Our Interprofessional Teaching Enables Collaborative Scholarship

Research Seminar - SLU Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training
By: Anthony Breitbach PhD, ATC

On Monday, April 23rd, Katie and I presented at the Saint Louis University Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training’s Research Seminar.  At our presentation, entitled “Connecting Interprofessional Teaching to Collaborative Scholarship - Keys to Success” we talked about how our professional paths have aligned to enable success in interprofessional teaching and scholarship.

We talked generally about how our lines of scholarship have grown and gave specific details about how we organized a large-scale collaborative scholarship project on Readiness for Interprofessional Education in Athletic Training and Dietetics Programs.  This project met our original objectives and produced 3 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 3 accepted national-level conference presentations.

The papers focused on different aspects of the project, here are the citations:

Eliot, K., Breitbach, A., Wilson, M., & Chushak, M. (2017). Institutional Readiness for Interprofessional Education Among Nutrition and Dietetics and Athletic Training Education Programs. Journal of Allied Health, 46(2), 94-103.

Eliot, K. A., Wilson, M., Breitbach, A. P., & Chushak-Polevska, M. (2017). Incorporation of Interprofessional Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Education Programs. Topics in Clinical Nutrition, 32(3), 184-192. doi:10.1097/TIN.0000000000000106

Breitbach, A. P., Eliot, K., Cuppett, M., Wilson, M., & Chushak, M. (2018). The Progress and Promise of Interprofessional Education in Athletic Training Programs. Athletic Training Education Journal, 13(1), 57-66. doi:10.4085/130157

Our collaborative scholarship is characterized by first getting organized through: (1) developing a timetable; (2) having tough conversations early; and (3) prioritizing and delineating tasks.  We also addressed accountability by: (1) communicating consistently; (2) ensuring quality and rigor; and (3) meeting timetable deadlines.

It is truly great to work with a colleague whose interests, skills and abilities complement your own.

We have already accomplished much, however we are just starting our journey!

Stepping Out at South

Interprofessional Education Workshop, University of South Alabama - Mobile, AL 
By: Katie Eliot PhD, RDN

On Wednesday April 18th, we arrived on the campus of the University of South Alabama, or “South” as I came to learn it is called by locals, wide eyed and full of energy.  We basked in the sunshine of their inviting campus and admired the beautiful buildings as we prepared to get to work.  And, somehow, we managed to arrive back home with as much energy…if not more.

Our two days engaged in dialogue with our interprofessional colleagues was intended to be about their growth, but it ended up being much about ours.  This was our first official event as “BE-Collaborative” and, while we have presented together many times, this workshop had a different energy about it.

As I reflect on the workshop, here is what comes to mind:

• Sometimes the most important component of interprofessional collaboration is creating the time and space to just “be” with each other.  Many faculty reflected on how refreshing it was to have dedicated time and space for talking to colleagues from different departments.  Getting to talk through things while eating yummy food – bonus.

• Opportunities for scholarship are everywhere.  Don’t forget to build assessment into your educational activities.  And don’t be afraid to write about your process.  Everyone wants to know what works in other places.  Get your work out there and you’ll be surprised by the doors that open up.

• Sometimes you don’t realize what a unique partnership you have until someone else points it out.  At South they have a unique combination of professions and opportunities in the community.  We encouraged them to capitalize on these.  What unique partnerships can you create where you are?  

And finally…as Tony always says, “when in Rome…” we just had to sneak in a minute to take in the culture.  I’m not sure we quite got the hang of eating the “mudbugs” but they were tasty for sure!

Thanks again to our colleagues at South for the invite – we look forward to seeing your programs will continue to BE-collaborative!  

Dr. Kathrin A. Eliot

Katie Eliot PhD, RDN/LD, FAND is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.  Dr. Eliot’s primary area of teaching and research is in the area of interprofessional education and collaborative practice.  She has published and presented nationally on interprofessional education topics ranging from course development to student learning assessment.  As an advocate for the profession of nutrition and dietetics, Dr. Eliot is highly involved in leadership at the national level.  She currently serves as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics representative to both the National Academy of Medicine Global Forum on Health Professions Education and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative.  She is also the chair of the Interprofessional Education Committee for the Nutrition and Dietetics Educators and Preceptors Council.  Her most recent honors include receiving the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year (2016) award from the Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Outstanding Dietetics Educator (2016) award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the James H. Korn Scholarship of Teaching and Learning award from the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning at Saint Louis University (2019).

Email: katie.eliot@be-collaborative.org

Dr. Anthony P. Breitbach

Anthony P. Breitbach PhD, ATC, FASAHP, FNAP is a Certified Athletic Trainer, Professor and Vice Dean in the Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University after serving as Director of the Athletic Training Program for 15 years. A native of Dubuque, Iowa; Dr. Breitbach graduated from the Athletic Training Program at the University of Iowa in 1985, received a Master’s degree from the University of Florida in 1987 and a PhD from SLU in 2007.  

He is an Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) Fellow and chairs their Partnerships, Alliances and Advocacy Committee, their Interprofessional Task Force as well as representing them on Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Core Competencies Revision Work Group. He serves on the Executive Committee of the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative (AIHC). In March 2021, he was named as a Distinguished Fellow and inaugural Chair of the Athletic Training Academy in the National Academies of Practice. 

He helps lead Communication working groups for Interprofessional.Global Interprofessional Research.Global and the Collaborating Across Borders Conference.  He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Interprofessional Care; is President-Elect of the Alpha Eta National Allied Health Honor Society, is a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and serves as Public Member on the CAE Commission of the American Society of Association Executives.

Email: anthony.breitbach@be-collaborative.org