Conference will focus on building healthy communities

The Midwest Interprofessional Practice, Education, and Research Center (MIPERC) will host its 11th annual conference September 20-21 on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

MIPERC is an organization founded by Grand Valley, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners and Michigan State University-College of Human Medicine to support collaborative health care initiatives across disciplines and institutions. Housed in the Office of the Vice Provost for Health, MIPERC has a membership of more than 25 institutions and organizations.

Keynote addresses will center on the conference theme, "Developing Healthy Populations, Communities, and Systems through Interprofessional Collaboration."

Speakers are Barbara Brandt, director of the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education; Shelly Virva, associate clinical director for the National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs; Dr. Corey Waller, principal at Health Management Associates; and Mark Meijer, president of Life EMS Ambulance.

The conference will begin September 20 with a pre-conference workshop from 9-11 a.m. at the L. William Seidman Center. Discussion topics include telehealth for clinical placements and distance learning, and big data. Afternoon keynote addresses and poster presentations will be at the DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium. September 21 events will also be at the DeVos Center, including a keynote from Meijer and breakout sessions.

Registration and conference details are online at gvsu.edu/miperc.