Promoting the Culture of Interprofessional Education in Communication Disorders

Abstract

Interprofessional education (IPE) relates to eective learning and collaboration amongst students from two or more professions (WHO, 2010).To enrich students' knowledge of healthcare professions and prepare them for the workforce in the elds of communication disorders, it is imperative that IPE and interprofessional practice be included in the curricula for the students to collaborate and consult with other professionals, while providing comprehensive care to their clientele and caregivers/families. Given that IPE is a current trend in healthcare/education, investment in training the future speech-language pathologists can enhance clinical and research collaborations among the health professionals. Implementationof specific IPE activities into the curricula in collaboration with other health professionals can help enhance interdisciplinary training outcomes in terms of knowledge, values, skills, and attitudes. Furthermore, the workforce demand in healthcare warrants IPE training for students in academic and clinic settings.