Interdisciplinary collaboration for health professional education in cancer control.
BACKGROUND
Overlapping responsibilities of health care delivery professionals in the United States has propelled medical, graduate nursing, and public health schools to rethink their curricula. The University of Massachusetts Medical School implemented the Cancer Prevention and Control Education (CPACE) initiative, an interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on behavioral and psychosocial aspects of cancer prevention, control, and research.


METHODS
An interdisciplinary Operations Committee developed courses, clerkships, and programs. Continuing education programs stressed the team approach.


CONCLUSIONS
CPACE teaching objectives were congruent in the three schools, but logistical issues were challenging. Positive preevaluations and postevaluations indicated potential for shaping a collaborative attitude among health care providers.
White
Mary Jo
MJ
Department of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester 01655, USA. MaryJo.White@umassmed.edu
Zapka
Jane G
JG
Coughlin-Storm
Jackie
J
Alexander
Mary K
MK
Bauer-Wu
Susan
S
D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003479:Curriculum; D004496:Education, Continuing; D004501:Education, Medical; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008404:Massachusetts; D017145:Models, Educational; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*