A model for interprofessional health care: lessons learned from craniofacial teams.

Seventy-six years ago, Herbert K. Cooper, DDS, DSc, LHD, FACD, created the first interprofessional health care team in response to the frequency of craniofacial anomalies and related speech and hearing deficits in Lancaster, Pa. His experiences and those from subsequent "medical-dental-nursing-pharmacy allied health professions" craniofacial teams inform and provide "best practices" for the future of interprofessional education. This paper revisits the genesis of craniofacial teams and highlights successes, challenges and cost benefits applicable today.