Skillapalooza: Interprofessional Clinical Simulation for High School and College Healthcare Students

Skillapalooza is an interactive, interprofessional learning event that bridges secondary and postsecondary healthcare education by pairing Health Sciences Pathway high school students with Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students in the Lane Community College campus lab. This shared campus learning environment supports early professional identity formation and fosters a sense of belonging in higher education and health professions programs. Through five structured stations, including vital signs, weight-bearing transfers, and passive range of motion and draping, students practice foundational patient care skills while strengthening interprofessional communication. PTA, Respiratory Care, and Nursing faculty serve as facilitators, modeling collaborative practice. PTA students demonstrate competencies typically assessed in a lab simulation within a more authentic context. This initiative builds community, increases clinical confidence, and provides peer-mentorship opportunities, preparing students for collaborative healthcare practice.

Innovators

• Sheila Collins, Faculty, Physical Therapy Assistant
• Marc Duyck, Faculty, Physical Therapy Assistant
• Kasey Ellis, Simulation Coordinator, Respiratory Therapy
• Christina Howard, Program Coordinator, Physical Therapist Assistant
• Jeremy Kaufman, Faculty, Nursing