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IPE Collaboration Award

Excellence in Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award​

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

Originally launched in 2017 by the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and IPEC, the award celebrates programs that strengthen health knowledge, awareness, and behavior through interprofessional collaboration. In 2020, the award 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 honors teams of faculty, administrators, and/or students from multiple health professions who have collaboratively addressed a public health issue and demonstrated meaningful, lasting impact in their communities.

Projects should:

  • Include collaborators representing multiple professions
  • Address an important public health need
  • Demonstrate innovation in interprofessional education or collaborative practice
  • Show a clear connection between interprofessional practice and measurable outcomes in community practice, public health education, and/or research

Recognition

Each year, IPEC and COF recognize:

One Overall National Awardee

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

Honorable Mentions

  • One honorable mention recognized 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 Summer IPEC Meeting in Washington, DC, or during a virtual award recognition event.

Principal investigators of the winning program are highlighted through IPEC press releases and recognized alongside their teams for advancing interprofessional education and community health.

Apply

The 2027 IPEC COF Award timeline is as follows:

  • Applications Open: August 3, 2026
  • Applications Close: February 1, 2027
  • Notifications: March 30, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to download the FAQs relating to the 2026 IPE Collaboration Award.

Previous Winners

Click here to view past awardees and honorable mentions of the USPHS IPEC Award.

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].