During the past year, the National Center team and our collaborators have conducted over 25 U.S. site visits, presented at numerous meetings, fielded hundreds of questions, and worked with national organizations to implement and set standards for IPE. Based upon our lived experiences, we are learning everyday with you. While optimistic in our mandated role as an unbiased, neutral convener, we have lots of questions about what we are observing and the future of IPE.  And, we know we are not alone.

Some important commentaries about IPE in the era of risk and innovation in health care and education have come out recently. They challenge our conventional thinking, raise new concerns, and insist that we think consider new approaches. These provocative new ideas play a critical role in advancing our thinking about IPE by framing the right questions – some of which may be uncomfortable. They are important in creating transparency and vision.  For example, one commentary suggests that we need to enter a new phase of IPE; another emphasizes the unique role of physicians in IPE as the profession currently with the ear of policymakers and decision-makers, and another questions traditional workforce planning and policy approaches that focus on the “shortage narrative” rather than the importance of teams and IPE.

During the Summit’s interactive opening keynote, attendees will join the National Center team and IPE leaders in framing the questions to propose today’s central issues and future directions.  Experience the power of asking the right questions and explore where to look for the answers, together.