The anatomy lab as an early opportunity for reflection‐based interprofessional education

Educators in health professions programs seek to develop interprofessional educational (IPE) opportunities within existing curricula. Anatomy courses provide an excellent opportunity for IPE activities,1, 2 because they represent a common foundational experience occurring early in training across health professions programs. Many anatomy IPE experiences bring students from different programs together highlighting shared foundational knowledge,3 but do not intentionally explore how that shared knowledge may relate to future shared clinical practice. To address this challenge, we offered an optional IPE anatomy lab experience for preclinical dental and doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students who had completed their human gross anatomy courses within the past 6 months (UIC IRB 2023-1066). Eight DPT and five dental students participated in one 2-h dissection lab (Figure 1). All students participated in dissections of the knee4 and temporomandibular joints. These joints were selected to demonstrate functional and structural differences and similarities including age-related degenerative changes and to foster an appreciation for the overlapping work of physical therapists and dentists as it relates to this anatomy. Faculty determined dissection groups, pairing a least one student from each cohort together (Table 1). The session started with a reflection to facilitate discussion about the value and application of anatomy for each discipline and where overlap exists. Faculty highlighted similarities and differences in anatomy, mechanics, and degenerative changes in the respective joints. After dissecting, students completed a feedback reflection that included Likert scale and free response questions. This experience is novel in the following ways: (1) students explored the profession-specific anatomic knowledge of each cohort; (2) students reflected on what they knew about their own and the other's scope of practice; (3) students projected where overlap might exist in future clinical work; (4) the investigation of similarities and differences in the two cohorts occurred in parallel to the investigation of similarities and differences in the chosen synovial joints. Our aim was for students to learn from the experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of other health professions students through cooperative dissection, discussion, and reflection. Figure 2 details responses to Likert-scale questions from the feedback reflection. All Likert scale and free response questions are available in Table 2. Students referenced the opportunity to learn from and teach students in the other cohort, in addition to the ability to review anatomy and focus on the specific joints in more detail as the most valuable aspects of the experience. When asked what they learned about the other profession, students expressed an improved understanding of the depth of knowledge of their colleagues as well enhanced perspective of the scope of practice of the other profession. Students agreed that their anatomic knowledge was enhanced by the experience and that they would like to participate in additional interprofessional activities although they requested additional time for future sessions. The experience allowed both cohorts to think about their professional and interprofessional identities at an early point in their training. Based on the positive responses to this experience, we will continue offering and expand this interprofessional anatomy experience. How do you believe the study of anatomy supports your future clinical practice? Why do dental students study the upper limb? Why do physical therapy students study the abdomen? Why do you think we picked these two joints for study? What was most valuable for you about this experience? (free response) This dissection experience enhanced my learning about the anatomy of the knee and temporomandibular (TMJ) joints (response options: strongly agree—agree—no opinion—disagree—strongly disagree) What could have enhanced your learning? (free response) What motivated you to sign up for this session? (free response) The time allotted was sufficient to accomplish the work/objectives for the lab. (response options: strongly agree—agree—no opinion—disagree—strongly disagree) How did you prepare: (select all that apply) would be interested in attending other interprofessional dissection experiences. (response options: strongly agree—agree—no opinion—disagree—strongly disagree) The authors would like to thank the students who participated in this experience, the donors and their families, and the UIC anatomy laboratory facilities and staff for supporting this activity.