NaHSSA (National Health Science Students' Association)
NaHSSA has IPE Student Associations across Canada and IPHSA is an association that falls under NaHSSA.
The National Health Sciences Student Assocation goals:
Promote Interprofessional Education for Future Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice
NaHSSA will increase awareness amongst health and human service students for interprofessional education as a way of improving the health of patients. The establishment of vibrant local chapters and the provision of ongoing support for interprofessional programming will be a top priority. Promoting the benefits of interprofessional education and generating enthusiasm for this initiative will also be priorities.
A political advocacy that promotes the adoption of policies incorporating collaborative practice and interprofessional education will be a priority for NaHSSA at the institutional, provincial, and national level. NaHSSA will endeavour to support all interprofessional education-friendly policies that exist and encourage the implementation of such policies where they do not exist.
Potentiate Interprofessional Education Opportunities for Canada’s Health and Human Service Students
In order to fully benefit from the various interprofessional education initiatives that currently exist nationally and internationally, NaHSSA must publicize these opportunities amongst its members and encourage the dissemination of this information to all health and human service students in Canada. This goal will be achieved by utilizing effective communication methods such as a comprehensive website, email directory, publicly accessible listserve, online forum, newsletter and/or local meetings or conferences that advertise these opportunities.
Where such initiatives do not exist, NaHSSA will endeavour to develop or encourage others to develop these opportunities in the most effective way possible. NaHSSA will also encourage the development of strong local chapters through information sharing, leadership development, and funding opportunities. Communication is of utmost importance to the goals of interprofessional practice, and local chapters are in the best position to provide for direct interaction between students. As such, local chapters will spearhead the development, execution, and evaluation of valuable and locally-applicable initiatives that will be enhanced by trans-national communication and complemented by various national programs.
NaHSSA will also provide a means for its members to exchange relevant and valuable knowledge that may assist in furthering their effectiveness in achieving the goals of this organization. The creation of an Online IPE Activity Resources Database which included materials such as case studies, program instructions, anecdotes of success, evaluation tools, and inspirational ideas would be a valuable tool for local leaders to lead their own successful programs. National conferences and regional workshops of student leaders will also encourage information sharing, as will fostering the development of intimate regional linkages whereby transportation and communication costs are not an insurmountable burden.
In addition, NaHSSA will encourage the development of innovative interprofessional education curricula by students through recognition of student success and by seeking and publicizing funding opportunities for such initiatives.
Inspiring and Nurturing Student IPE Leaders
NaHSSA will also aim to inspire and nurture student leaders who can champion interprofessional education within their local communities and further promote the goals associated with collaborative practice. This inspiration will stem from creating leadership opportunities within NaHSSA and its local chapters, as well as hosting conferences and developing other practical forums to achieve this goal.
As a student initiative, NaHSSA will also aim to secure student representation and meaningful participation on the various decision-making bodies that influence relevant interprofessional education policies, programs, and funding allocations. This goal will be pursued at the institutional, provincial, and national level.
Further, NaHSSA will encourage and support student-led research projects that are conducted in interprofessional research teams and/or explore the challenges of collaborative practice and interprofessional education.
The National Health Sciences Student Assocation goals:
Promote Interprofessional Education for Future Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice
NaHSSA will increase awareness amongst health and human service students for interprofessional education as a way of improving the health of patients. The establishment of vibrant local chapters and the provision of ongoing support for interprofessional programming will be a top priority. Promoting the benefits of interprofessional education and generating enthusiasm for this initiative will also be priorities.
A political advocacy that promotes the adoption of policies incorporating collaborative practice and interprofessional education will be a priority for NaHSSA at the institutional, provincial, and national level. NaHSSA will endeavour to support all interprofessional education-friendly policies that exist and encourage the implementation of such policies where they do not exist.
Potentiate Interprofessional Education Opportunities for Canada’s Health and Human Service Students
In order to fully benefit from the various interprofessional education initiatives that currently exist nationally and internationally, NaHSSA must publicize these opportunities amongst its members and encourage the dissemination of this information to all health and human service students in Canada. This goal will be achieved by utilizing effective communication methods such as a comprehensive website, email directory, publicly accessible listserve, online forum, newsletter and/or local meetings or conferences that advertise these opportunities.
Where such initiatives do not exist, NaHSSA will endeavour to develop or encourage others to develop these opportunities in the most effective way possible. NaHSSA will also encourage the development of strong local chapters through information sharing, leadership development, and funding opportunities. Communication is of utmost importance to the goals of interprofessional practice, and local chapters are in the best position to provide for direct interaction between students. As such, local chapters will spearhead the development, execution, and evaluation of valuable and locally-applicable initiatives that will be enhanced by trans-national communication and complemented by various national programs.
NaHSSA will also provide a means for its members to exchange relevant and valuable knowledge that may assist in furthering their effectiveness in achieving the goals of this organization. The creation of an Online IPE Activity Resources Database which included materials such as case studies, program instructions, anecdotes of success, evaluation tools, and inspirational ideas would be a valuable tool for local leaders to lead their own successful programs. National conferences and regional workshops of student leaders will also encourage information sharing, as will fostering the development of intimate regional linkages whereby transportation and communication costs are not an insurmountable burden.
In addition, NaHSSA will encourage the development of innovative interprofessional education curricula by students through recognition of student success and by seeking and publicizing funding opportunities for such initiatives.
Inspiring and Nurturing Student IPE Leaders
NaHSSA will also aim to inspire and nurture student leaders who can champion interprofessional education within their local communities and further promote the goals associated with collaborative practice. This inspiration will stem from creating leadership opportunities within NaHSSA and its local chapters, as well as hosting conferences and developing other practical forums to achieve this goal.
As a student initiative, NaHSSA will also aim to secure student representation and meaningful participation on the various decision-making bodies that influence relevant interprofessional education policies, programs, and funding allocations. This goal will be pursued at the institutional, provincial, and national level.
Further, NaHSSA will encourage and support student-led research projects that are conducted in interprofessional research teams and/or explore the challenges of collaborative practice and interprofessional education.
Imagine
IMAGINE (Interprofessional Medical and Allied Groups for Improving Neighbourhood Environment) is an interprofessional, student-run community health initiative aimed at promoting and providing holistic health care to the core neighborhoods of downtown Toronto.