The OC-Alliance spring meeting, held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, served as an inspiring platform for UC Irvine’s Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences Interprofessional Education & Practice (IPEP) Collaborative to highlight its mission and impact on preparing the next-generation healthcare workforce. The OC-Alliance is dedicated to advancing UC Irvine as a Latino/a-thriving university through engaging and supporting Latino/a students, faculty and staff, and by fostering strong community connections.
The event, featuring insights from Chancellor Howard Gillman and California Surgeon General Diana Ramos, MD, underscored UC Irvine’s commitment to fostering teamwork across healthcare disciplines and preparing students to address complex health issues through collaborative, team-based approaches.
IPEP Collaborative leaders Stephanie Au, MSN, APRN, DNP, faculty director, and Nana Entsuah-Boateng, PharmD, assistant faculty director, presented on IPEP’s role in transforming health professions education. They emphasized the importance of community-centered partnerships, collaborative learning and interprofessional research in equipping emerging professionals with the tools needed to meet the evolving needs of diverse patient populations.
A highlight of the event was a student-led discussion showcasing the winning project from the Interprofessional Community Health Action Project (ICHAP), which engaged students from all four schools within the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences to address social issues affecting vulnerable populations.
“The IPEP Collaborative embodies the transformative impact we seek through OC-Alliance. By integrating interprofessional education with community partnerships, IPEP prepares our students to provide high quality healthcare access for everyone, including in Latino/a communities. This innovative, team-based approach aligns perfectly with our mission to advance UC Irvine as a Latino/a-thriving university,” said Stephanie Reyes-Tuccio.
The IPEP Collaborative embodies the transformative impact we seek through OC-Alliance. By integrating interprofessional education with community partnerships, IPEP prepares our students to provide high quality healthcare access for everyone, including in Latino/a communities.
Stephanie Reyes-Tuccio
Looking ahead, the IPEP Collaborative outlined plans to scale and sustain interprofessional programs, strengthen community engagement and enhance clinical learning opportunities.
