Ten students pursuing graduate degrees in nursing, communication sciences and disorders, pharmacology, dietetics, and medicine each received $250 and the opportunity to share their work with health professionals and educators as part of a challenge sponsored by the UVM Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) program at the Larner College of Medicine.

Working on teams, the students studied a health problem specific to a population, collaborated on a solution, and produced informational materials to address the issue.

Edna Tang, Doctor of Nursing Practice ’22 and Jane Wolforth, Doctor of Physical Therapy ’21 joined Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Class of 2022 students Tarek Abdelazeez, Melody Haag and Elizabeth Rogers and Larner College of Medicine student Shubhankar Joshi ‘24 to assess views and barriers surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations. The group surveyed health care professionals, patients, and community members. They produced a video featuring their findings and demonstrating how health care providers can collaborate to improve vaccination rates.

Class of 2022 Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate students Ana Baustin and Lizzie Kinney worked with Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences student Stephan Kanga ’21 and Noah Praamsma, Dietetics ’22 to produce a series of brochures for people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The “Get to Know Your Care Team” pamphlets describe the roles of various health care professionals, including speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, pharmacists, dieticians, and social workers.

The AHEC Interprofessional Team Challenge promotes teamwork and the potential for improved patient outcomes that can result from cooperation among health care professionals, said nursing professor Mary Val Palumbo, director of interprofessional education at CNHS.  

“We hope this encourages students to continue to meet and work together on projects that are relevant, interesting, and challenging,” Palumbo said.