Three faculty members recognized by national IPE group

Three interprofessional education leaders from Texas Woman’s have been inducted into the National Academies of Practice (NAP).

Hope McCarroll, an assistant clinical professor in the School of Occupational Therapy and Jennifer Martin, an SOT associate clinical professor were inducted as distinguished fellows, while Carin Adams, an assistant professor in the School of Nursing, was recognized as a professional member.  

The three were recognized during NAP’s annual induction banquet in March.

NAP is a non-profit organization that advises governmental bodies on the healthcare system. Distinguished practitioners and scholars are elected by their peers from multiple health professions to join the only interprofessional group of healthcare practitioners and scholars dedicated to supporting affordable, accessible, coordinated quality healthcare for all. 

“I am proud of how all three – Jennie, Carin and Hope – are champions for interprofessional education on their campuses,” said Noralyn Pickens, an associate dean for Interprofessional Education and Strategic Initiatives for the College of Health Sciences and College of Nursing. “As campus co-chairs, they train and lead their campus faculty in rigorous IPE programming.”

McCarroll and Adams work with Denton faculty on how to integrate IPE into core learning activities across programs residing in the new Health Sciences Center.

McCarroll was honored to be nominated and recognized as a fellow. She and Martin were two of 17 fellows inducted into the OT academy. 

“I initially became involved with the organization to deepen my engagement in interprofessional initiatives and to advocate for expanded opportunities for students,” McCarroll said. “To be recognized for work I am already passionate about and actively pursuing is incredibly meaningful — and somewhat unexpected.”

Martin has championed a Dallas campus IPE bootcamp, bringing in community members for fall-prevention assessment and treatment plans.

“A lot of this work is done on the Dallas campus through a variety of IPE initiatives and in the work I do at the Agape Clinic, where students, faculty and clinicians come together in a meaningful effort to provide accessible care for our community,” Martin said.

McCarroll and Martin believe that collaborative practice is essential to achieving strong patient outcomes. They noted that exposing students to team-based practices early in their training leads to them developing skills necessary to collaborate effectively. 

“When they (students) enter practice with a strong foundation in interprofessional care, they are better prepared to contribute to teams and support coordinated, patient-centered care,” Martin said. 

McCarroll also felt the fellows distinction carried a responsibility to continue the work with intention and purpose. 

“It reinforces my commitment to advancing interprofessional education and expanding meaningful collaborative opportunities for students,” McCarroll said. “I see this recognition not as a culmination, but as motivation to keep building and advocating in this space.”

The trio join Pickens and Kaelee Brockway, a TWU assistant physical therapy professor, as NAP members. Pickens is a distinguished scholar fellow in the occupational therapy academy, while Brockway is a professional member of the physical therapy academy.