Integrating Music Therapy Students into Interprofessional Education: Academic Program Development

Abstract

Interprofessional education (IPE) occurs when students from two or more professions associated with health or social care engage in learning with, from, and about each other. IPE addresses four essential competencies that not only seek to prepare students for interprofessional practice, but also strive to improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery for patients and their families. This article describes the development of an IPE program that fully integrates music therapy students into program-wide and program-to-program IPE events. We identify core components of IPE, describe the development of program-wide and program-to-program events involving undergraduate and graduate music therapy students, and discuss the benefits and challenges encountered during program development. In doing so, we advocate for IPE as a core component of music therapy education and training.