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).
2025/2026 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.
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.
Healthcare Interprofessional Technologies (HIT)
The Healthcare Interprofessional Technology (HIT) Community of Practice (CoP). This dynamic and inclusive community is designed for faculty, staff, community members, and students who are passionate about harnessing cutting-edge technology to enhance student learning and pioneer innovative research. By exploring innovative tools such as simulation, podcasting, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, we are transforming educational practices and fostering breakthroughs in health sciences.
Aligned with CHSP’s experiential and interdisciplinary philosophy, our community empowers diverse learners and practitioners, fostering innovative solutions that serve communities, solve critical health challenges, and prepare tomorrow’s healthcare leaders. It also embodies Ohio University’s pillars of Learn, Discover, Engage, and Work, reflecting our commitment to teaching excellence, groundbreaking research, and meaningful community engagement.
The Longevity Lab
The Longevity Lab at Ohio University is an emerging Community of Practice bringing together passionate individuals to explore the multifaceted journey of living longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. With a flexible and evolving mission, the group fosters dynamic discussions on themes like innovative technologies, health equity, and societal perspectives related to later life. By connecting researchers, clinicians, and thought leaders through engaging forums and guest speaker events, The Longevity Lab aims to inspire collaboration and spark fresh ideas. Looking ahead, the group envisions offering workshops and resources that benefit the Athens, Ohio community and beyond, creating a vibrant space for learning and connection.
How to Join:
For individuals interested in the Pediatric CoP email: Dr. Carol Schaumleffel, schaumle@ohio.edu, Dr. Nicole Pennington, penningj@ohio.edu, or Dr. Molly Johnson, johnsom4@ohio.edu.
For individuals interested in the Climate & Health CoP, please contact Char Miller millerc3@ohio.edu or Angie Hillman hillman@ohio.edu
For individuals interested in the Interprofessional Healthcare Technologies (IHT) CoP, please contact Sherleena Buchman at buchmans@ohio.edu
For individuals interested in The Longevity Lab, please contact Brooke Vaughan at vaughanb@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
December Meetings: The Longevity Lab Meeting, contact Brooke Vaughan for more information. Meetings are bi-weekly; Dec 10
Week of Jan 26: First meeting for Climate & Health CoP-Contact Angie Hillman or Char Miller to be added.
January: The Longevity Lab Meeting, contact Brooke Vaughan for more information. Meetings are bi-weekly; Jan 28
Mid-February 2026: Climate & Health CoP: Presentation-How Heat Exposure Affects the Body by Angie Hillman, more details coming soon
February: The Longevity Lab Meeting, contact Brooke Vaughan for more information. Meetings are bi-weekly; February 11 & 25
March: Climate & Health CoP: Documentary: "Cooked: Survival by Zip Code" and Panel Discussion,
📅 Date: Monday, March 16
📍 Location: Walter Hall, Room 235
🕒 Popcorn & Drinks: 2:30 PM
🎬 Film Screening: 3:00 – 5:00 PM (EST)
March: The Longevity Lab Meeting, contact Brooke Vaughan for more information. Meetings are bi-weekly; March 11 & 25
April: Climate & Health CoP: In conjunction with Earth Day (the theme this year is "Planet vs. Plastics"), a reusable bag making workshop with Athens ReThink Plastics. More details coming soon.
April: The Longevity Lab Meeting, contact Brooke Vaughan for more information. Meetings are bi-weekly; April 8 & 22
May: The Longevity Lab Meeting, contact Brooke Vaughan for more information. Meetings are bi-weekly; May 6
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
2025-2026 Activities
Climate & Health
Climate and Health Community of Practice Presentation: Heat and Human Health
On Thursday, March 5, the Climate and Health Community of Practice hosted a presentation by Angela Hillman, PhD, from the Department of Exercise Physiology, titled Heat and Human Health. The session was held from 2:00–3:00 PM in Grover Center and brought together faculty, staff, and students interested in the intersection of climate and health.
During the presentation, Dr. Hillman discussed the physiological effects of heat exposure on the human body. Topics included human thermoregulation, the role of evaporative heat loss in temperature regulation, the strain that heat stress places on the cardiovascular system, and environmental and physiological factors that influence the body’s ability to dissipate heat.
As extreme heat events continue to become more frequent and intense, understanding how heat impacts human health is increasingly important across healthcare and public health disciplines. Dr. Hillman’s presentation provided valuable insight into the mechanisms behind heat stress and the factors that affect the body’s ability to maintain safe internal temperatures.
A recording of the presentation is available below for those who were unable to attend or who would like to revisit the discussion.
Pediatric Community of Practice: Fall Semester
“It was a fun and worthwhile event. I would highly suggest we do it again next year (but we might need more booth space!)”
- Distributed approximately 100 packages of diapers and about 300 packages of wipes
- Provided 40 small laundry baskets, which were gone within the first hour!
- Gave out 40 colorful sand buckets with shovels filled with bubbles, stickers, farming tools, and educational handouts — a big hit with siblings!
- Donated two raffle baskets — one from the Dean’s Office staff and one filled with children’s activities, including books, crayons, construction paper, and sidewalk chalk
Health Information Technology
September 10, 2025: Kick Off Event
2024-2025 Workshops and Activities
Pediatric Community of Practice Workshop 1-Maternal Health: Perinatal Delivery
As part of our commitment to meaningful learning and professional development, the Pediatrics CoP is launching a series of workshops titled What Every Healthcare Professional Should Know About Pediatrics. These workshops aim to provide valuable insights into essential pediatric topics relevant to teaching, clinical practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Our first installment in this series is a video presentation on Maternal Health: Perinatal Delivery. This educational resource explores critical aspects of maternal and fetal health during the perinatal period, offering healthcare professionals foundational knowledge to enhance patient care. The content is designed to be informative for faculty, staff, students, and practitioners dedicated to improving maternal and infant outcomes. See video link below.
The second workshop, Child Abuse Identification, Management, and Reporting can be found by clicking the video below.
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