The National Center has a bold vision to optimize health by aligning the education and health system outcomes that matter most to the individuals, families, communities and populations served. We value the leadership, courage, and creativity that lead to these optimally aligned health and education systems and are committed to our role as an unbiased neutral convener across professions, organizations, and settings to support collaboration across professions and systems that result in superior outcomes for those being served.
National Center - Building Community, Advancing Outcomes
James Ballard, Director for Interprofessional and Community Health Education, University of Kentucky
Madeline Schmitt, Professor Emeritus, University of Rochester School of Nursing
The Nexus: Setting the Stage for the Next 10 Years
The 10th anniversary of the National Center marks an important milestone. It provides an opportunity for reflection on progress and change as well as looking forward to what opportunities and challenges lie ahead. Building on a strong foundation as a neutral, unbiased convener, the National Center remains committed to the Nexus of practice and education.
In collaboration with key partners across North America and beyond, newly appointed Center Director, Chris Arenson is poised to continue expanding the center's programs to work more intentionally across professional partners and communities with a focus on what matters most to those served.
Nexus Strategic Priorities 2022
Christine Arenson
Director, National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education
The Five Strategic Imperatives
The Nexus Summit 2021 brought a variety of stakeholders together to discuss and share their vision for the future of the National Center’s work. From these discussions, five strategic priorities emerged that are deeply informed by input from the National Center’s partners. These five strategic imperatives are guiding decisions tied to priorities and programs.
“In the last two years through the evolution of the center, we've identified five strategic priorities to really focus and refine our work,” explained Chris Arenson, director of the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. “Our intent is to support relationships and connections across practice and education that build capacity, connect curriculum with the community it serves, support teams in acknowledging the unique knowledge and experience each member contributes to the care of those served while engaging those served in the Nexus so their interests and priorities are reflected in the care delivered. By doing so, we can collectively generate data, gather evidence and share knowledge that will advance goals toward sustainable and effective improvements in health and learning.”
Learn More About the Five Strategic Imperatives
Telling the Story with Data
As the National Center continues to refine the National Center Interprofessional Information Exchange (NCIIE) and NexusIPE™ Core Data Set, partners expressed excitement about the possibilities to tell stories about the impact of the Nexus including learner, patient, and system outcomes aligned with interprofessional competencies and the Quadruple Aim.
The Nexus: Designing for Outcomes that Matter Most
Gerri Lamb, Founding Director, Arizona State University Center for Advancing Interprofessional Practice, Education and Outreach
Peter Vlasses, Executive Director Emeritus, Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
James Pacala, Head, Dept of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School
Significantly, the National Center is poised to not only share the information and knowledge gathered with the NCIIE and the NexusIPE™ Core Data Set but also support partners in connecting practice and education efforts for maximum impact and outcomes.
Keeping the Momentum Going
Looking at the next ten years, National Center staff and partners are excited to utilize the NCIIE and NexusIPE™ Core Data Set as a practical approach to evaluating the impact of interprofessional education in the Nexus, within one site or across multiple sites.
“I look forward to what comes next!”, shared Jim Ballard, director of University of Kentucky Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education. “You know, we don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, but I can pretty much count on the National Center for being there to help us get to where we all want to be.”