At the Michigan Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education’s (CIPE) 10-Year Anniversary Celebration, Provost Laurie McCauley presented the inaugural Frank Ascione Award in Recognition of Distinguished IPE Leadership to Mark Fitzgerald, DDS, former Senior Associate Dean for Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education and Professor of Dentistry at the U-M School of Dentistry.
The new award honors Frank Ascione, PharmD, MPH, PhD, Founding Director of the Center for Interprofessional Education (now CIPE) and a driving force behind U-M’s leadership in collaborative health education. Ascione’s legacy spans decades of innovation in pharmacy education, interprofessional teaching, and academic leadership, work that built the foundation for today’s thriving culture of teamwork in health at Michigan. “Naming the Award after Frank was a no-brainer,” said Rajesh Mangrulkar, MD, FNAP, CIPE Director. “The foundation he laid for the Center over its first 6 years has helped us grow into the impactful campus presence that we are today.”
“It’s deeply meaningful to see this award carry forward the spirit of collaboration that shaped the early years of the Center,” said Ascione. “Mark, who was extensively involved since the beginning, embodies the values that make interprofessional education transformative: curiosity, respect for all disciplines, and an unwavering belief that students learn best when they learn together. His leadership has helped Michigan become a model for others.”
During the celebration, McCauley presented the award to Fitzgerald alongside Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, DDS, PhD, Dean at Indiana University School of Dentistry and former Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the U-M School of Dentistry, and Ascione, who joined on stage for the recognition. “Mark has always led with both intellect and heart,” said Murdoch-Kinch. “He has a rare ability to bring people together around shared purpose, to listen deeply, and to translate ideas into meaningful action. His impact on interprofessional education and on all of us who’ve had the privilege to work with him has been profound and enduring.”
“Mark and I have worked together for many years, and I’ve witnessed firsthand his unwavering commitment to interprofessional education,” McCauley said. “What distinguishes Mark’s work is his ability to see beyond professional boundaries without diminishing the unique contributions of each discipline. He understands that interprofessional education is about preserving the distinct identities of each profession and then weaving them together into something stronger.”
That vision has guided Fitzgerald’s long career as one of Michigan’s most steadfast champions of collaborative care. A member of the inaugural Interprofessional Leadership Fellowship cohort, Fitzgerald helped shape the guiding framework of U-M’s IPE curriculum. His leadership roles have included serving as founding chair of the IPE Curriculum Committee, co-director of the Team-Based Clinical Decision-Making course, and member of the IPE Executive Committee. He has also contributed to numerous collaborative initiatives, including the Interprofessional Clinical Experience, A3 Patient Safety Workshop, and a recent data visualization project designed to make IPE offerings more accessible across the health science schools.
Fitzgerald’s impact is perhaps best reflected in the experience of Michigan’s health professions students, who consistently describe his courses as moments when teamwork evolved from theory into practice for them. Colleagues describe him as a visionary collaborator and a mentor who gives shape to complexity.
Reflecting on the award, Fitzgerald shared his appreciation for the community that has made IPE at Michigan a success. “I’m deeply honored to receive an award that bears Frank Ascione’s name,” Fitzgerald said. “He set the tone for what interprofessional education could be at Michigan–a place where people from every corner of health care come together to create something greater than themselves. To have played a part in building that community, alongside incredible colleagues and students, is the most rewarding part of my career.”
McCauley underscored that the impact of Fitzgerald’s work extends far beyond the classroom. “Mark has built bridges between schools, facilitated difficult conversations, and created the conditions where collaboration becomes second nature to our students and faculty,” she said. “He’s changed the culture of health professional education here forever.”
As the inaugural recipient of the Frank Ascione Award, Fitzgerald represents both the legacy and the future of interprofessional education at Michigan, an enduring reminder that progress in health care begins when disciplines come together, learn together, and lead together.
To read about our 2025 IPE Innovation & Excellence Awardees, visit this link.