For Interprofessional Healthcare Month, we are highlighting individuals and teams across the University of Michigan community who are making a difference in Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Practice (IPP).
Amy Thompson has long been a champion of IPE at the University of Michigan. Since 2018, she has co-led an annual Geriatric Interprofessional Session with faculty from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and the University of Michigan Medical School, bringing together students from both disciplines to practice medication history-taking and collaborative care. Through lectures, role-playing, and reflective debriefs, the session has consistently received positive feedback and continues to thrive seven years later.
What does interprofessional teamwork mean to you?
To me, interprofessional teamwork means bringing together the expertise from different health professionals to provide the highest level of patient-centered care. When we are working together, as a team, we are better equipped to address the complex needs of our patients.
What is a powerful example of interprofessional teamwork you’ve encountered or been a part of?
I was part of an interprofessional team in an internal medicine clinic caring for a gentleman with diabetes who had visited the emergency department multiple times in the past month due to low blood sugar caused by confusion with his medications. He had difficulty reading and understanding written instructions. Working closely with the nurse care navigator, social worker, and physician, we developed a sustainable and simplified diabetes regimen using visual aids and consistent routines. This collaborative approach empowered him to manage his insulin safely and helped reduce the likelihood of future emergency visits.
Beginning in the fall of 2018, I’ve also had the privilege of working with faculty from both the College of Pharmacy and the College of Medicine to lead an annual Geriatric Interprofessional Session. During this event, students receive a brief didactic lecture on geriatric patient care and medication safety. Following the lecture, they are placed into small interprofessional groups of 3–4 students, with both professions represented. A member from each profession takes a turn conducting a medication history, with a fellow student role-playing as the 'patient.' After the activity, we hold a debrief session to reflect on the differences in interview approaches and discuss interprofessional collaboration experiences.
Student feedback has been consistently positive over the years. It has truly been an honor to collaborate with my colleagues in the College of Medicine on this initiative, and I’m thrilled that it’s still going strong seven years later!
Could you share some information about your community work and its impact?
The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy is deeply committed to advancing community health and engagement. We recognize that our work in the community not only provides essential health services and education to community members but also offers our students invaluable opportunities to apply and strengthen the clinical and communication skills they develop in the classroom.
Examples of our community engagement include conducting health screenings at local farmers markets and in low-income housing communities, supporting the University of Michigan Student-Run Free, HUDA, and HOPE clinics, hosting medication take-back events, and organizing and staffing community vaccination clinics.
This year, the U-M College of Pharmacy was honored with the Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, recognizing our sustained commitment to meaningful community engagement.
Thompson is the Director of Population Health Pharmacy and Community Partnerships within the U-M Medical Group. Within the U-M College of Pharmacy, she is a Clinical Professor and Director of Community Health and Engagement.