QU Health Hosts the Ninth Annual IPE Student Forum Focused on Disaster Preparedness and Management

QU Health hosts the Ninth Annual IPE Student Forum successfully organized by the Interprofessional Education (IPE) Student Association, a collaborative effort involving health profession students from various esteemed institutions. This year's theme, "Disaster Preparedness and Management," aimed to equip future health professionals with essential knowledge and skills to respond effectively to both natural and man-made disasters.

In a remarkable display of unity, students from QU's Health colleges, including Pharmacy, Medicine, Health Sciences, Dental Medicine, and nursing, joined forces with peers from the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), the University of Calgary Qatar (UCQ), and Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar (WCMQ). This collaboration not only strengthened the bonds between different health profession students but also provided a unique platform for interactive and engaging experiences. Distinguished attendees included Prof. Feras Alali, Associated Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at QU; Dr. Alla El-Awaisi, Director of Clinical Operations and Engagement at QU; and Dr. David Dungan, Director of Emergency and Disaster Preparedness at Qatar Primary Healthcare Corporation, among others.

This year's theme was carefully chosen to address the growing need for health professionals to be well-versed in disaster management. Dr. Alla El-Awaisi, Director of Clinical Operations and Engagement and head of IPE program at QU Health, highlighted the significance of equipping health professionals with the knowledge and response skills required for swift and coordinated actions during crises.

The forum's program included presentations on various health topics, a fundamental component of the event. Students from health professions delivered presentations covering diverse healthcare subjects within a strict ten-minute timeframe for each presentation. Furthermore, the forum featured case presentations focusing on disaster scenarios, showcasing how medical students handled these situations. Four teams of medical students participated in this challenge, with judges from various universities and healthcare institutions evaluating their responses.
In a statement, Prof. Feras Alali, Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at QU, stated, "Today's successful IPE Forum is a testimony to our continued commitment to Interprofessional Education (IPE) and collaborative practice to enhance healthcare delivery. We are leading efforts to integrate various specialties in healthcare, promote a team-based culture, and improve patient outcomes."

In her turn, Dr. Alla El-Awaisi, Director of Clinical Operations and Engagement and Head of IPE program at QU Health, said, "Amidst the disasters caused by nature and humans, as witnessed over the past few years, it is essential for health professionals to possess knowledge in disaster management and response skills effectively to these crises, ensuring that the response is swift and coordinated. This year's forum extended beyond the discussion of disaster management to integrate it into the keynote address, the interprofessional team challenge, and the disaster simulation challenge. This integrated approach enhances the role of collaboration in mitigating the impact of disasters on communities, a role that is indispensable."

Finally, Ms. Jawaher Baraka, a 6th - year student at QU's college of Medicine, and the President of the IPE Student Association, said, "This forum is an opportunity for health majoring students in Qatar to explore the Interprofessional environment through different activities and challenges. This forum mixes learning with joy to create a long-lasting impact of Interprofessional education on students to encourage them to assume this path in their college and practical life. Through our activities, students understand the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and communication as part of their responsibility as health practitioners in the future."

The IPE Forum served as an outstanding opportunity for participants to delve into real Interprofessional Education (IPE) scenarios, preparing them for their future roles as health professionals. The event emphasized the importance of collaboration in healthcare delivery, promoting teamwork, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

QU's Interprofessional Health Education Student Organization consistently works towards providing students with suitable extra-curricula opportunities to enhance collaboration and develop skills in interprofessional health practice. The organization aims to prepare students for their professional journey in health through events like the Annual Interprofessional Health Education Forum.