Davis-Risen, Coplen Named CHP Associate Deans for Interprofessional Education

Associate Professor Saje Davis-Risen from the School of Physician Assistant Studies and Associate Professor Amy Coplen from the School of Dental Hygiene Studies have been appointed associate deans of interprofessional education and co-directors of Pacific’s Program in Interprofessional Practce, Education and Research (PIPER), effective July 1, 2017. They will continue in their primary appointments in their respective schools and will share the responsibilities of overseeing Pacific’s robust interprofessional program.

Coplen and Davis-Risen will succeed Dr. Susan Stein, CHP associate dean and director of PIPER, who will be leaving Pacific at the end of June 2017.

“We all have benefited from Sue’s leadership in her role as director of PIPER,” said Vice Provost and CHP Executive Dean Ann Barr-Gillespie.

Saje Davis-Risen, a 2006 graduate of Pacific’s master of science in physician assistant studies and now tenured associate professor in the school, joined Pacific in 2011. She has participated in numerous interprofessional activities at Pacific, including the coordination and travel for a service learning experience to Nicaragua and co-development and coordination of interprofessional global health courses. She has taught in the interprofessional competence course for four years, expanded and developed the PA role and the PA/pharmacy collaboration in the Interprofessional Diabetes Clinic, and participated in the interprofessional case conference series. She attended the IPEC conference in 2013, and her scholarship has largely been in the realm of interprofessional education. She has worked with many programs to develop individual co-learning/teaching events, such as an interprofessional skills day for second-year PA students and several case-based co-learning opportunities with pharmacy and audiology. She has chaired the CHP Interprofessional Education Committee and currently serves as a member of the Pacific University Interprofessional Education Steering Committee.

Amy Coplen, a tenured associate professor, joined Pacific University in 2009 upon completion of her bachelor and master of science degrees in dental hygiene at the University of Michigan. She has a passion for providing access to care to underserved populations and has coordinated the dental hygiene students’ involvement with project homeless since 2010. The project became an interprofessional experience with the Pacific School of Physician Assistant Studies in 2012. She has taught in the CHP interprofessional competence course since 2010.  She enjoys teaching to various learning styles and incorporating innovative active learning techniques into the classroom to engage students, and she has presented at national conferences on these topics.  Her research interests include interprofessional education and exploring alternative dental workforce models to reach individuals with limited access to dental care. Amy received the 2017 Faculty Achievement Award recognizing her service to the university. In her free time, when she is not spending quality time with her two daughters, she enjoys volunteering on the Medical Teams International dental van and working the guest relations desk at the Portland Rescue Mission.

“Saje and Amy are a dynamic interprofessional team that will bring innovation and energy to their role as co-directors of PIPER,” said Barr-Gillespie. “We are very fortunate to have their combined talents in evolving our renowned interprofessional program to even greater heights.”