More than 300 students from five different collegiate academic programs participated in the CoP’s annual virtual Interprofessional Education (IPE) Day on October 15th. This collaborative simulation focused on team-based care and added an exciting element to the experience: an AI-powered virtual community patient, or a standardized patient, named Jane Ryan. Jane’s presence allowed for realistic, real-time interactions that enhanced both clinical and communication skills for all participants.
Students from the UGA College of Pharmacy, the AU/UGA Medical Partnership, Augusta University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the UGA School of Social Work, and East Carolina University’s College of Health and Human Performance worked in interprofessional teams to manage a complex patient case transitioning through multiple healthcare settings. Each team included representatives from all four healthcare disciplines, guided by faculty facilitators to promote collaboration, shared decision-making, and patient-centered care.
The day began with a keynote address focused on the role of interprofessional collaboration in treating substance use disorders. Students then engaged in a two-phase simulation, using Zoom breakout rooms and AI tools to guide care planning and patient education. The addition of the “patients” challenged students to navigate realistic clinical and ethical scenarios.
One student noted that, “The AI avatar made the experience feel incredibly real and challenged us to think and communicate like true healthcare teams.” Another commented, “The standardized patient’s acting abilities really brought Jane to life and we could feel her need for us to provide care for her opioid use disorder.”
Teams later gathered into eight large pods for debriefing, led by interdisciplinary faculty who facilitated reflection on team dynamics, professional identity formation, conflict management, and the patient journey.
Aligned with the IPEC Core Competencies, the 2025 Virtual IPE Day prepared students not just to work within their own disciplines—but to lead in collaboration to put the patient first.
