Chloe joined Michigan Medicine in July 2023.
In this interview, Chloe shares how her experiences in the NICU and at Michigan Medicine sparked her dedication to interprofessional education, collaborative practice, and driving meaningful improvements in healthcare.
1. Can you share a personal experience that shaped your interest in collaborative health care?
One of my most formative experiences in healthcare was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children back home in Honolulu. After shadowing for quite some time, I attended multidisciplinary discharge rounds, where I was introduced to an incredible team of health professionals, including a behavioral health specialist, dietitian, case manager, social worker, physical therapist, chaplain, and more. This pivotal moment was the first time I grasped the interprofessional nature of healthcare – the more complex the patient, the more collaboration was necessary. It was what inspired me to seek out and engage in projects that enhance interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP).
After my NICU experience, as an undergraduate student at the University of Washington, I created an independent research project to expose undergraduate students to the interprofessional nature of healthcare through shadowing. Upon joining Michigan Medicine as an administrative fellow, I was eager to work with the Center for Interprofessional Education (C-IPE) and further immerse myself in these fields within both the medical school and health system.
2. Why is interprofessional education important to you?
My experiences, from shadowing in the NICU to my administrative fellowship at Michigan Medicine, have shown me the profound impact of interprofessional teamwork in healthcare. Collectively, these experiences taught me that when healthcare professionals learn and work together, they can significantly improve patient outcomes, enhance healthcare delivery, and drive systemic changes.
Most recently, during my time at the C-IPE, I am continuously inspired by how the principles of IPE and IPP foster a culture of mutual respect, shared knowledge, and collaborative problem-solving – an environment that I will aim to cultivate and champion throughout my career. I believe that investing in IPE and promoting IPP is integral to innovating and transforming how we think, communicate, and ultimately care for our patients together.
3. How would you describe your role within the C-IPE team?
When I began my second-year immersion with the C-IPE, I was drawn to their Systems Transformation Committee because it provided the opportunity to enhance IPE and IPP within our academic health system. My role involves connecting and applying insights from my administrative fellowship to my work at the C-IPE, particularly in managing our collaborative demonstration project at Michigan Medicine. I have the privilege of supporting the C-IPE team in convening a committee of health system leaders from various offices to leverage the natural overlap in their work to influence interprofessional teamwork among our local healthcare teams. Additionally, I engage in several other projects related to our academic initiatives, allowing me to gain a breadth of experiences in understanding how the C-IPE advances the Quintuple Aim of Health by supporting our current and future health professionals.
4. What are your plans after your administrative fellowship?
After my fellowship, I will be attending medical school. My goal is to become a physician leader who can leverage a background in medicine, public health, and healthcare administration to positively impact both individual and population health. My administrative fellowship, particularly my immersion at the C-IPE, has been transformational for my career journey by providing me with invaluable exposure to how an academic health system creates and sustains change to continuously improve healthcare for our patients. Remaining committed to IPE and IPP will be critical in my journey to drive forward meaningful improvements in healthcare access and delivery.
5. What do you like to do for fun outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active, whether that involves playing tennis or taking a class at my local SPENGA studio. My newest favorite activity is pickleball, and I try to explore new indoor and outdoor places to play across Michigan. I also like watching movies and shows, especially K-dramas. And when I have the chance, I love flying back home to Hawaii to visit family and friends.
6. What is your favorite spot in Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor has many amazing spots! If anyone visits me, I always take them to Mani Osteria & Bar and introduce them to their incredible pickled tomatoes. Another favorite spot of mine is Zingerman’s Next Door Cafe – their Dirty Sheed (an espresso drink) is a must-try! I also love browsing through a store called Found in Kerrytown, a cute shop with fun and creative cards for any occasion.