IPE Collaboration Award

The IPEC COF Excellence in Interprofessional Education (IPE) Collaboration Award recognizes interprofessional teams whose collaborative work advances community health through innovative education, outreach, and practice.

Originally launched in 2017 by IPEC and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), the award highlights programs that strengthen health knowledge, awareness, and behavior through interprofessional collaboration. In 2020, it was renamed to reflect co-sponsorship with the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF).

Purpose of the Award

This award recognizes teams of faculty, administrators, and/or students from multiple health professions who have worked together to address a public health need and demonstrate meaningful, lasting community impact.

Strong applications:

• Include collaborators from multiple health professions
• Address a clearly defined public health need
• Demonstrate innovation in interprofessional education or collaborative practice
• Show a clear link between interprofessional collaboration and measurable outcomes in community practice, public health education, and/or research

Recognition

Each year, IPEC and COF recognize:

Overall National Award Recipient

• Recognized at the Annual IPEC meeting or a virtual award event
• Featured in IPEC and COF communications and websites
• Invited to present an IPEC webinar highlighting the project and outcomes
• Receives a commemorative plaque

Honorable Mentions

• One honorable mention may be selected in each of five focus areas
• Featured on the IPEC website
• Receives a certificate of recognition

Award Presentation

Award recipients are announced annually and recognized either:

• In person at the IPEC Membership Meeting, or
• During a virtual award recognition event

Principal investigators and project teams are highlighted through IPEC communications for their contributions to advancing interprofessional education and community health.

Key Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

View IPEC COF Award FAQs →

Previous Winners

View past award recipients and honorable mentions →

News

MAY 7, 2025

IPEC and COF Honor 2025 Excellence in Interprofessional Education & Collaboration Award Winners

View full news release and complete list of 2025 winners here.

AUGUST 1, 2024

IPEC and COF Applaud 2024 Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award Recipients

View full news release and complete list of 2024 winners here.

JULY 31, 2023

IPEC and COF Celebrate the Winners of the 2023 Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award 

View full news release and complete list of 2023 winners here.

APRIL 19, 2022

IPEC Announces Winners of the 2022 Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award 

View full news release and complete list of 2022 winners here.

APRIL 21, 2021

2021 National Awards for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Announced by IPEC and PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF) 

View full news release and complete list of 2021 winners here.

OCTOBER 16, 2020

IPEC and COF Announce New Co-Sponsorship for 2021 Excellence in Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award

View full news release here.

APRIL 13, 2020

2020 USPHS IPEC Award Winner and Finalists Recognized for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice with Underserved Populations 

View full news release and complete list of 2020 winners here.

APRIL 30, 2019

2019 USPHS IPEC Award Winner and Finalists Recognized for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice with Underserved Populations 

View full news release and complete list of 2019 winners here.

JULY 9, 2018

IPEC and USPHS Honors 2018 Public Health Excellence Award Recipients

View full news release and complete list of 2018 winners here.

MAY 22, 2017

IPEC Announces Inaugural USPHS Award Winner and Finalists Recognized for Excellence in Interprofessional Education

View full news release and complete list of 2017 winners here.

Contact

For questions about the award, please email [email protected].