Reflections on Development

The two IPEC competencies selected for development were the following:

“Communicate with patients, families, communities, and professionals in health and other fields responsively and responsibly that supports a team approach to the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of disease. (Interprofessional Communication)”¹ 

“Apply relationship-building values and the principles of team dynamics to perform effectively in different team roles to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient/population centered care and population health programs and policies that are safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable. (Teams and Teamwork)” ¹

A personal belief that one of the best methods to improve is to make mistakes and admit shortcomings. Application of skills and demonstration of competencies over the past two semesters have improved significantly. In academia, the practicum is an integral portion of the personal learning experience, mainly if one switched from business administration to public health. In business, the two competencies can be similarly found when it pertains to acumen, but in business, either services or funds are traded for cooperation or collaboration. On the other hand, public health is quite different; I needed to humble myself and ask for a person’s time in exchange for nothing or information requires a significant focus on the two competencies.

During the practicum, paths crossed with a vocally terse member of the community stakeholder presented an opportunity to work on communication and relationship-building values. A question was written in a previous reflection about whether a person looks stronger or weaker when they apologize. The best way to address the apology question is that nothing is lost when one apologizes; strategically, it can open opportunities for progression to obtain the project’s objective. In the terse stakeholder situation, success was measured based on obtaining the needed information for my practicum.

During this past year combination of leadership roles, academics, internship, operating a business, and raising a family allowed focus on priority adjustments. Although much self-growth has developed on the two chosen IPEC competencies initially, they also require constant development. A person cannot expect and assume that others will adjust, but with humility, one can only expect to adjust themself to respond and promote team dynamics. I plan to focus on the two same competencies in the various fields of interaction that an emerging public health leader will encounter. During my practicum, I was surprised at the number of various leaders and stakeholders, from educators to bureaucrats to religious leaders naming a few. However, I would add a third competency to my leadership development, “Work with individuals of other professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values. (Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice).” ¹

The addition of the third competencies with the other two competencies' support will help improve this new goal. One of the most debated topics in the nation, gun control discussion, has alienated and ostracized gun owners from the conversation.² As an emerging public health leader, it is one of my hope that I will get an opportunity to work on similar research that can bridge gaps.

Reflective question:
Which is more important for development to fail or succeed?

Figure 1.1 – The endless knot is an Asian symbol of eternity, but it also symbolizes people's endless interconnectivity.

 References

1. Interprofessional Educational Collaborative, Practice IC, Values U. Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice : 2016 Update. Interprofessional Educ Collab. 2016;(May 2011):10-11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22030650.
2. Siegel MB, Boine CC. The Meaning of Guns to Gun Owners in the U.S.: The 2019 National Lawful Use of Guns Survey. Am J Prev Med. 2020;59(5):678-685. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2020.05.010