Hudson Pursues Excellence in Interprofessional Education
Clinical Associate Professor Heather Hudson, EdD, LAT, ATC, is persistently pursuing excellence, growth, and opportunity in the field of interprofessional education (IPE). Hudson serves as Program Director for the Master of Athletic Training program in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation and as IPE Committee Chair for Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences.
This Spring, Hudson was presented the Distinguished Fellow Award at the Texas IPE Consortium Annual Conference. She was also inducted into the Athletic Training Academy of the National Academies of Practice, a nonprofit organization that advises governmental bodies on healthcare systems and the only interdisciplinary group of healthcare practitioners dedicated to these issues.
“The foundational principles of interprofessional collaboration and practice come from teaming. One of the common goals from teaming well together is the positive impact it can have across populations. For healthcare in particular that can include positive health outcomes for community or individual health through increased safety,” Hudson shared. “These recognitions help to advance the IPE initiatives in Robbins College and Baylor University because we are becoming known for our work in this area. Additionally, this will continue to allow for us to have interinstitutional partnerships providing opportunities for our students to engage with other professional students at different universities.”
In addition to the recognitions she has received, Hudson is active both externally and internally in developing interprofessional education initiatives. She presented alongside Kayla Collins, MOT, EdD, OTR/L, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, at the 2024 American Occupational Therapy Associate (AOTA) annual conference on developing virtual reality experiences to educate students on addressing social determinants of health. She also presented on “Integrating Cultural Awareness, Sensitivity, and Competency into the Curriculum through IPE in Virtual and Hybrid Health Profession Programs” with Katy Vogelaar, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CNE, Clinical Assistant Professor in Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing. This coming summer, Hudson will participate in the Graduate School Research and Education Symposium at Fort Sam Houston and at the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Annual Symposium, where she will present on concepts of IPE and Teaming.
This past semester, Hudson and the Robbins College IPE Committee hosted a virtual Interprofessional Education Symposium to explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning across healthcare disciplines. The committee continues to explore ways to bring faculty, staff, and students from various programs and professions together to learn about, from, and with each other.
Through efforts like these, Hudson and her fellow interprofessional education advocates and experts are, at the end of the day, advancing the educational experience for and preparation of Baylor students pursuing a career in healthcare, better equipping them to make an impact in the lives of their future patients, clients, and the communities they will serve.