Students from 11 different health professions collaborate to discuss how to improve patient care

The Office of Interprofessional Education hosted its second annual Spring Interprofessional Forum- Meet Fred Santiago, on Thursday, March 1st at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacuetical Sciences. More than 650 students from programs in dental medicine, dietetics, law, management, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health and social work gathered to discuss strategies to improve the care of a patient with multiple chronic health issues. 

Students attended a large group session where they viewed the film, Meet Fred Santiago, developed by the Office of Interprofessional Education and produced by Buffalo's Theatre for Change. The film is based on a fictitious case developed by Andrew Symons, Department of Family Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and Patricia Ohtake, Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, in collaboration with their health professions colleagues.

The film exemplifies the many challenges of living with multiple chronic illnesses through the daily life of Fred Santiago. Fred experiences many common health problems including, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and depression. The film highlights the impact of Fred's health condition on him and his family. 

After students view the film, they break into small interprofessional groups where they work as a team with a faculty facilitator to discuss Fred's health concerns. During the small group discussion, students have the opportunity to learn how other professions would manage and provide care for Fred. By the end of the small group session, students will have collaborated to develop an optimal plan of care for Fred. Through this experience, students learn firsthand how collaborating with other health professions will lead to improved outcomes for patients like Fred.