For students in the health professions, 2020 was a year like no other. Not only were learning experiences changed dramatically — lack of clinical sites, virtual simulation, and anatomy, constrained “team based” learning opportunities — but more importantly, students had a real window into what it will mean to be a care provider in times of a global pandemic. They also could see the impacts of social determinants of health and how access to care was affected.
Meanwhile, leadership in the health professions — educators and practitioners across the country were doing their best to adapt. For many of these leaders, the roles overlap so the stress was multiplied — concern for both students and patients as well as their own health. The pandemic has exposed pre-existing inequities in health care access and highlighted the importance of integrated patient-centered care. To make meaningful change to the health care system, it is important to focus on interprofessional behaviors and practices within the education setting. Interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice is proven to build holistic teams that help improve patient outcomes.