Abstract
<jats:p>The increasing complexity of contemporary health challenges highlights the need for a holistic approach to health care that extends beyond the biomedical model. This paper examines the critical contribution of Health Sociology to Nursing education and practice, with particular emphasis on its role in strengthening Interprofessional Education (IPE). Drawing on the World Health Organization’s Framework for Interprofessional Education (2010), which emphasizes collaborative learning across health professions to improve health outcomes, the study argues that sociology provides a shared conceptual language necessary for effective interprofessional collaboration. Sociology of Health enables nurses and other health professionals to understand how social determinants influence health, illness, and recovery. It supports culturally sensitive and equitable care, enhances patient advocacy and fosters critical awareness of structural inequalities reproduced within health systems. The study presents a comparative analysis of curricula in medical and nursing education undergraduate programs. Findings indicate that while Sociology is strongly embedded in nursing education—appearing as a standalone course in 87.5% of nursing programs—whereas it is largely absent from medical curricula, since none of the examined medical schools of Greek public universities offer an autonomous sociology course. This imbalance contributes to communication gaps, limits shared understanding of patients’ social realities and weakens the implementation of interprofessional education. The paper concludes with policy-oriented recommendations, including the integration of Sociology as a core component across all health sciences curricula, the development of joint nursing–medical courses, and the inclusion of social and cultural competence in accreditation standards. Strengthening sociological foundations in health education is essential for advancing interprofessional collaboration and promoting more equitable and patient-centered care.</jats:p>