Exploration and Interprofessional Education in Healthcare
Healthcare is a team sport. Familiarity with different roles helps students find clarity about long-term goals. To succeed in today’s competitive job market, it is not enough to just check boxes. Students need to be able to articulate, in writing and conversation: their strengths, professional story, impact, and contributions they will bring to their professions and communities. Attending to the exploration part of professional development widens the breadth and depth of knowledge that make strong applications and confident applicants.
Everyone begins their career journey by moving through stages of development much like learning to crawl before walking and then running. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the National Career Development Association (NCDA), these stages include:
- Knowing yourself – clarifying your strengths, values, and interests.
- Exploring your options – researching occupations and understanding day-to-day experiences of various professions to make better informed career decisions.
- Trying things out – through internships, volunteering, and job shadowing.
- Choosing a path – synthesizing what you’ve learned to make informed decisions.
Interprofessional education (IPE) is about learning with and from different healthcare professions. It builds skills like teamwork, communication, and adaptability—qualities that matter in every setting. Exploring beyond your chosen field helps you see the bigger picture and prepares you to collaborate effectively.
As a prehealth student, it's crucial to develop a comprehensive understanding of the field you're entering. The Duke HPA team is excited to embark on this journey with you. We encourage you to take charge of your professional growth by using the resources and tools available to you. Follow the advising page to connect with your assigned advisor for continued guidance and support. Here are some key strategies to help you navigate this path effectively:
1. Develop a clear understanding of what your chosen profession is and what it is not.
Learning about the characteristics and requirements of various healthcare professions will help you better understand what your chosen profession is and what it is not. Some popular healthcare careers Duke students tend to gravitate to include: dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, optometry, podiatry, occupational therapy, veterinary, physician assistant, allopathic medicine (MD), and osteopathic medicine (DO). Here's an exercise to get started: pick 2-3 of these to compare to your chosen profession. What is the same? What is different? Talk to your prehealth advisor about what you learn from this exploration.
2. Understand the day-to-day realities of your chosen profession.
Learning about the demands and rewards of your chosen profession makes you sound more knowledgeable about your chosen path. It also helps you better articulate to others your commitment to that profession. Undergraduate students can engage with their chosen professions by internet searching for “a day in the life of a….”, engaging in informational interviews with various practicing healthcare professionals, shadowing, volunteering, and engaging with patients.
3. Use a small sample of programs to understand requirements and expectations for admissions.
Regardless of the career path you choose, you will likely have many training programs to choose from. Each program has unique requirements, values, and strengths. Learning about all of them at once is unrealistic. Start by developing in-depth knowledge about one or two programs first. The HPA team recommends starting with your state schools. If you are an international student or hold residency in a state without a professional training program for your chosen profession, identify 2–3 schools you are most curious about, or use the state of NC for reference. State of residency is often an important factor to consider when deciding where to apply. Just pin this knowledge for now. Once you identify the programs that align well, take note of what you find appealing about them. This knowledge will give you a strong foundation to build a portfolio to demonstrate fit with target programs. Knowing in advance what your target schools are looking for help you make informed decisions about courses and extracurricular engagement.
4. Build connections with faculty and peers.
Faculty and peers are important in your career explorations because they can offer insights into experiences you might be considering. They can also vouch for your character and skills as you pursue opportunities in research, volunteering, and applications for jobs or admissions. The prehealth journey is long and rigorous. Don’t underestimate the importance of building a supportive community around you. Foster these connections early on so they will be there when you need them. Build your connections by attending office hours, inviting faculty members to FLUNCHES, joining student clubs, and participating in study groups. Rule #1 of making yourself part of a community is simply to show up!
5. Leverage LinkedIn to expand your professional network.
LinkedIn can be a powerful to build professional connections. You can start by creating a basic account to connect with faculty members, peers, friends and family members in a professional setting. This is also a good place to follow schools you plan to apply, which help you develop a shared language in the long run. The Duke Career Hub has some great tips to help you create a stellar LinkedIn profile. As your network grows, you can tap into it to identify potential professionals you can shadow, organizations for volunteering, and job opportunities for patient engagement hours. Building professional relationships takes time. Starting early helps.