Welcome to the 4^th International Conference on Interprofessional Education Practice and Care (ICON IPECP) which is deliberately focused on building and implementing community competence in urban, rural and remote communities. As understanding of the social determinants of health has developed over the past 20 years in parallel with the development of the discipline of IPECP, research on interactions between health and social care professionals, and with their practice communities, has led to a deeper understanding of the roles played by community leaders in building policies and processes that foster and develop interprofessional learning and practice that addresses the needs of communities for improved health and social care outcomes and health and social care services that address those needs. This 4^th international conference will encourage participants to explore new ways in which innovative interprofessional collaborative learning and practice can be developed in partnerships between post-secondary institutions and community agencies.

John H.V. Gilbert, C.M., Ph.D., LLD., FCAHS

Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia.
Adjunct Professor, University of Technology, Sydney
Senior Scholar, WHO Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning & Research, Dalhousie University.
Founding Chair, Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative.