Communities of Practice

Introduction: What is a Community of Practice?

Communities of Practice (CoP) is a term used to describe a “group of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis” (Wenger et al., 2002). The CoP is formed to collaborate across disciplines about a shared topic to enrich professional knowledge and personal development.

A CoP has the following three characteristics:

Domain: the shared topic of interest

Community: regular engagement, activities, and relationships and;

Practice: A set of frameworks, ideas, tools, information, styles, language, stories, best practices, resources, and documents that contribute to the body of knowledge about the topic (Wenger et al., 2002; Wenger et al., 2015).

Purpose

The Communities of Practice are established in CHSP to support interprofessional education, collaboration, and communication. Each CoP will identify the specific purpose, goals, and outcomes for their domain. Each CoP will identify the appropriate activities, level of engagement, resources, and technological needs to support the CoP.

Framework

CoPs are designed using a framework centered around Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies.  The four core competency domains include values & ethics, roles & responsibilities, communication, and teams & teamwork (IPEC, 2023). 

2024 Communities of Practice:

Pediatrics

The CHSP Pediatrics CoP is established and designed to engage individuals with shared expertise and passion for pediatrics. The Community is committed to fostering engagement both within the College/University and with the external community around pediatric interests, health,  and education. We welcome participants from faculty, staff, and students to engage in meaningful activities that support teaching, clinical practice, scholarship, and/or service efforts. Currently, the Community is collaborating to produce a series of workshops focused on what every healthcare professional should know about pediatrics. The first workshop is planned for early Spring Term on the topic of peri-delivery maternal and fetal health. Additional Spring workshops in the series will focus with topics on prematurity and neonatal issues.

Sports & Human Performance

The CHSP Human Performance and Sports Science Initiative is committed to a comprehensive and integrated approach to sports science and human performance, leveraging education, research, service, and innovation to drive excellence in athletic performance and health outcomes across Ohio University and Southeast Ohio.

Climate & Health

The Climate and Health CoP will explore the connections between current and projected climate change impacts and health outcomes. We welcome participants from all disciplines to engage in meaningful conversation and activities that have the potential to enhance teaching, research, and practice.

How to Join:

For individuals interested in the Community of Practice-Pediatrics, please contact Michele Courtney at courtnm1@ohio.edu.

For individuals interested in the Community of Practice related to Sport and Human Performance, please contact him by email at wayner@ohio.edu and copy Kimberly Ephlin at ephlin@ohio.edu.

 For individuals interested in the Community of Practice-Climate & Health, please contact Michele Morrone at morrone@ohio.edu.

If you are interested in developing a Community of Practice for the academic year 2025/2026 or general questions or concerns, please contact Kimberly Ephlin at ephlin@ohio.edu.

Upcoming Events

12/3/24 - 11 AM - Dean's Conference Room

Climate & Health Lunch Launch - Seating is limited. Please contact Michele Morrone or Kimberly Ephlin for details.

January 2025 - Location TBD 12 PM-1 PM

Pediatrics: First Maternal Health and Peri-Delivery Pediatrics- We will begin with our workshop series across the pediatric lifespan.

References:

Interprofessional Education Collaborative (2023). IPEC core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice: Version 3. IPEC Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: Version 3 (ipecollaborative.org)

Wenger, E., McDermott, R., & Snyder, W. (2002). Cultivating communities of practice: A guide to managing knowledge. Harvard Business School Press.

Wenger, E. (2015, June). Introduction to communities of practice: A brief overview of the concept and its uses.  https://www.wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-practice/#:~:text=This%20brief%20and%20general%20introduction%20examines