Student Perspectives and Achievements of the UMN OACA Interprofessional Internship

The University of Minnesota Office of Academic Clinical Affairs offered an Interprofessional Internship for professional healthcare students for the first time during the 2020-2021 academic year. The program brought together several professional students, including the three authors. The goals of the internship project were to increase innovative and high-quality educational offerings across modes of delivery to reach students where they are and drive innovation for next-generation health. While working towards those goals, students developed skills in interprofessional education (IPE) through networking opportunities and research. Students received mentorship from various healthcare professionals and other healthcare students during monthly “Fireside Chats” and student-led monthly leadership meetings. Interns collaborated to research IPE techniques and common tools in order to assist OACA in developing an IPE toolkit. This toolkit included a blog and podcast highlighting interprofessional collaboration and the IPE program at the UMN, case studies focusing on areas of interprofessional collaboration, and learning modules for IPE learners. This was piloted during the 2021 Summer semester at the UMN. The internship gave students an opportunity to understand the impact of interprofessional collaboration on healthcare, while developing their own leadership skills towards interprofessional competencies. Additionally, interns developed their own skills working in an interprofessional team and analyzed the impact this would have on their future careers in healthcare. Interns expressed their desire to continue in this field of study and contribute to its development in clinical practice.