Two teams have been chosen for new funding from U-M’s Center for Interprofessional Education and Ginsberg Center.
In early 2018, U-M’s Edward Ginsberg Center and Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education called for proposals for the first-ever U-M Community Engagement Grants for Interprofessional Education. Teams eligible for the grants of up to $5000 had to represent at least two different U-M schools, and include at least one of the current or past Interprofessional Leadership (IPL) Fellows.
Two teams of awardees have been selected in this inaugural funding program, with projects that promise to both benefit communities and support interprofessional student learning. The projects and teams are:
Partnering with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission to Improve Community Health and Sustain Community Health Education for Interprofessional Student Health Teams. The purpose of this partnership is to form a sustainable, mutually beneficial partnership, working toward a holistic set of community-anchored clinical services and health promotion interventions to improve both prevention and chronic care outcomes. With IPL Fellow from 2017-18 (second cohort) Sarah E. Kelling (Pharmacy); IPL Fellows from 2016-17 (first cohort) Amber L. Dallwig (Nursing), and Karen B. Farris (Pharmacy).
Other team members include: Antoinette B. Coe (Pharmacy), Kelly Martin (Washtenaw County Community Mental Health/Ann Arbor Housing Commission/Baker Commons), and Reginald A Dalton (Ann Arbor Housing Commission).
Community Partners in a Diabetes Education Program. Physical therapy, public health, and nursing students will be providing clinical support to the residents, focusing on improving their knowledge and overall management of type 2 diabetes. With IPL Fellow from 2016-17 (first cohort) Leslie Smith (UM-Flint Physical Therapy) and IPL Fellow from 2017-18 (second cohort) Carman Turkelson (UM-Flint Nursing).
Other team members include: Suzanne Trojanowski (UM-Flint Physical Therapy), Michelle Wasserman Sahli (UM-Flint Public Health and Health Sciences), Nancy Vandewiele Milligan (UM-Flint Occupational Therapy), Carol M. Vos (UM-Flint Nursing), and Erica Thrash-Sall (McFarlan Villages).
“U-M is at the forefront of moving the IPE conversation out of the four walls of the clinic or classroom and into the community setting,” said Vani Patterson, Assistant Director of the Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education. “This collaboration with Ginsberg Center is a perfect example of that.”
“We are excited to partner with the Center for Interprofessional Education,” said Mary Jo Callan, Director of the Edward Ginsberg Center. “These projects demonstrate that U-M can support student learning and interdisciplinary practice while benefiting community partners, and we hope this is just the first of many such collaborative efforts between the Ginsberg Center and the Center for IPE.”
These grants were designed to engage faculty interested in advancing their scholarship and community impact, while enhancing the capacity of social sector community partners and communities through substantial, reciprocal engagement. Funding proposals were invited for teaching, research, and other educational activities focused on advancing equity and decreasing economic and racial disparities in Washtenaw County, Detroit, and other Southeast Michigan communities, especially in the areas of education, employment, and housing.
