Despite the inclement weather on August 11 and 12, 2018, the very
first Philippine Interprofessional Education and Collaboration (IPEC)
also known as PHIPEC Conference 2018 pushed through and was held
at the Central Laboratory Building of the University of Santo Tomas. It was
attended by over 80 participants from more than 10 health and social care
professions.
The two-day conference, held in partnership with the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) College of Allied Medical Professionals (CAMP), was participated in by health and social care professionals such as those in the field of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology, nursing, medicine, social work, psychology, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, health professions education. It aimed to facilitate uniform understanding of IPEC across higher education institutions and health facilities as well as to instigate research and curriculum creation on IPEC for improved health outcomes for the Filipino population.
The participants were welcomed by UST College of Rehabilitation
Sciences Dean Assoc. Prof. Anne Marie Aseron and AUF CAMP Dean
Annalyn Navarro, Ph.D., in their respective speeches during the
program. More than 15 speakers shared their expertise in health
education and practice in the light of IPEC. Keynote speeches were
delivered and plenary sessions were threaded based on the core
principles of health professions education — teaching, applying,
integrating, and discovering.
Thematic symposia that discussed on-going IPEC related research and projects with specialized topics such as HIV care, substance addiction,
communication competencies, team strategies, and more were
also available.
Each day was ended with workshops that facilitated
interactive learning amongparticipants. Speakers included
UST Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, medical doctor from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Anna Karen Causapin, UST
alumna and speech pathologist Ms. Ina Arraine Bunda, CRS faculty
members and physical therapists Ms. Catherine Joy Escuadra and
Assoc. Prof. Jocelyn Agcaoili.
On the last day, a post conference workshop was held to determine future possibilities for the newly founded PHIPEC network that will reinforce a
strengthened Filipino health care system. The following were
agreed upon: Formalize IPEC training and education for faculty,
students, and graduate students; Challenge more practitioners
to learn and engage in IPEC; Strengthen conflict resolution
and effective communication competencies among students
and professionals within the health and social care professions;
Explore various methods and research designs in IPEC-related
research such as qualitative, mixed methods, experimental;
Publish a textbook manual that will highlight best practice in
IPEC in the Philippines; Discover possibilities of more interuniversity collaboration in terms of IPEC education and research across the archipelago; and Establish an informal network for Filipinos to be called the “PHIPEC Network,” which is envisioned to be part of the
World Coordinating Council – All Together Better Health and
formally recognized by the CAIPE in the future.
