About the NIHC
Founded in 2014, the Northwest Interprofessional Health Collaborative (NIHC, formerly the YVIPEC), hosted at PNWU, is a multi-institutional collaborative that provides interprofessional education, faculty professional development, and community service & engagement to advance team-based care and improve community health. Interprofessional education (IPE), as defined by the World Health Organization, occurs when “students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes.” Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is an extension of that concept into the clinical realm where “multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, caregivers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care.” As defined by the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, IPE now refers to interprofessional practice and education, emphasizing the critical connection between the two concepts.
NIHC Faculty & Staff
Angela S. Stewart, Pharm.D., BCPS, FWSPA
Executive Director
Dr. Stewart received her BS in Pharmacy from the University of Washington and her PharmD from the University of Texas. She completed a general residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma, WA and a specialty residency in adult internal medicine at the UTHSCSA and Bexar County Hospital in San Antonio, TX. She is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist with more than 20 years of experience leading clinical pharmacy services, providing direct patient care, teaching, and directing an accredited residency program. Dr. Stewart joined the faculty of the WSU College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2014 and is a Scholarly Professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy. She served as founding director and associate dean for the Yakima campus and is now the Associate Dean for Rural Health. She assumed the role of Executive Director of the Yakima Valley Interprofessional Practice and Education Collaborative at in 2021 and leads the collaborative in curriculum development, student engagement, and community service.
Jennifer M. Garehime, BS
Program Manager
Ms. Garehime holds a BS in Business with specialization in Management & Leadership from Capella University and an Associate of Arts and Science degree in Radiologic Technology from Yakima Valley College. Before joining PNWU, Ms. Garehime served as the onsite radiographer and clinic manager for multiple clinics within the Yakima Memorial Health Network. Her journey with PNWU began in 2015 when she assumed
the role of Regional Site Administrator for the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Clinical Education Department. In 2021, she transitioned into the role of program manager for the NIHC and has been instrumental in supporting the collaborative’s
initiatives, contributing to curriculum development, fostering student engagement, and expanding community outreach. With over 18 years of experience in healthcare management, administration, and health sciences education, Ms. Garehime is a dedicated professional committed to advancing IPE through her multifaceted expertise.
NIHC Pages
NIHC Home
NIHC Mission, Vision, and Values
NIHC Strategic Priorities
NIHC Committees
NIHC Partners
NIHC Culinary Medicine Program
IPE Accreditation Standards
IPE Calendar
IPE Curriculum
IPE Faculty & Preceptor Development
IPE Service & Recognition Awards
IPE Tools & Resources
IPE Video Library
Contact Information
Angela S. Stewart, PharmD, BCPS, FWSPA
Executive Director
Email: ipe@pnwu.edu
Jennifer M. Garehime, BS
Program Manager
Email: jgarehime@pnwu.edu