Global Health: Interprofessional Perspectives
Dr. Shailvi Gupta, MD, MPH, FACS (SOM) received a $20,000 seed grant for Global Health: Interprofessional Perspectives. Contributing faculty include Lynn Michalopoulos, MSW, PhD, Matiangai Sirleaf, MA, JD, Charlotte Nwogwugwu, DrPH, BSN, RN, HIV PCP, CPH-BC, Emily Heil, PharmD, MS, FIDP, BCIDP, AAHIVP, and Carlos Faerron Guzman, MD. Global health emphasizes a broad, multidisciplinary approach to understanding emerging health challenges, considering social, cultural, economic and environmental factors that underlie health inequities. Global health is based on the fundamental concept that health is a human right, and justice and equity should be the basis for global health education. Those who study or practice global health work to eliminate health disparities in communities around the world through research, education and collaborative intervention. Many global health issues can only be approached with interdisciplinarity, equity, and solidarity, as they are often intriguingly interlinked and inseparable from each other. It is widely understood that no one perspective, be it cultural, ethical, political or academic, can develop the best solution to a problem alone, particularly at a population level. Global health is an inherently interprofessional field, spanning medicine, nursing, pharmacy, law, social work, engineering, business, anthropology, political science and environmental science. Global perspectives on health are useful to analyze structural challenges faced in all healthcare systems and help understand the diversity of cultures and concepts of disease. Students should be trained to collaborate not only with their professional colleagues, but also professionals and stakeholders outside of the healthcare field, their communities and their individual patients. To learn more, contact Dr. Gupta at Shailvi.gupta@som.umaryland.edu
Innovating Interprofessional Education with AI: A Transgender/Gender Diverse Simulation for DNP, Medical, and PA Students
Veronica Quattrini, DNP, MS, FNP-BC received a $25,000 seed grant for Innovating Interprofessional Education with AI: A Transgender/Gender Diverse Simulation for DNP, Medical, and PA Students. Contributing faculty include Amanda Roesch, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, Norman Retener, MD, FACP, and David Bunnell, MSHS, PA-C. This interprofessional education (IPE) initiative utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate a transgender/gender diverse (TGD) patient case, enhancing learning experiences for Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), medical, and physician assistant (PA) students. The project compares the educational impact and learner experience of two modalities: traditional “gold standard” standardized patient (SP) simulation and feedback and custom GPT-generated simulation and feedback. Our previous IPE project demonstrated that a SP simulation improved DNP and medical students’ competency in providing care for TGD individuals (Roesch et al., 2024).
Building on emerging evidence supporting the effectiveness of AI virtual simulated patients, this project introduces a custom AI-driven simulation into IPE. Prior studies have shown that simulations with AI virtual patients are well accepted by learners across health professions, with students reporting enhanced diagnostic reasoning, clinical decision-making, and satisfaction with the learning experience (De Mattei et al., 2024). This technology offers a scalable, flexible, and resource-efficient approach to simulation that complements traditional SP encounters.
By leveraging AI to act both as a simulated patient and a real-time feedback tool, this initiative evaluates students’ clinical decision-making, communication skills, and cultural competence within a sensitive, gender-affirming scenario. Outcomes will inform the potential for scalable, AI-supported IPE models that promote inclusivity, empathy, and interprofessional collaboration in clinical education. Importantly, this model offers a sustainable alternative to traditional SP encounters by reducing reliance on costly and time-intensive human resources and increasing the reach to more students across campus. To learn more, contact Veronica Quattrini, DNP, FNP-BC vquattrini@umaryland.edu
Accessing Dental Care Services for UMB’s Neighbors through an Interprofessional Team-Based Approach
Lisa D'Affronte, D.D.S and Lisa Bres, RDH, MS received a $25,000 seed grant for Accessing Dental Care Services for UMB’s Neighbors through an Interprofessional Team-Based Approach. Contributing faculty include Kelly Doran, PhD, RN, FAAN, Thomas Oates, D.M.D. PhD, and Deborah Rodriquez, RDH, DDS, FAGD. Oral health is integral for overall health and wellbeing, yet underserved communities face barriers to dental care services that lead to preventable diseases such as tooth decay and periodontal disease. These conditions result in pain, nutritional deficiencies, lost work or school days, and diminished employability. Maryland’s (MD) rate of emergency department (ED) visits for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDC) exceeds the national average. Adults aged 25-34 have the highest rates of ED visits for NTDC’s: 152 visits per 10,000 adults. Average charges for ED visits for dental conditions have increased over time, from $486 in FY 2013 to $728 in FY 2019, an increase of nearly 50%. The payers for ED visits for NTDCs in FY 2019 were: Medicaid (54%) Medicare (13%) Commercial insurers (19%) Uninsured/self-pay (13%). Exacerbating this problem is that only 28% of Maryland dental practices treat Medicaid-enrolled individuals, preventing low-income communities from receiving the care they need and deserve. As with many low-income communities, dental care is a common unmet need among West Baltimore neighbors served by UMB’s School of Nursing (SON) programs. An interprofessional team-based care approach is an effective strategy for meeting multiple and complex healthcare needs including oral health for this vulnerable population.
The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (SOD) is a dental clinic that is supported by dental and dental hygiene (DH) students and postgraduate specialty care residents. This educational institution and dental care facility has the capacity to provide comprehensive dental care services to neighbors reporting dental access barriers including patients served through the University of Maryland School of Nursing (SON) programs. One such program is the health suite within the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Community Engagement Center (CEC) located at 16 S. Poppleton Street in West Baltimore. This health suite is a community-based nurse-run public health service that collaborates with interprofessional teams to provide comprehensive care services. To learn more, contact Dr. D’Affronte at ldaffronte@umaryland.edu