Interprofessional Development, Education, and Active Learning (IDEAL) Teams

The School of Health Professions sponsors and interdisciplinary course designed to enhance interprofessional development, education, and active learning (IDEAL) for health professions students. The IDEAL curriculum emphasizes communications skills with both patients and other members of the health care team. The IDEAL program was designed to serve the needs expressed by health professions students to improve interdisciplinary interaction across programs within the School of Health Professions and across UT Southwestern Medical Center.

First-year students from each of seven educational programs of the School of Health Professions are assigned to small interdisciplinary teams led by faculty facilitators. Discussion topics include behavioral styles, interdisciplinary teamwork, behavioral modification, generational and cultural differences, and healthcare ethics. The IDEAL schedule is designed for groups to meet twice monthly over a nine-month period (September to May) and interact with Academic Colleges and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Groups, culminating with participation in Convergence Day activities. 

Lecture Series

In addition to IDEAL group meetings, the School of Health Professions Convergence Lecture Series serves as a monthly learning community event for all IDEAL groups. These events provide a venue for the delivery of theme-based science of medicine lectures. The IDEAL program takes advantage of the learning community format to foster deeper understanding of science of medicine themes and further promote interaction with content experts from the medical and graduate schools.