Dear Colleagues and Friends, I hope that you are off somewhere enjoying this long weekend as a respite from your busy and important work. It is Sunday afternoon and it's a snowy blowy day around the harbor. As many who read this will know, I am home recovering from surgery and so I am taking time to express some appreciation. I will write more about all of this in the future. My personal gratitude for your many expressions of connection/concern/and affection is intense. I enjoy (love!) hearing what is going on at School, with our students and Faculty, and of course, with you. Heather and...

In a few days, we will be back at our desks. We will all begin planning for a new semester and a new calendar year of 2013 (Happy New Year). New ABSN students will be arriving Jan 9 for their orientation and classes will resume on January 14. And so begins a new year. What will 2013 be like for the IHP? There will be lots of activity, as always. Faculty Development Week, the Interdisciplinary Lecture at Hynes Auditorium, planning new research and laboratory space in building 79-96, a visiting professor for the Baugh series, and the list goes on. I hope that as you think about 2013, you will...

For the past several days, I have struggled with the horrible events of last Friday, December 14, 2012. A shooter entered an elementary school and shot 6 teachers and 20 first graders. As a parent and grandparent, as a professional, and as someone who hates guns, this one has been hard for me. The images, indelibly imprinted in my psyche, are terrifying and sad. The media has conjectured extensively about the increased possibility of gun control legislation, as well as the flaws and possibilities of the mental health system. They have also revealed a new debate as to whether principals and...

Last Friday I had the opportunity to spend time with several students, clinical faculty members, and preceptors at the Mass General on Ellison 8. There, each week, an interprofessional group (Nursing, DPT, CSD) students spend time together caring for patients, learning about the work of each of our disciplines, experiencing day long observation of the top notch professional acute care at the MGH, and then spending an hour together reflecting on what the significant learnings were that occurred on that day. I was able to see a bit of the action that occurred on the floor,but spent more time in...

It is that time, once again, when we honor Veterans. These people who have served our country deserve special thanks and appreciation from all of us. We are especially proud and grateful for those members of the IHP community-faculty, students, alumni, and staff who have served in the armed forces. Many of these individuals have served as health care providers in the service. Please join me in saying thanks to this special group of people!

Last night, the Institute’s annual gala (35th birthday celebration!) was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Boston’s Innovation District, the seaport. The venue was beautiful. As always, friends of the IHP filled the room. Old friends found each other, student scholars were recognized, fantastic staff members made the evening sparkle, there was a lovely dinner. Even though much of the pattern was the same as in previous years, each gala has a unique story to share or a unique focus. For last night’s event, several unique features come to mind. First of all, the key video presentation focused on...

In many disciplines, argument is considered to be a tool for arriving at a good decision. It may or may not be associated with anger or conflict. It does imply disagreement about a specific topic or issue. Today, at the Institute, we are engaged in a discussion that rises to the level of an argument. We are debating the pros and cons of the inclusion of a Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program in our portfolio of academic offerings. Why the debate? Those who support the addition of PA Education to the offerings in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences see this as an...

Oh Baby! Friday, September 27 was another landmark day for the entry level graduate students at the Institute. The Institute’s annual Baby Day was held for the first time at our newest facility at 2 Constitution Center. Started several years ago by great leaders in the Department of Physical Therapy, Baby Day has become a true interprofessional learning adventure for many, many students. Having the new facility allows more babies and more students and faculty to participate. Baby Day involves inviting parents to bring in infants and toddlers for observation/assessment and interaction with our...

In my four years plus in Boston, I have found that one of the thing that I love is a warm, sunny day in the Navy Yard. Today was one of those days. The harbor was sparkling, but smooth as glass. The sun shone down on our school, highlighting its interesting architecture. This was just one of those days that popped. What could be better? Let me tell you.... Three hundred of our graduate students---nursing, speech-language pathology, physical therapy, even a few prereq students..... joined by lots of faculty and staff members (40 or so), spread out all over Charlestown (that's the Boston...

Just two weeks ago, we learned that Dr. Lena Sorensen our colleague, faculty member, teacher, and friend passed away after a very brief illness. We were sad to lose this Institute leader, but relieved to know that her suffering was not lengthy and that she was with her long time partner, Alice Friedman. Expressions of disbelief, grief, and loss have been intermingled with interesting and uplifting stories of Lena’s talents, her passion for her work and her students, and her commitment to connecting patients and providers via...