Foundational Classroom-Based Learning and the Integrated Curriculum at UBC Health

UBC Health has a core mandate to support the development and delivery of interprofessional education at UBC. As defined by the World Health Organization, interprofessional education occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes.

The Role of Interprofessional Education (IPE)

Team-based care is growing across BC, and with it comes a need to support this shift through education, research, and knowledge sharing. Interprofessional education (IPE) helps prepare students throughout their training by building the skills, understanding, and perspectives they need to work effectively in collaborative care settings. Through this program, UBC Health is committed to offering interprofessional and patient-engaged education that is meaningful, culturally safe, and tailored to the needs of each region where UBC students receive training.

The Integrated Curriculum

The Integrated Curriculum is a key part of health programs at UBC, designed to help students build the skills needed for team-based care. This interprofessional education (IPE) program includes a series of workshops and online modules where students from different health disciplines learn together about complex health topics and develop skills for working collaboratively. Students take part in interactive workshops and online modules as part of the Integrated Curriculum.

Workshops are co-led by facilitators from different health programs, demonstrating how professionals collaborate in real-world settings. Patient facilitators also take part, offering valuable insights and lived experiences for students to learn from. The Integrated Curriculum is formally embedded in the training of health professionals at UBC and a mandatory component for each professional program.

Core Features of the Curriculum

The following table illustrates the unique characteristics of the Integrated Curriculum based on the program's foundational principles:

Key Learning Modules

The Integrated Curriculum includes workshops and modules focused on essential healthcare disciplines:

• Professionalism
• Ethics
• Indigenous cultural safety
• Health informatics
• Substance use and addiction
• Collaborative decision-making

Partnerships and Specialized Training

UBC Health works with the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health to support the delivery of UBC 23 24 Indigenous cultural safety training as part of the Integrated Curriculum. These Indigenous cultural safety sessions follow an allyship model and are co-facilitated by an Indigenous facilitator, creating space for meaningful learning and reflection. These modules and workshops help prepare future health professionals to provide culturally safe care and contribute to better health outcomes for Indigenous peoples.

Furthermore, in partnership with the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), UBC Health also supports improved education around substance use and addiction. A dedicated workshop within the Integrated Curriculum gives students foundational training in prevention, treatment, care, and recovery—equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to work effectively in collaborative healthcare environments.