Breaking Silos to Strengthen Unified Care: The 2nd Global Interprofessional Education Leader Camp (Asia Pacific IPECP Collaborative Centre – Gunma University Japan)

From 23 to 27 March 2026, four IMU medical students represented IMU at the 2nd Global Student Interprofessional Education (IPE) Leader Camp in Jeju, South Korea. The camp brought together students from diverse healthcare disciplines worldwide to strengthen collaborative practice, leadership, and patient-centred care through interprofessional education.

Event:

2nd Global Student Interprofessional Education (IPE) Leader Camp

Date:

23–27 March 2026

Location:

Jeju, South Korea

Participants:

Undergraduate to PhD students from multiple countries and different fields

IMU Representatives:

• Nur Liyana Safirah (ME122)
• Tan Khai Ee (ME122)
• Tan Ryo-En (ME122)
• Sasthi Vaishnavi A/P Suresh (ME222)

Organiser:

Gunma University Centre for Research and Training on IPE

Focus:

Interprofessional education, collaborative practice, patient-centred care

From 23 to 27 March 2026, four IMU medical students named Nur Liyana Safirah (ME122), Tan Khai Ee (ME122), Tan Ryo-En (ME122), and Sasthi Vaishnavi A/P Suresh (ME222) had the privilege of representing IMU at the 2nd Global Student Interprofessional Education (IPE) Leader Camp in Jeju, South Korea.

Organised by the Gunma University Centre for Research and Training on IPE under the leadership of Professor Bumsuk Lee, this camp brought together students from different fields and uniting students from undergraduate to PhD levels across the globe.

We were thrilled to venture into collaborative learning with peers from other fields such as nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, food and nutrition, paramedicine, and midwifery.

Guided by Professor Dato’ Dr Sivalingam Nalliah, our mentor who is an expert in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP), we spent the week breaking down professional silos and discovering that while our disciplines vary, our shared commitment to patient-centered care is our universal language.

The camp encouraged us to trade the traditional “I” for a collective “we,” moving beyond our individual roles to understand the dynamics of an interprofessional team. We focused on four core points:

• Navigating emerging IPE trends in Asia,
• Sharpening our practical collaborative skills,
• Defining our strategic roles as future leaders, and
• Cultivating a deep respect for multicultural values

It was a compact week dedicated to proving that being an effective team player with a holistic mindset is just as important as sharpening clinical expertise.

We explored healthcare through a variety of professional lenses.

• Professor Bumsuk Lee set the stage by addressing the regional challenges of IPE.
• Professor Dato’ Dr Sivalingam Nalliah shared a doctor’s perspective in “The role of IPE/CP in Healthcare,” highlighting how early collaborative education transforms patient outcomes.
• Dr T Saraswathy Thangarajoo provided a nursing viewpoint in “IPE Competencies in Collaborative Practice,” focusing on patient safety and the necessity of breaking down professional silos.

We gained insights from an occupational therapist’s perspective as Seokyeon Ji introduced the ICF framework for holistic care and dived into paramedic’s perspective with Professor Jeehee Kim’s lecture on “The Role and Teamwork of the Resuscitation Team.”

What truly touched our hearts and evoked our emotions was the sharing session by Dogeon Lee. He is an independent researcher living with a spinal cord injury.

His powerful story moved us to look beyond clinical diagnoses and embrace a person-centered approach, proving that effective healthcare isn’t just about treating a disease, it’s about caring for the person.

We also participated in site visits that took us out of the classroom to experience healthcare in community.

From reflecting on social context at the Jeju 4·3 Peace Park to explore inclusive care at the Jeju Advocacy Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Behavioural Development Promotion Center, Social Cooperative Organisation, and Four Seasons Senior Unit Care, we saw collaboration in action. These visits proved that patient-centered care thrives far beyond hospital walls. It’s rooted deeply in dignity and community support.

We truly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with peers from different countries, forming genuine friendship.

From reflective sessions to a soulful mini-concert with singer-songwriter Solga, these instances reminded us that effective teamwork is built on a foundation of empathy and mutual respect for our teammates.

Stepping into our roles as student leaders to critically evaluate the state of IPE in IMU was the main point we want to bring home. We discussed about learning in silos and clashing schedules, which made us brainstorm solutions such as introducing joint case discussions and team-based assessments to be implemented back home.

This exchange was even fruitful as we swapped ideas with international peers, gaining fresh insights into how other Asian institutions use everything from high-tech simulation to policy advocacy to bridge professional gaps.

Throughout this process, Professor Dato Dr Sivalingam Nalliah mentored us, using pre- and post-camp evaluations to help us track our growth and to prepare us better to be student leaders championing IPECP.

We noticed the maturity of peers with prior IPECP experience in how they think as a team rather than a profession to care for the patient.

To achieve this mentality among our students, we intend to make them more familiar with the idea of IPECP as a first step. This experience reinforced that starting these efforts at the undergraduate level is crucial for breaking boundaries and putting our patients first.

Our journey in Jeju was unique. It added to our routine learning, a heartfelt commitment to a future of collaborative care.

We return to IMU with an ambition and our perspectives forever changed, and we owe a massive thank you to Professor Dato Dr Sivalingam for his mentorship, Professor Bumsuk Lee, the organising team, Samdaldabang volunteers and the IMU School of Medicine for encouraging us to venture into this new horizon.

To our peers and juniors: if you ever get the chance to join this camp, take it! It is a precious, soulful experience that proves medicine is beautifully integrated into the wider perspective of life. We are proud to have represented IMU and hope this marks a giant leap toward a more collaborative, patient-centered future for us all.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Written by Nur Liyana Safirah Binti Khapur Khan Cohort ME122, IMU University