Professor Mary Val Palumbo, D.N.P., APRN, has been named director of Interprofessional Education (IPE) for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“We all agree that we need a champion who has the time, expertise and passion to direct this initiative and move us forward,” said College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean Patricia Prelock. “I am excited about Mary Val’s energy, goals and ideas, and her willingness to work with our IPE Steering Committee to lead the way."

Dr. Palumbo teaches graduate nursing students in the College and is recognized for her expertise in interprofessional education. Her research and publications examine innovations in interprofessional care of elders with chronic illness, applications for videoconferencing in interprofessional practice and the value of using a movie/discussion format to simulate end of life care. She directs the Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Nursing Workforce, Research, Planning and Development at UVM and practices as a gerontological nurse practitioner at The University of Vermont Medical Center Memory Program.

Dr. Rosemary Dale and Dr. Kate FitzPatrick have been named Associate Dean for Interprofessional Practice and Associate Dean for Academic-Practice Integration, respectively.

About Interprofessional Education in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences

College of Nursing and Health Sciences students in health-related majors learn to collaborate across disciplines with the goal to provide holistic patient care. CNHS students in various majors participate with students from the Larner College of Medicine and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health in team-based case studies, patient care simulations and virtual clinics at the Given Outpatient Laboratory, Pomeroy Hall and off-campus clinical sites.

Exploring professional roles, questioning stereotypes and working in multi-disciplinary teams helps students gain a sense of shared responsibility as patient care providers.