We are in a distinctive era in the medical history of our country and most if not the whole world. While we are at the verge of the COVID 19 pandemic, we also are in the fourth technological revolution that somehow influence the way we think, feel and act about health. These modifies the way we survive, we function and relate to the environment. More so, global economic policy and models are at the core of our state of affairs as diagnosed through the United Nations (UN) 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the fundamental balance of natural resources and vital functions of the ecosystems. Much is certain: we have to involve professions of multiple disciplines, the academe, and all other stakeholders from the public and private sector; whether local, national and global; and operating across borders act in a collaborative, extensive and comprehensive effort to achieve one health, one welfare, and one environment.
In the past, inter-professionalism was uncommon in the health science education system and thus, each discipline was wrapped in a solitary perspective. However, according to the World Health Organization, implementing inter-professional collaboration and learning to work together and respecting one another's perspectives in healthcare, can work more effectively to help improve individual and population health outcomes. Noteworthy researches show that health outcomes, quality of care and cost of care delivery are all improved when disciplines work together toward a shared goal.
In more recent years, there has been shifts to mainstream mindsets attuned to sustainable development goals and its social impact in the medical curricula, research, partnerships and collaboration across sectors. While the significance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is universally recognized, it is less commonly actualized in many aspects of the health profession. The Cavite State University College of Medicine (CVSU COM) is taking on the lead to develop a medical degree program that is more sustainable and socially accountable, aiming to build future doctors who identify themselves as integral to a larger healthcare system and are adept in tackling local, national and global health challenges. The medical program among other things will optimize the use of multidisciplinary collaborations between professionals of both healthcare and non-health sector to thrive towards more sustainable healthcare systems including the employment of more than one medical system and their green transformation; initiate student-led primary health care programs, projects and activities to enhance the progress of achieving the SDGs and eventually accelerate efforts to realize universal health care.
The Cavite State University College of Medicine is uniquely positioned to make a difference as the university already have the resources in one location that allows interdisciplinary interactions to occur. Apart from the health allied courses being offered, there are other academic resources that are traditionally outside the realm of health care – agriculture and bio systems engineering, veterinary studies, information technology, business management, physical and sports sciences, early childhood education, research and development, and government and industry partnerships among others. With the Acknowledgement and appreciation that there is a culture of inter-professional collaboration and inclusion, faculty and other stakeholders from varying backgrounds, experiences and areas of expertise are captured, to which the medical students are exposed to a variety of interdisciplinary experiences in the curriculum. This approach can develop richer solutions to complex scientific questions, instruct culturally sensitive faculty and the medical students and provide health care in a way that best serves the individual and population. As a final point, the best way to learn more is to champion a change and become involved.