CAIEP Opportunities for Health Professions Students

Interprofessional Learning for Career Readiness

As a health professions student at UNE, you engage deeply in interprofessional education (IPE) that prepares you for collaborative, team-based care. Through a range of immersive opportunities, you build vital skills in communication, problem-solving, and professional collaboration. These experiences not only enhance classroom and clinical learning but also support career readiness and provide recognition for excellence in interprofessional practice.

Two University of New England students wearing name tags stand next to an interactive poster board covered with colorful sticky notes organized under "OT" and "Nursing Questions" sections.
In a clinical training room, a U N E healthcare student in blue scrubs performs a shoulder examination on an older male patient in a gray t-shirt, while two other students observe from chairs nearby. Medical equipment and an examination table are visible in the background of this interprofessional learning scenario.

Interprofessional Honors Distinction

As a student in one of the University of New England’s health professions programs, you will be immersed in interprofessional education. Your participation in these opportunities can be recognized at graduation with the IP Honors Distinction, a nationally accredited micro-credential earned by a combination of written reflection and an interprofessional team-based project.

Team Immersion

Interprofessional Case-Based Learning

The Interprofessional Case-Based Learning (IPTI) experience offers advanced, team-based training 1–2 times per semester to enhance classroom learning, clinical skills, and career prospects. It focuses on developing skills in interprofessional roles, communication, and medical error prevention — qualities employers value in health care professionals. Participants also benefit from expanded professional networks and the opportunity to earn an IPE Honors Distinction.

UNE CLARION Case Competition

Annual Competition

The UNE CLARION Case Competition is held each year in March, sponsored by CAIEP, CUP/AHEC Scholars, and the Office of the Provost.

In this competition, teams of students from various professional programs are tasked with reviewing a standardized case, conducting a root cause analysis, and then presenting their solutions to the problem(s) identified in the case to a panel of judges.

The winning UNE team will represent UNE at the University of Minnesota’s national CLARION competition in April. UNE will fully pay the winning team’s airfare, meals, and lodging. The team has an opportunity to win $7,500 (first place), $5,000 (second place), or $2,500 (third place) in the national competition.

Participation in the UNE Case Competition requires completion of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) Open School basic level courses by each student before randomization to a team by mid-January. This helps ensure all students on a team have an equal understanding of the approach to patient safety and root cause analysis.

Sign up by filling out the UNE CLARION Case Competition form. The deadline for submission is generally in December.

U N E students wearing sit around a table labeled during the annual Clarion competition.

Mini-Grants

UNE students in good academic standing can apply for mini-grants to support projects related to health and wellness, including research, clinical practice, advocacy, and the arts. Projects may involve joining faculty research, designing IPE simulations, or creating case-based learning opportunities. Sample topics include addiction, pediatrics, veterans’ health, hospice care, and health disparities.

Apply for a mini-grant

Contact

Recognition of the importance of interprofessional education and practice is growing rapidly. Join the conversation today. Give us a call at (207) 221-4114 or send an email to caiep@une.edu. We’d love to hear from you.