(PO-030) Interprofessional Training and an Experiential Learning Workshop for Prehealth Advisors

Presenter: William Carroll, D.D.S. FACD FICD FAGD ABGD – Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah
Author: Sharon Su, B.S. – D.M.D. Candidate, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah
Author: Man Hung, Ph.D. – Associate Dean for Research, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah
Author: Frank Licari, D.D.S. MPH M.B.A. – Dean, College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah
Author: Douglas Watson – Pre-Health Counselor, Utah Valley University
Author: Susan Watson, ADN BSN MSN Ph.D. – Professor, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Nursing
Author: Dustin Christensen-Grant, Pharm.D., BCPS – Assistant Director of Admissions/Student Affairs, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy
Author: William Carroll, D.D.S. FACD FICD FAGD ABGD – Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah
Author: William Harman, B.Mus.Edu M.A. Ph.D – Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah
Author: Martin S. Lipsky, MD – Professor, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah
Submitter: Sharon Su, B.S. – D.M.D. Candidate, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine – South Jordan, Utah

Objectives:
Pre-health advisors help prepare and direct college students to apply to health professional programs. For students interested in health careers, pre-health advisors serve as an interface between students and a health profession and their advice significantly influences student decisions. A better understanding of health professions and students' experience could contribute to more effective career guidance. In this pilot study, Roseman University of Health Sciences (RUHS) explored whether an active learning multi-disciplinary workshop could enhance advisors’ understanding of three health professions and how healthcare providers collaborate to provide care.
 

Methods:
Presented at the 2019 Western Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (WAAHP) conference, more than 100 RUHS students and faculty members from its colleges of dentistry, nursing and pharmacy offered attendees the opportunity to participate in a half-day hands-on, active learning, interprofessional workshop representing the three professions. The workshop used RUHS facilities, including simulation clinics, and consisted of three 50-minute sessions. Attendees were asked to evaluate the workshop and to comment about their experience.
 

Results:
Among the 80 attendees who returned the WAAHP evaluation, 44 (55%) had completed it. All 44 offered positive comments, which clustered into four themes: overall experience, hands-on active learning experience, learning about three health professional programs and what dental, pharmacy and nursing students do and experience. About 1 in 5 attendees commented favorably about the hands-on opportunity and the value of interacting with students who helped manage the workshop. While still giving an overall positive evaluation, 8 respondents commented that they felt their sessions were too short or rushed.
 

Conclusion:
This pilot study is the first to report that active learning workshops can enhance pre-health advisors’ understanding of health professional programs and the student experience. Programs like these can help advisors better understand specific health careers and lead to more effective advising of students.