JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- East Tennessee State University students have formed one of the first organizations in the country to promote teamwork among various health majors.

The Association of Interprofessional Healthcare Students was formed by pharmacy major Erin Hankins after she heard a lecture about the importance of health care professionals working together.

She told the Johnson City Press (http://bit.ly/V3dsyR) that the way the U.S. health care system is set up, there is little communication between various professionals. But it is more efficient to work as a team.

The new student group goes by the acronym AIHS, pronounced "ace." Members are studying pharmacy, clinical and rehabilitative health sciences, medicine, nursing, public health and psychology.

Hankins is hopeful that AIHS will be successful and expand to other schools.

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