The Virtual Interprofessional Education (VIPE) Collaborative
28 May 2026
St Louis 09.00; Washington DC 10.00; UTC 14.00; London 15.00; Cape Town/CET 16.00
Presenters:
- Andrew Wiss – GW Milken Institute School of Public Health
- Mary Showstark – Yale University
- Gerard Filies – University of Western Cape; AfrIPEN
- Luzaan Kock – University of Western Cape
- Hanlie Pitout – Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University; AfrIPEN
- Farhin Delawala – North-West University; AfrIPEN
Moderator:
- Suzy Plows – CAIPE; University of Nottingham
Description:
Virtual Interprofessional Education (VIPE) is an innovative, digitally enabled model for interprofessional learning that connects students, educators, and professionals across disciplines, institutions, and countries to collaboratively address complex real-world challenges. Designed to move beyond traditional, locally bound interprofessional education, VIPE creates inclusive global learning environments where participants learn with, from, and about one another through case-based collaboration, dialogue, and reflective practice. By leveraging virtual platforms, VIPE promotes global access, systems thinking, and role clarity while preparing students for effective teamwork across health, social, technological, and societal systems increasingly shaped by complexity and rapid change.
Abstract:
Virtual Interprofessional Education (VIPE) collaborative is a globally networked collaborative designed to advance teaming practices by connecting learners and professionals across disciplines, sectors, and geographic boundaries through virtual engagement. Originally developed to expand access to interprofessional education beyond face-to-face classroom settings, VIPE addresses the growing need for workforce preparation in complex, interconnected systems where challenges extend beyond single professions or industries.
VIPE employs curated case-based learning, professional video interviews, and facilitated dialogue to promote role understanding, communication, and systems thinking. The model emphasizes equity, accessibility, and sustained collaboration, enabling participation from institutions and learners regardless of location or resource constraints. Building on its foundational success in health professions education, VIPE has expanded into several regional and thematic initiatives.
AFRI-VIPE strengthens interprofessional collaboration and workforce development across African partner institutions, emphasizing locally relevant challenges and equitable global partnerships. EURO-VIPE supports cross-border collaboration among European institutions, fostering shared learning aligned with regional workforce mobility and interdisciplinary innovation. Recognizing that complex crises extend beyond healthcare, VIPE Security expands participation to professions in security, intelligence, emergency management, policy, and social systems, demonstrating the applicability of interprofessional education to broader societal resilience. Additionally, VIPE integrates emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance collaborative learning, decision-making simulations, and global knowledge exchange.
Author(s) and contact:
- Andrew Wiss – awiss@gwu.edu