Interprofessional Education for Occupational Therapy students

NAU OT students learn from, with, and about each other

Students in the Occupational Therapy program at Northern Arizona University are provided with opportunities to collaborate with students from various health professions and universities, through interprofessional education. This collaboration allows students to develop the skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed as a future practitioner to build a stronger healthcare system with a team-based approach.

During the first two years, occupational therapy students will engage in numerous IPE events where they’ll learn from, with, and about other health profession students on the roles and responsibilities of their chosen discipline. This will include the use of case studies, video vignettes, interprofessional discussions, and expert panel presentations.

Community Health Mentor Program (CHMP)

This one-year program is nationally recognized by the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. The CHMP pairs OT students with students from NAU’s Physician Assistant and Physical Therapy programs, as well as a student from the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine. The collective group collaborates with a mentor who is a volunteer with a chronic condition or disability that is willing to share their experiences both as a patient and within their community. Over the course of one year, the team meets nine times.

The combination of these experiences will enable NAU OT students to successfully enter the field with a team approach and patient centric background, empowering them to improve population health outcomes.