Sowing the seeds of integrative health care: implementation of an interprofessional anatomy curriculum for first year students (18.4)

The University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine Phoenix campus opened in 2006 and has since partnered with Arizona State University (ASU) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) to provide an integrated anatomy curriculum for medical, physician assistant, physical therapy, and bioengineering and anthropology graduate students. Divided into two class groups (UA and ASU/NAU), students utilize the same gross anatomy laboratory and dissect the contralateral sides of the same willed body donors. In order to foster collaboration and a greater understanding and appreciation for all members of the health care team, an interprofessional anatomy curriculum was developed for the 2013 fall semester that included a meet the donor session, maintenance of a donor (patient) chart, four clinically oriented workshops, and a ceremony of appreciation. Assessment of the new curriculum included quantitative measures related to workshop activities and exam performance as well as student and instructor feedback. Results indicat...