HPEC
Live: April 29, 2025—On-Demand through July 11, 2025
Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Sessions
The Health Professions Educators Conference (HPEC) represents the best thinking on issues related to teaching and learning in the healthcare professions today. Our concurrent sessions span across our 6 Conference Tracks below. More concurrent sessions are being finalized and will be added soon! Stay tuned for additional opportunities to explore evidence-based tools, innovative teaching practices, and the latest research in health professions education. Check back regularly for updates on new sessions designed to help you enhance your teaching and advance your career.
Transformative Teaching in Healthcare Education
Making Pharm Fun: A Case for Student Engagement
Presented by Dr. Jonathan Hill, Assistant Director of General Education, Joyce University of Nursing & Health Sciences
Pharmacology is a cornerstone of healthcare education, yet its complexity often leaves students feeling overwhelmed, especially in online settings. This presentation addresses the critical need to make pharmacology engaging and relatable, improving comprehension and application in practice. By integrating innovative strategies such as navigated learning and case-based scenarios, faculty can transform the online classroom into a dynamic learning space.
Empowering New Faculty: Student Engagement in Emerging Nursing Programs
Presented by Dana London, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor, St. John’s University, and Patricia Esquivias, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor, St. John’s University
How can new faculty in emerging nursing programs effectively engage students and foster a positive learning environment? New faculty in emerging nursing programs face unique opportunities and challenges that differ from those encountered in established nursing schools. While they are often focused on mastering the role of an effective educator, it is equally important to prioritize student engagement. Adopting student-centered teaching strategies is essential for fostering an environment that supports active learning and promotes student success. In addition to navigating the demands of their new teaching responsibilities, new faculty must be intentional about creating engaging learning experiences that foster a positive, supportive classroom culture. By balancing the development of teaching skills with a focus on student engagement, new faculty can lay the foundation for a thriving, dynamic learning environment in emerging nursing programs.
Modified Peer Instruction to Improve Learning in Medical Physiology Classroom
Presented by Colleen Cole-Jeffrey, PhD, M.S., Assistant Professor, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Jack Lee, PhD, Director of Lecture Discussion Pathway & Assistant Director of Physiology, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Does a modified peer instruction active learning strategy improve learning in a medical physiology classroom? Peer instruction is an evidence-based, learner-centered active learning strategy that encourages students to apply knowledge they have learned to new scenarios. Since its development in 2001, peer instruction has demonstrated effectiveness in physics education as well as other STEM fields. Whereas peer instruction is typically used during lectures to test student learning, we opted instead to implement hour-long modified peer instruction sessions with an emphasis on incorporating spaced repetition. We hypothesized that incorporation of sessions devoted to peer instruction into our medical physiology class would enhance the learning of our first-year medical students.
Clinical Readiness and Practical Application
Bridging the Experience Gap: Leveraging Experiential Learning for Early Career Success
Presented by Richard Priore, ScD, MHA, FACHE, Associate Professor, Tulane University
As employers increasingly prioritize candidates with relevant job experience, graduate students without prior work history face a significant disadvantage. This session addresses a pressing need in healthcare administration education: equipping students with experiential learning that translates into job market readiness. The strategies shared will help attendees better support students in presenting their academic and applied projects as credible, professional experiences. The focus on bridging academia and employment will resonate with institutions aiming to boost graduate placement rates and align educational outcomes with market demands.
Pitch Perfect: Mastering Nursing Concepts Through Concise Communication
Presented by Dr. Nicole Lynch, Associate Professor, Alliant International University
This presentation incorporates an “Elevator Pitch” element into BSN and MSN courses to enhance student understanding and communication skills through verbal and on-camera presentations. Students gain confidence in public speaking and professional articulation by delivering concise, persuasive pitches on nursing concepts, reducing reliance on written assignments. This approach may not only decreases academic integrity violations but also equips students with real-world presentation skills essential for their careers. This presentation is important because it addresses the growing need to diversify assessment methods in higher education by incorporating verbal presentations alongside written work. It impacts teaching and learning by enhancing student engagement, promoting critical thinking, and reducing academic integrity violations.
Integrating Global Medical Outreach into Nurse Practitioner Education
Presented by Randy Pellew, DNP, FNP-C, CEN, Assistant Professor, Molloy University, and Kerry Mastrangelo, DNP, APRN,FNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner Programs Director, Molloy University
Chronic disease management remains a significant challenge in resource-limited countries, underscoring the need for innovative healthcare strategies. Nurse Practitioner program leaders recognize global health learning opportunities as a vital component of nurse practitioner (NP) education, equipping students with the skills and competencies to address health disparities. Strategic academic partnerships foster interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural exchange, and improved cultural competence among students. Global health experiences provide Nurse Practitioner students firsthand exposure to diverse healthcare systems, strengthening their competencies in diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethics. These experiences also enhance students’ ability to address social determinants of health that influence patient outcomes. Molloy University, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI), conducts a yearly medical outreach program in Jamaica. This initiative offers NP students hands-on clinical experience in assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with complex comorbidities under faculty and medical preceptor supervision.
Teaching Resilience and Well-Being
Team Teaching: Aligning your Values to Teach Together and Preventing Instructor Burnout
Presented by Aimee Hollander, PhD, Director of Curriculum Fellows Program, Harvard Medical School, Lauren Essler, PhD, Curriculum Fellow, Harvard Medical School, and Deepali Ravel, PhD, Lecturer & Director of Education, Harvard Medical School
Team teaching can be powerful for enhancing student learning, supporting instructor growth and well-being, and reducing burnout. At its best, team teaching promotes effective course design, diversifies role models for students, and provides peer mentorship and support for instructors. However, team teaching can also present challenges, introducing conflicting student expectations, course design approaches, and classroom management strategies. In this session, attendees will use our adaptation of a teaching values assessment tool to reflect on their own teaching values and priorities and practice using the tool to facilitate open communication and co-planning between members of a teaching team.
Fight the BURNout: Implementation and Evaluation of a Student-Guided Wellness Curriculum
Presented by Abby Massey, Assistant Professor, James Madison University, Ashley Skelly MMS, PA-C, Associate Professor, James Madison University, and Whitney Simmons MMS, PA-C, Associate Professor, James Madison University
Burnout among PAs and PA students is of growing concern because of its negative effects on performance, mental health, and physical well-being. Emotional exhaustion, increased cynicism, and decreased sense of professional efficacy are encompassed in the comprehensive term of burnout. Training PA students to effectively manage and prevent the manifestations of burnout can potentially enhance the student experience and, ultimately, improve health care burnout. As preparing for and working in a healthcare profession often leads to personal wellness challenges, this presentation highlights a systematic approach to the implementation of wellness strategies prior to clinical practice. As the majority of this wellness program is student-led, this intervention can easily be weaved into an already full didactic curriculum. It is our hope that this session will be a springboard for other programs to establish their own wellness interventions which will benefit current students, future providers, and their patients.
Trauma-Informed Pedagogy in the Health Professions
Presented by Karen Gordes, PT, DScPT, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, and Violet Kulo, EdD, PhD,
Associate Professor, University of Maryland
This session will describe the relationship between trauma and health professions education including an overview of the neurophysiological connection between trauma, re-traumatization and vicarious trauma on student learning, engagement, and performance. We will review the foundations of trauma-informed pedagogy, specifically the six trauma-informed principles and their applicability to the teaching and learning environment in higher education. Participants will be provided with trauma-informed curricular design strategies intended to support learners’ resilience and well-being across the continuum of trauma experiences, with particular emphasis on addressing the distinct traumas experienced by learners within the helping professions.
Understanding Evidence-Based Resilience in Learning Environments: The Key to Implementing Successful Resilience Interventions
Presented by Heidi Garske, PhD, DPT, PT, Assistant Professor & Director of Clinical Education, Samuel Merritt University
Fostering resilience is elusive to health professions educators because of failing to integrate the tenants of seminal resilience research into our processes. This session introduces evidence-based resilience as it applies to the health professions. This session will provide a clear understanding of the evidence-based definition of resilience backed by 50 years of resilience research. These researchers state repeatedly that resilience is not a personal trait but is a process supported by promotive and protective factors. Participants will be introduced to a resilience framework, based on the tenets of the seminal resilience research, that was developed in k-12 education and is successfully implemented in child development, social services, academia, policy, and corporate industry. This framework applies to the health professions and provides practical ways to recognize how to adjust the environment to intentionally promote resilience.
Equity and Inclusivity in Healthcare Education
Hosting Pipeline Events: Cultivating the Next Generation of PAs
Presented by Kristy Liskey, Associate Professor & Director of Clinical Education, James Madison University, Laura Tice, Assistant Professor, James Madison University, and Jerry Weniger, Associate Professor & Program Director, James Madison University
Generally, pipeline programs (or what can also be referred to as pathway events) are programs that provide high school students with early exposure to college/university content. More specifically, pipeline programs have often been utilized to recruit racial/ethnic minorities and/or socio-economically disadvantaged populations. This is especially important in the healthcare professions where these populations are under-represented. This presentation will discuss a specific PA Program’s four different pipeline events: two that are considered ‘field trips’ for elementary aged children, and two that are part of larger inclusive excellence university initiative towards middle school and high school students.
Innovations in Teaching Health Professions
Bringing AI into the Classroom: Practical Approaches for Health Professions Educators
Presented by Amber Emanuel, PhD, Instructional Associate Professor, University of Florida
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform healthcare, integrating AI into health professions education benefits both faculty and students by enhancing understanding of the technology while enriching classroom learning. This presentation explores scalable strategies for incorporating AI into the curriculum, supporting faculty and learners at all levels of technological proficiency. Specifically, I will discuss two key applications: using AI as a health coach to support students’ own behavioral change efforts and employing AI for patient simulation to enhance their communication skills. These approaches range from basic AI prompt creation to the development of custom AI-powered chatbots, enabling faculty to tailor implementation based on course objectives and their familiarity with AI.
From Theory to Practice: Extended Reality for Future-Ready Healthcare Professionals
Presented by JJ Wallace, Associate Professor of Health and Exercise Science & Program Director, Transylvania University
Extended Reality (XR)—encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR)—revolutionizes healthcare education by immersing students in realistic clinical scenarios. Learners can practice technical, surgical, and patient-care skills (e.g., procedures, first aid and CPR) in safe, repeatable environments. XR fosters hands-on experiences, supports individualized feedback, and maximizes learning outcomes while reducing risks. By integrating evidence-based XR methods, educators empower students with real-time visualizations, better decision-making, and enhanced preparedness for high-stakes clinical challenges, ultimately elevating patient care and shaping the future of health professions education.
Shaping the Future of AI in Health Professions Education: Practical Insights for Educators
Presented by Elmarie Botha, DNP, RN, Assistant Professor, Samuel Merritt University, Laurie Rosa, Interim Co-Director, Samuel Merritt University, and Liz Winer, Senior Instructional Designer, Samuel Merritt University,
Emerging artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer transformative potential across health professions education. In a newly established Nursing MS program, we recognized a pressing need to address artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly. Through intentional faculty collaboration and with instructional design support, we developed a comprehensive AI policy that establishes clear expectations and fosters trust among educators and students. In this presentation, we detail how early integration of AI discussions—spanning academic integrity, responsible use of tools, and ethical considerations—creates a foundation for success throughout the program. To encourage critical thinking and skill development, we designed assignments resistant to excessive AI reliance, including concept mapping, sketch noting, and a Padlet resource assignment. By sharing practical tips and lessons learned, we will empower health professions educators to strike a balance between leveraging AI’s benefits and upholding academic integrity.
Special Topics in Healthcare Education
Bridging Learning Modalities: Student Experiences in the “Better Together” Interprofessional Education Courses
Presented by Fang Lei, PhD, MSN, MPH, RN, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota
Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential for fostering collaboration among future healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes. The Better Together program at the University of Minnesota transitioned from in-person to online delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering flexibility while maintaining its focus on interprofessional communication. This study analyzes retrospective evaluation data from two academic years to explore student perceptions of in-person versus online IPE experiences. Findings indicate a positive shift in student satisfaction with the online format, highlighting the importance of adaptive scheduling, interdisciplinary interaction, and effective communication in remote learning environments. These insights contribute to the ongoing improvement of IPE delivery, ensuring engaging and effective learning experiences across diverse educational settings.
Advancing the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Health Professions: An Interactive Workshop
Presented by Laura Cruz, Research Professor, Penn State University, Alina Cernasev, PhD, PharmD, MSc, Associate Professor, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Devin Scott, PhD, Instructional Consultant, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop designed to deepen your understanding of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) within the health professions. Whether you are a reader or a scholar, this session will provide valuable insights into how to actively engage with SoTL. Drawing from examples in two recent edited volumes, the facilitators will illuminate the pressing questions and challenges that are engaging practitioners, educators, and students alike. Discover why SoTL is essential for advancing educational practices and how you can contribute to this dynamic field.