Local leaders of faith attended the most recent Interprofessional Education (IPE) session held on January 17 at PCOM South Georgia. Rabbi Moshe Elbaz, PhD, of Temple Israel in Valdosta and Reverend Hugh Ward, Chaplain of Colquitt Regional Medical Center, spoke to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students about religion and culture in everyday life and how it affects patients’ medical care.

PCOM South Georgia takes a whole person approach to health care, incorporating IPE into the curricula. Students are required to take part in two IPE sessions during each term. These sessions bring together a collection of students and professionals throughout the region and educate them on how to become one healthcare team with a unified plan when treating a patient.

Nursing students from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) attended the most recent session to collaborate and bring a new perspective.

“Everyone in the healthcare industry comes with a different skill set,” said Stacie Fairley, PhD, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology. “IPE is all about learning how to work together as a team in order to better treat the patient. Not understanding another healthcare profession may lead to poor professionalism, poor patient care and lack of communication.”

During an IPE learning day, the groups investigate issues and develop treatment plans that put the patient first. This team approach is designed to minimize miscommunications and maximize effectiveness of patient care. Collaboration is encouraged between all attendees so they can experience the benefits of treating patients as one healthcare unit.

“At PCOM South Georgia, we’re being intentional about working with the community to bring all of these students and professionals together,” Dr. Fairley said. “It’s important for them to know that skills of professionalism are learned behaviors that require learning from others.”