An innovative interprofessional collaboration between Assistant Professor of Athletic Training, Dr. Meredith Madden, and Director of Population Health at the Catherine Cutler Institute and Public Health faculty, Dr. Judy Tupper, has been gaining national attention in the academic and healthcare communities. Dr. Madden completed the USM Certificate of Graduate Study in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety with Dr. Tupper as instructor of the Certificate courses. Dr. Madden has developed and applied pedagogical tools and activities that bring patient safety, quality improvement, and health literacy content to her athletic training students. Over the past few years, their partnership has led to significant contributions in academic and clinical applications, as highlighted by several peer-reviewed publications, national professional association presentations, and community service-learning projects.
Together, they have co-authored several publications and have been active members of the USM Interprofessional Education (IPE) Committee. The USM IPE Committee is an interdisciplinary faculty group with a mission to deliver and engage students, faculty, and staff in IPE learning experiences. Their ongoing commitment to and success in the field of IPE shows the value of interprofessional collaboration in advancing healthcare education and practice. Their work highlights how these academic partnerships set a solid foundation to find meaningful intersections between health professions to drive impactful change in education and clinical practice.
One of Madden and Tupper’s most recent achievements includes their publication, “Become a Health Literacy Champion: Strategies to Promote Health Literacy in Athletic Training.” This article is currently featured on JAT Chat, the podcast affiliated with the Journal of Athletic Training. In this episode, Dr. Madden discusses the essential role of health literacy in the athletic training profession and its impact on promoting health equity. She explains, “Health literacy is a critical part of care that can significantly influence patient outcomes, especially in the field of athletic training. By enhancing the health literacy strategies of providers and organizations, we can improve health equity and empower patients to make informed decisions about their health, leading to better overall patient wellbeing and health care outcomes.”
Dr. Tupper adds “Athletic trainers are in a unique position to both coach and model health literacy in their direct care of individuals. Academic preparation of athletic trainers should include basic health literacy tools and techniques that can be applied in professional practice. It has been a true joy to see interprofessional education grow at USM and the benefits realized to students, faculty, and professionals in the field.”
For more information on their publications and contributions to public health and athletic training, listen to the JAT Chat podcast episode featuring Dr. Madden, read the Journal of Athletic Training article, or visit the USM Digital Commons and Google Scholar for links to their other publications.