In April of 2022, Ellen Schnur, Jim Mecir, and I collaborated with Lori Porter, EdD, MBA, RDN, Director, Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Practice and Director Dietetics Program at Ball State University to design Medical Improv sessions for faculty and students. It was our first time experimenting with IPE competencies and sub competencies1 to create learning objectives for faculty and students in healthcare programs. (Also our first hybrid!)

The Perfect Teaching Modality

All of the IPE core and sub competencies and more can be developed using expertly facilitated Medical Improv. There are hundreds of experiential activities that can be integrated in to programs that are customized with learning objectives, traditional content lectures, discussion and reflection questions, storytelling and with train the trainer, facilitation practice.

We used several sub competencies from #3: Interprofessional Communication to develop objectives and plan activities for student and faculty sessions. The survey statements for each group involved development in 7 areas. 

  • Expressive communication skills like confidence and self-awareness. 
  • Listening skills like perspective-taking, validating, and observing. 
  • Ability to think on one’s feet and develop ideas quickly.
  • Empathy levels for others and selves. 
  • Communicating in teams and in front of groups.
  • Mindfulness and being in the moment. 
  • Attitude of respect for all members of the healthcare team.

75-100% from both groups ‘strongly agreed’ in every area! 

Medical Improv Session with Faculty at Ball State University

Beth/Jim/Ellen, Thank you again for the wonderful job you did facilitating the improv sessions for faculty and students yesterday.  Everyone I spoke with truly enjoyed the workshops and gained valuable skills for use in their professional and personal life.  The improv activities were especially helpful and insightful for faculty and students.– Lori A. Porter EdD, MBA, RDN

Two Medical Improv sample videos with context can be found here!

Footnote 1: Our workshop used 2016 version of IPE competencies. Updated in 2023

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