Each episode is a deep dive into the practical aspects of interprofessional collaboration. Our aim is to make this complex subject understandable and implementable for our listeners. We achieve this by interviewing successful professionals from various fields, including education, recovery, first responders, health and social care, and others. We aim to demystify this complex subject and offer actionable guidance.
Presented by the Indiana University Interprofessional Practice and Education Center, our podcast is hosted by Dr. Barbara Maxwell, director of IU IPE, and IU IPE’s Communication Manager David Plough. Interviews are conducted by various members of IU IPE’s staff. Join us as we embark on a journey to unlock the potential of collaboration and foster meaningful connections across disciplines.
Veteran Trauma and Transparency
The Veteran Trauma and Transparency (VTT) Program is an interprofessional initiative that prepares future providers to understand, empathize with, and effectively support military-connected individuals. Host Alex Buchanan is joined by fellow program founders Todd Burkhardt and John Kessler to share how the program uses storytelling, culture, and community collaboration to bridge civilian–military gaps. This episode provides valuable insights into veteran-centered care and highlights the importance of empathy and understanding as essential skills in every profession.
Healing Through Scars pt. 1
Artist and patient advocate Ted Meyer joins Dr. Barbara Maxwell to explore the emotional depth of storytelling in healthcare. Ted shares his journey living with Gaucher disease and how turning scars into art helped uncover deeply personal narratives of resilience, identity, and healing. Together, they discuss how visual art and lived experience can teach future providers to truly listen and connect with patients. This episode is a reminder that effective care requires empathy, creativity, and a willingness to see patients as more than their diagnosis.
When Peer Support Leads Recovery
Certified peer recovery coach Jodi Miller, of the Beyond Substance podcast, joins Dr. April D. Newton to explore the power of peer support in addiction recovery. Drawing from her own lived experience and years of direct service, Jodi shares how peer recovery coaching bridges critical gaps between patients and providers—especially in communities affected by substance use disorder, opioid addiction, and stigma.
Chronic Illness: Resilience Through Advocacy
Artist and patient advocate Ted Meyer interviews Rick Phillips, a dedicated patient voice living with type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Rick shares how his journey with chronic illness shaped his advocacy work and the importance of including patient voices in healthcare. Explore how lived experiences and resilience can inspire community engagement.
Collaboration in Law
What does interprofessional collaboration look like outside of healthcare? In our first episode, IU McKinney Law professor Carrie Hagan shares how law, social work, and community partners work together to serve vulnerable populations — and why breaking silos is essential to justice, equity, and better outcomes.
Evolution of an Institution
In this episode, Barbara Maxwell and Jennifer Berba discuss the creation and evolution of the Indiana University Interprofessional Practice and Education Center (IU IPE). They cover the center's history, development, shared leadership approach, and strategic priorities. They also cover the importance of living the behaviors they expect from others and the impact of a shared leadership process on the center's success.
Healing Through Scars pt. 2
In part two of our conversation with USC Keck School of Medicine's artist-in-residence and patient advocate, Ted Meyer, Dr. Barbara Maxwell delves deeper into what it means to truly hear patient stories. Together, they explore how narrative and empathy can reshape provider–patient relationships, improve outcomes, and challenge process-driven care models.
Voices of Lived Experience
In part two of of Ted Meyers interview with patient advocate Rick Phillips, Rick shares stories about navigating chronic illness within a complex healthcare system. From living with type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis to managing multiple care teams, he highlights the importance of communication, trust, and patient-centered care.
Collaborating for Community Care
Explore how interprofessional collaboration strengthens community health in this episode of Collaborative Conversations as Alex Buchanan interviews Samantha Mitchell of the Crawfordsville Mobile Integrated Health Department. Learn how her team bridges gaps in rural healthcare, partners with local agencies, and tackles barriers to care; from maternal health to emergency services. Samantha adds real world expertise as she talks strategies for building sustainable, community-focused healthcare.
Curriculum of Collaboration, pt 1
This episode is about the importance of incorporating interprofessional education (IPE) experiences into health science curricula. IU IPE's Dr. Zach Weber and Tanya Coltrain of the IU School of Nursing highlight the accreditation standards and the need for collaborative-ready team members in healthcare professions. This conversation covers strategies for successfully integrating IPE experiences, embedding IPE courses throughout the curriculum, and providing opportunities for students to engage in real-world practice settings.
The Facilitators Role
Elli Kolbaum, a clinical professor at the Indiana University School of Optometry, joins IU IPE's Dr Julie LaMothe to discuss interprofessional facilitation and the role of IPE facilitators in team education. This episode touches on strategies for promoting student engagement, both in-person and online, and highlights the value of incorporating personal experiences and perspectives from different disciplines. They also discuss effective feedback techniques, debriefing strategies, and how Elli role models interprofessional practice in optometry.
Curriculum of Collaboration, pt 2
The continuation of Dr. Weber and Tanya Coltrain's conversation about embedding interprofessional experiences into curriculum.
Evolution of a Curriculum
This second conversation between Dr. Barbara Maxwell and Jennifer Burba focuses on the evolution of the IU IPE curriculum and its transition from a traditional content-focused model to a competency-based curriculum. Exploring the process of curriculum review, the impact of the pandemic, the use of evidence-based pedagogy, and the integration of attitudes, knowledge, and skills to drive behavior change.