Alumni from several disciplines talk to students about why collaboration is important

Each year the School of Health Professions gathers students from every professional program (Physical Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Athletic Training, Respiratory Therapy, and Radiography) for an Interprofessional Education Day. 

Through several lectures, workshops, and activities, this event highlights how these professions in practice will rely heavily on collaboration with other disciplines, and how good communication and teamwork will be vital parts of the job in order to provide the best care for patients. 

This year, due to COVID-19, the activities had to be conducted virtually, but that didn’t stop faculty from putting on a useful event. Several Health Professions alumni shared their perspectives on how important collaboration is, what it looks like in their health care setting, and also a bit of what it’s been like to be a health care worker during COVID-19.

Meet the alumni

Kelly Dickey (BHS, MHS) is a sonographer at St. Louis University Hospital. Dickey talks about the versatility of sonography, the unexpected communication elements of her job, and how she uses information and collaboration to treat patients during COVID-19. Watch the video below to learn more:

Emily Drake (MOT) is an Occupational Therapist for the Northshore University HealthSystem – Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, IL. Drake talks about the importance of creativity in OT and how she’s collaborated with other professionals during COVID-19. Learn more at the video below:

Dana Evans (BHS) is the director of respiratory care at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Evans graduated from the Respiratory Therapy program at Mizzou in 2001. She explains her practice and how they’ve made changes to adapt to COVID-19, as well as how she hopes aspiring professionals hone their communication and leadership skills. Watch the video below for more:

Jared Hyler (MAT) is the head athletic trainer at Battle High School in Columbia, MO. Hyler discusses collaborating with physical therapists when rehabbing student athletes and the new realities of his job during COVID-19. Watch more from Hyler below:

Kelsey Okruch (DPT) is a manager at the Children’s Therapy Center – University of Missouri Health Care. Okruch discusses pivoting to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how important collaboration between disciplines is to her clinic. Watch the below video for more:

Dylan Seitz is a post-doctoral fellow at Indiana University School of Medicine. Seitz was a neuropsychology internship here at Mizzou during the initial spread of COVID-19. He talks about how crucial adaptation was within the Department of Psychology at that time, and how he interacts with other providers to improve patient care. Listen to more from Seitz at the video below: