Washington, D.C. – The Interprofessional Committee (of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) is pleased to announce that Augusta University, Stony Brook University and the University of Oklahoma are the three recipients of its 2025 Interprofessional Innovation Grant Program (IIG).

The ASAHP Interprofessional Innovation Grant (IIG) Program was created to provide support for interprofessional collaboration research among the ASAHP membership. The intent is to provide recipients a competitive edge in securing additional funding to support pilot projects and further develop grantsmanship skill sets. The IIG Program provides funding for innovative, interprofessional projects that relate to the following themes including: curriculum innovations in a remote environment; alternative clinical experiences; telehealth/telework therapies; mental health; technology, artificial intelligence & healthcare; broader impacts of the post COVID-19 environment, including psychosocial, behavioral, and economic effects; health equity/health disparities (Social Determinants of Health) and healthcare workforce development, among others.

“The 2025 Interprofessional Innovation Grant recipients underscore the value of innovation and creativity in interprofessional education and collaboration,” said ASAHP President Dr. Craig R. Jackson, MSW, JD, FASAHP, Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions at Loma Linda University. “It’s our hope that their proposals will lead to more extensive interprofessional research projects that further engage faculty and ASAHP members in research endeavors and demonstrate results that lead to better health outcomes for patients and clients.”

Awardees will be invited to present their work at the 2026 ASAHP Annual Conference.

The following teams have each been awarded $2,000 for their projects:

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

Stakeholder’s Perceptions of Teamwork and Their Correlation to a Client-Centered Outcome Measure

This ongoing research addresses a gap in interprofessional (IP) education by investigating the correlation between teamwork perceptions and patient outcomes in allied health (AH) settings. Few studies focus on patient experiences with IP interventions or their link to functional improvements. Conducted at the student-led Unity Clinic at Keys (UaK), this quasi-experimental study uses patient (PIVOT) and provider (JTOG) surveys, alongside chart reviews for Unified Functional Goal (UFG) achievement. The UaK, combining primary care and rehabilitation, features a robust teamwork design. Preliminary analysis suggests overwhelmingly positive teamwork perceptions among students, facilitators, and patients. The project aims to provide evidence that strong IP teamwork enhances patient experience and functional outcomes, supporting the value of IP education and collaborative care models.

“This recognition from ASAHP highlights the leadership of University of Oklahoma faculty from four allied health disciplines and their shared commitment to advancing interprofessional practice, education, and research,” said Dr. Jane Wilson, PhD, RDH, Dean, College of Allied Health, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences. “ The work of Dr. Tetnowski, Dr. Milhan, Dr. Barbee, and Dr. Leckie exemplifies OU’s Lead On strategic vision of collaboration and innovation that transforms healthcare delivery and outcomes. Interprofessional teaming is the future of healthcare, and this project will provide a rigorous assessment of its impact on clients, students, and providers. In doing so, it will strengthen the training and care models that benefit communities across our state and beyond.”

Primary Investigator: Jennifer Thompson Tetnowski, PhD, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor in Communication Sciences & Disorders, College of Allied Health, University of Oklahoma Health

AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY

Interprofessional Baby Lab: A Collaborative Learning Experience in Developmental Observation and Family Engagement

This pilot project proposes the creation of an interprofessional “Baby Lab” to offer students in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, and Nutrition the opportunity to engage in structured observation of infants and their caregivers. Volunteer families will bring infants (ages 3 to 18 months) for guided sessions where students analyze developmental milestones, caregiver-child interaction, feeding behaviors, motor development, and early communication skills. Hosted in the Allied Health building, the Baby Lab will involve interdisciplinary teams of students rotating through faculty-guided stations in a simulated home-like environment. Each session will include pre-briefing and debriefing components to enhance learning. The Baby Lab advances experiential learning, strengthens interprofessional collaboration, and prepares students for early identification and intervention in pediatric care. It aligns with ASAHP priorities in workforce development, simulation, and addressing early developmental challenges. Long-term goals include integrating this model into the university’s Simulation Center and securing external funding for broader implementation.

“We are pleased to receive this award from ASAHP,” said Chandramohan Wakade, Associate Dean of Research at College of Allied Health Sciences, Augusta University. “ Dr. Afua Agyapong has put together a simple and elegant interprofessional research proposal with SLP, OT and PT faculty and student learning outcome. This multi-faceted wellness baby lab will address comprehensive pediatric care and provide invaluable interprofessional education to our students.”

Primary Investigator: Afua Agyapong, PhD, CCC-SLP, Associate Professor, College of Allied Health Sciences, Augusta University

STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY

Community-Engaged Co-Design of a Mobile Intervention Tool for Enhancing Driving Skills in Neurodiverse Young Adults

This grant will address driving challenges faced by neurodiverse young adults due to sensory, thinking, and emotional factors that limit independence. Current driver rehabilitation options are limited and lack real-world relevance. Using a community-engaged research approach, this project will co-design a mobile intervention tool to supplement traditional driver training. Neurodiverse young adults, care partners, and professionals will help shape the tool’s content and features through focus groups and interviews, ensuring it reflects lived experiences. This work will generate foundational knowledge to guide individualized, technology-supported interventions and inform future clinical studies. By addressing a critical service gap and amplifying neurodiverse voices, the project seeks to improve community mobility and independence. ASAHP funding will support initial data collection and prototype development, laying the groundwork for future external funding and broader impact.

“This grant will significantly support the School of Health Professions’ mission to lead in community-centered, interprofessional, and inclusive health research,” said Stacy Jaffee Gropack, PT, PhD, FASAHP, Dean, School of Health Professions, Stony Brook University. “By addressing the critical and underserved needs of neurodiverse young adults, the project strengthens the school's commitment to health equity and innovation. The community-engaged research approach aligns with the university’s values of collaboration, diversity, and translational science, positioning Stony Brook as a leader in creating meaningful, real-world solutions for populations often excluded from traditional healthcare models.”

Primary Investigator: Hannah Mercier, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions, Stony Brook University

About ASAHP
The Association of School Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) is a national professional organization of 130 universities and employers focused on critical issues affecting health professions education. ASAHP’s mission is to advance health professions education and discovery through interprofessional collaboration, leadership, excellence, and innovation. As much as 60% of the U.S. healthcare workforce may be classified as ‘health professions’ which are distinct from medicine, nursing, and dentistry, yet equally vital to the health and wellbeing of our society.

Contact:
Kristen Truong
kristen@asahp.org
Vice President of Public Affairs
ASAHP