associate Professor
Medical University of South Carolina
Dusti Annan-Coultas is Associate Professor in the Office of Interprofessional Initiatives at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Annan’s background is in the area of education and instructional technology, and her teaching and research interests include teaching innovations, interprofessional education, interprofessional collaborations in the study of effective teaching and use of instructional technology in higher education, and effective faculty professional development strategies. Dr. Annan-Coultas leads and directs interprofessional courses required of over 900 students at the Medical University of South Carolina to teach introductory concepts related to interprofessional education and collaborative practice.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
Abstract:As Interprofessional Education (IPE) evolves to meet the complex needs of collaborative healthcare, educators are challenged to assess student learning in ways that are meaningful, consistent, and scalable. This interactive seminar explores how artificial intelligence (AI)—particularly large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot—can be applied to enhance IPE assessment processes. This includes streamlining rubric development, evaluation of student reflections, and contributing to robust IPE program evaluation and streamlined workflows. This session directly…
Preparing future health professionals for effective patient communication and interprofessional collaboration remains a central challenge in health education. The authors developed an AI-powered virtual patient platform with support from an NIH R41 STTR grant, aiming to provide scalable, lifelike simulation experiences that foster clinical interviewing and teamwork skills in interprofessional educational settings.This presentation shares findings from two key components of our research and development process. First, we describe outcomes from the R41-funded Phase I study, which involved…
This Lightning Talk will review a newly developed educational tool called Figment Mentor under development at MUSC. Students select and create an interprofessional colleague avatar and ask interview questions to learn more about different professions and how their own profession participates in collaborative practice. The system uses a large language AI model to respond to students’ interview questions. Figment Mentor was used in assignments in two different interprofessional courses. Approximately 200 interprofessional students were enrolled in these courses and completed the assignment.…
Demands on interprofessional leaders in healthcare and education have significantly worsened the problem of burnout. This seminar is an intervention designed to equip both current and emerging IPE leaders with actionable strategies to combat burnout and cultivate sustainable well-being. We will move beyond individual coping mechanisms to explore systemic solutions, emphasizing the power of mentorship networks and communities of practice. Our insights will draw from the U.S. Surgeon General's report on health worker burnout and the concept of Pedagogical Wellness, highlighting how…
As healthcare systems continue to evolve, the need for sustainable leadership in interprofessional practice and education (IPE) has never been more urgent. High turnover, burnout, and an aging workforce threaten the continuity of interprofessional initiatives that are essential to improving health outcomes, especially in underserved and rural communities. This workshop offers a practical, inclusive, and outcomes-driven approach to succession planning as a strategic tool for sustaining interprofessional leadership.Participants will be introduced to strategies for succession planning that…