As a Rackham Intern Fellow, Kason worked with the Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education for the past semester. With a background in teaching organic chemistry, Kason supported projects that explore how health profession students build interprofessional skills. His Fellowship offered him a meaningful opportunity to connect his passion for teaching with the collaborative nature of interprofessional education.
Can you share a personal experience that shaped your interest in collaborative health care?
In middle school I had some confusing health concerns that required attention from a host of specialists. While at that time I didn’t have the language of collaborative health care, I remember how reassuring it was to hear my surgeon refer to notes from my cardiologist, or when my GP would go through charts and test results from all sorts of specialized tests. Being able to see how that level of teamwork is cultivated from an educational level has been so rewarding in my internship with CIPE!
Why is interprofessional education important to you?
My research as a graduate student focuses on how students learn organic chemistry, and I’m preparing for a career teaching college chemistry. Many chemistry students are in health pre-professional programs, but struggle to relate their experiences in organic chemistry to their professional goals. When I saw an internship with the CIPE team, it offered an exciting glimpse into the future training of my students. I have realized the significance and potential of effective collaboration in health professional training, and look forward to bringing those lessons into my research and teaching practices in chemistry.
How would you describe your role within the C-IPE team?
I’m a one-term research intern with the CIPE team, thanks to the Rackham Intern Fellowship program. While my main focus has been on research, everyone on the CIPE team has been so welcoming and supportive in my work. I have even had opportunities to propose research ideas, which have been met with enthusiastic support and creative direction. I feel like the whole team has welcomed me in ways that ensure that the work I’ve done will outlast my short stay.
How have you grown since becoming involved with the Center for IPE?
Working as part of a team with a range of expertise as broad as the CIPE team’s is pretty different from the typical experience of chemistry graduate students. It has been humbling and inspiring to learn how to be part of something so encompassing, and to work with so many different people.