More than 20 students from Boston-area health professions programs gathered on the MGH Institute campus last week for a night of networking designed to bring together a mix of perspectives and professional backgrounds from across medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, and other health programs. MS-SLP student Rebecca Butler designed Building Relationships for Interprofessional Dialogue, Growth and Engagement (BRIDGE), as a part of her independent study to foster collaboration, reduce barriers between disciplines, and help future clinicians better understand one another’s roles. 

“We wanted students to learn from each other about what we study, why we chose these paths, and what we hope to achieve,” Butler said. “By having conversations now, before entering clinical settings, students start to realize it’s not intimidating to collaborate across disciplines. It humanizes the people you’ll be working with.” 

Her efforts led to an enthusiastic response, and 36 students from Lasell University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston College Law School, Harvard, Emerson College, Boston University, and Northeastern University accepted the invitation. An additional 30 students were on a waiting list. 

Butler arranged the seating so attendees interacted with peers from different institutions and specialties. To spark conversation, reflection, and connection, students took part in a Kahoot trivia game, large- and small-group discussions on the challenges and opportunities of interprofessional work, and a closing creative activity where students built collages representing what collaboration looks like in their future careers. 

The success of the inaugural gathering already has Butler looking toward the future. 

 “I am so excited to have seen everyone who came engage in such interesting and thoughtful conversations,” said Butler. “I learned so much from everyone who attended, and I cannot thank all of the participants enough for making the first BRIDGE event surpass all of my hopes for what it could be. I am so excited for what's to come going forward.