Senior lecturer is ‘on board’ with appointment to independent think tank

A globally influential charity which works to promote the benefits of workforce professional development has welcomed a Northumbria University academic to its national board.

Dr Vikki Park, who teaches nursing, midwifery and health students in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, has been appointed as a board member at the prestigious, internationally recognised Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE).

The appointment will serve to strengthen a long-established partnership between Northumbria and CAIPE, which is an independent organisation focused on developing highly trained staff through interprofessional education (IPE), collaborative practice, research, and policy promoting the health and well-being of communities.

Dr Park is already a member of CAIPE’s research working group, but her new role will involve advising on government and professional policy. She will work on top-level collaborations, such as advising leading policy makers including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and work to forge closer links with other IPE providers across the globe.

On her appointment, Dr Park said: “I am passionate about the learning that occurs between health and social care staff and students and have been involved in interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) throughout my nursing and academic career.

“I currently have leadership responsibility within the Health and Life Sciences Faculty with Dr Laura Park, and IPE activities are organised for over 2,500 students from nine professional fields each year.”

After carrying out doctoral research which explored interprofessional learning within the clinical practice environment of adult critical care, Dr Park was invited to present her research findings at the CAIPE Research Symposium, which took place in London in December 2019.

She added; “Appointment to the CAIPE national board will enable international networking and partnership working with regional and emerging interprofessional global networks, which will enhance IPE provision at Northumbria University.

“In collaboration with the Northern IPE Integrated Care Systems Development Group, Northumbria University is hosting the March 2022 CAIPE Regional Forum, and this presents an exciting opportunity to network and learn more about IPE.”

Richard Pitt, Chair of CAIPE, said: “We are delighted to welcome Vikki to the Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education board this year. She has worked with CAIPE as a student member, corporate member, and has played a key part in the research working group and we look forward to having her on our board and the contribution she will make to CAIPE from her wealth of interprofessional education and collaborative practice experience.

“Indeed, Northumbria University has had a long partnership with CAIPE having been a corporate member for over four years. Vikki will join an enthusiastic team helping to promote and develop interprofessional education and collaborative practice not only nationally, but globally, influencing regulatory and professional bodies of health and social care.”

Find out more about the range of Nursing and Midwifery courses, ranked Top 10 by the Guardian University Guide 2020, available at Northumbria University.