Something I hear from people new to the University is just how much talent and expertise we have here. It’s true. Whatever your interest or passion, there are resources and places for you to connect and learn more.
We are one of a handful of universities in the nation to have all six health sciences schools in one place. We believe that this is essential to addressing many of today’s complex health challenges. We do this by engaging collaborators across disciplines. This brings together different strengths and ideas, and gives us more opportunities for partnering with communities. Across the health sciences, we are treating patients, educating the future workforce of health professionals, and making discoveries that improve health care in Minnesota and around the world.
I’d like to highlight a few opportunities where you might find overlap with your own interests:
- The Rural Health Collective brings together University centers, organizations, staff, faculty and students whose research and education focuses on rural people and places. The Collective creates a space to listen, share knowledge and develop a database of resources to improve the health and quality of life for rural communities throughout Minnesota and across the U.S.
- Mini Medical School is a 24-year-old community outreach and education program that features some of our fascinating faculty in the health sciences sharing their expertise. It has given community members a chance to experience what it’s like to be a health sciences student at the University of Minnesota, to ask questions and engage in timely health topics.
- The Opioid Advisory Task Force is made up of faculty and staff across the University system working to advance knowledge of substance use disorder and non-opioid pain management through basic and translational research, clinical approaches and policy. The task force is committed to being a leader in addressing the opioid epidemic and stopping the spread of addiction.
It’s through these kinds of novel approaches and interprofessional collaboration that we can make headway on tackling complex problems affecting community and individual health.
We want to share more of these opportunities, so please tell us what you’re involved in—we’d love to add to this list.
Advancing Interprofessional Education & Training
Apply for the Itasca Ecohealth IPE Experience
The Itasca Ecohealth IPE Experience: Exploring Sustainability through Collaboration is an intensive, fun weekend-long collaborative learning retreat for health sciences students, situated in a Minnesota state park to foster appreciation for ecohealth principles and geopolitical considerations in health. Applications are now open.
Global Health in Local Contexts
Global Health in Local Contexts: A Transnational Experiential Course on the Social Determinants, Health Equity, and Leading Change immerses students in the study of health equity, the social determinants of health, the practice of global health in a local setting, and community-based health care. It offers students and community members a chance to engage in an immersive learning experience right here in the Twin Cities.
Food Matters for Health Professionals
This evidence-based, experiential-learning, applied nutrition and culinary skills course addresses the role of food in specific health conditions and its function in health promotion and disease prevention. The relationship between the source of food and the larger food system to both environmental and human health will be explored, in addition to the importance of understanding the food system’s impact on patients and communities.
Driving Innovation & Discovery
Call for Abstracts: Nexus Summit 2023
Join the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education’s upcoming virtual Nexus Summit 2023: Working Together for Impact. The Call for Abstracts includes six themes that will serve as the basis for four full days of interactive programming, maximizing opportunities for attendees to showcase their accomplishments, outcomes, and innovations. Submission deadline is May 19.
Institute on the Environment: Call for Affiliates
The Institute on the Environment is currently inviting applications for new affiliates as part of its commitment to bring together innovators from across the University and beyond to solve complex environmental challenges. The deadline is May 1.
Partnering with Communities
Using Telemedicine to Better Support Kids with Autism
Families that suspect their child may have autism often find themselves waiting months or even more than a year before they can get a diagnosis. Wait times to receive a diagnosis are often worse for rural families, as there are fewer specialists and they can be hours away. Fortunately, an innovative telemedicine approach is coming to the rescue that bridges the critical gap for families prior to receiving intervention services.
U-Wide Events and Opportunities
Telehealth Everywhere! 2023
Join gpTRAC May 23-24 for the region's premier telehealth conference.
A Novel Approach to Understanding Physician Complicity with Torture
Join the Center for Bioethics on May 19 for an upcoming book event.
Other News
