Students

Student Spotlights

Sagal Jama

Public Health Student
Interprofessional Student Spotlight

“There is so much that the IPE program offers. This is a community of scholars and students. I enjoy the opportunity to meet other students and engage with other disciplines. We are learning from each other and we see healthcare best practices from different perspectives. It is eye opening to see how other professionals approach a problem and it challenges me to apply my own skills in new ways. In my current study, I am working alongside a team of public health students, medical providers, medical students, and researchers; each member brings their unique expertise and knowledge to advance dementia awareness and support the aging population. I took part in the interprofessional Clarion Case Competition, and this experience allowed me to work with other healthcare students in tackling a major public health issue and design a strategic plan. Like many IPE experiences, these are collaborative in nature and it helps us think outside the box while working together to analyze complex health issues and propose innovative solutions. We are gaining practical, hands-on learning experiences that go beyond traditional coursework. In classes, I often have the opportunity to learn alongside students in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary medicine, and dentistry, which broadens my perspective and helps me practice communication and teamwork skills in real-time. It’s been incredibly valuable to see how different roles come together to support patient care and promote public health. I envision using the skills and insights I’ve gained from interprofessional activities in almost every aspect of my future career. Working on collaborative projects at the U has reinforced the idea that no single person can provide all the solutions, especially when addressing complex public health issues. In my career, whether I’m leading public health initiatives, working on community-based projects, or collaborating with health care teams, I’ll draw on the experiences I’ve had in interprofessional settings.”