OHSU  Cultural Competency Lecture Series
Sponsored by the Center for Diversity & Multicultural Affairs (CeDMA)

Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. (Cross, 1989) Cultural competence in health care is being sensitive to issues related to culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, social class and economic situation.


Some OHSU Cultural Competency Lectures are videotaped.  Please click here to view a previous lecture.

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Interested in reading more about cultural competency?
Click here for Selected Readings in cultural competency (PDF)

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The U.S. Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA)
announced a web site on cultural competence.


**Upcoming Lecture**

"Ramadan"
Anthony Cull, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Faculty, OHSU Intercultural Psychiatry Program (IPP)
September 17, 2008
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
OHSU UHS8B60

     For more information, contact CeDMA at cedma@ohsu.edu or (503) 494-5657.


Past Lectures Include:

June 18, 2008-
Lou Radja
Executive Director of EduCongo
Planting Seeds of Hope in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the aftermath of the world's deadliest conflicts since World War II, the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the world are faced with overwhelming challenges. Extreme poverty, coupled with less than 1% of the country's budget going to education, has left millions with no formal education. With a collapsing public health infrastructure, the risk of epidemics remains high and easily preventable diseases if unattended can be fatal. Lou Radja shared how EduCongo, a Portland based non-profit organization, is connecting global citizens on both sides of the Atlantic to better living conditions.

April 16, 2008-
Mike "Abudharr" Branch
Board Member, Islamic Social Services of Oregon State
Health Care for Muslim Patients
Mr. Branch's lecture covered the cultural differences present between standard hospital policies and the Muslim faith and how these differencies must be accommodated to provide comprehensive care.

January 16, 2008-
Holden Leung, M.S.W., Executive Director, AHSC
Christine Lao, Chief Operating Officer, AHSC
Gemma Kim, Public Health Program Manager, AHSC
Siobhan Maty, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Portland State University School of Community Health
The Roadmap to the New Horizon: Linking Asians to Improved Health & Wellness
The study was conducted by the Asian Health & Services Center, in partnership with the Portland State University School of Community Health, to determine the health-related assets and needs of the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese communities in Washington and Multnomah counties in Oregon. The presentation gave an overview of the study, discussed lessons learned from the process and shared recommendations to improve the development and delivery of health services to members of our local communities.

November 1, 2007-
Eneida Nemecek, M.D.
Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program Director, Doernbecher Children's Hospital; Oregon Health & Science University
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Death and Dying in Medicine: Every person has a subjective concept of death and dying, influenced by their roots and personal experiences. Physicians and health care providers must acknowledge these differences when caring for patients. Dr. Nemecek led an interactive discussion about the kaleidoscope of death and dying in the context of practicing medicine with a perspective to Latino culture. The OHSU Latino Medical Student Organization shared personal stories with audience members and demonstrated a traditional altar in celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

October 17, 2007-
Mina Schoenheit, M.A., L.P.C.
Consultant, Georgetown University; National Center for Cultural Competency; National Center for Child & Human Development
Connecting with patiens and families across cultures
The presentation addressed best strategies of communication with diverse patients and explored "self awareness" as a critical factor for having positive cultural encounters with diverse patients. Attendees learned to develop skills in assessing culturally diverse patient's needs and responding to those needs in a way that is sensitive to the patient's culture.

June 14, 2007-
April Lewis, M.P.A
Diversity Manager for Kaiser Permanente, NW Region
Competent Care for LGBTI Patients
Approximately up to 10% of patients seeking medical attention may be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI). The specific health needs of these patients differ in important respects from those who are heterosexual. Ms. Lewis led an interactive session that enabled participants to:
- Describe the LGBTI populations and the major areas of concern when providing health care to these patients
- Understand the effects of homophobia and/or heterosexism in the clinical encounter
- Identify barriers and health disparities in health care for LGBTI patients
- Provide techniques to improve the health care experience for LGBTI patients

May 16, 2007-
David Acosta, M.D., FAAFP
Folk Medicine in Latino Communities
Dr. Acosta discussed Latino folk medicine and its involvement in Latino communities: types of traditional healers, tools they utilize in healing practice and treatments. His presentation also highlighted reasons behind western medicine's poor understanding of Latino's traditional health beliefs and customs.

April 12, 2007-
Vaidya Priyanka
Ayurvedic and Marma therapy healer
Ayurveda: The Science of Life - Ancient Secrets for Modern Day Living
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word, derived from two roots: ayu, which means life, and veda, meaning knowledge. Ayurveda, which encompasses the body, mind, and spirit, is often referred to as the "science of life" and traces its roots in ancient Vedic literature. Dr. Priyanka introduced a comprehensive 25 point Ayurvedic lifestyle.

March 13, 2007-
Heiner Fruehauf, Ph.D.
Chinese Medicine: Philosophy, Clinical Efficacy, and Integration with Allopathic Medicine
Dr. Fruehauf spoke on the theoretical training in the philosophy and cosmology of Chinese Medicine as well as the study of its clinical applications and the integration of Allopathic Medicine.

February 9, 2007-
Victor Perry, M.D.
Director of Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery, University of California San Francisco
Awareness and Understanding of Culture in Medicine: Improving How We Deliver Care
As health care providers, opportunities are available to enhance relationships with patients to better understand various cultural backgrounds, traditions and beliefs creating a more effective healing environment.

November 18, 2005-
Ron Alec
Spiritual Leader and Medicine Man from the Mono Tribe of California
Spirituality and Health Practice of Traditional Native American Medicine

October 27, 2005-
Nick MacDonald, Deputy Director for Emergency Response, Mercy Corps
and
Calvin Henry, Ph.D., Consultant
Hurricane Katrina: Implications of Race and Class

April 27, 2005-
Alexandra Kogan
Russian Language Interpreter, Oregon Health & Science University
Expectations and Reactions to Western Health Care: The Russian & European Patient Perspective

March 23, 2005-
Carol Silverman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon
Roma Culture in the Hospital Setting: Gypsy Families, Their Expectations and Needs Part II

January 26, 2005-
Fred Miller, M.S.
Director OHSU African American Dementia & Aging Project
Health and Acculturation: An African American Perspective

November 17, 2004-
Larry Murillo, DrPH, M.S.
Assistant Professor, OHSU Public Health & Preventive Medicine and Research Assistant, One Sky Center
Native American Traditional Health Practices

October 27, 2004-
Barbara Glidewell, MBS, CEC
Director OHSU Department of Patient Relations, Patient Advocate/Ombudsman
Roma Culture in the Hospital Setting: Gypsy Families, Their Expectations and Needs Part I

September 29, 2004-
Jose David Cardona-Mendez, M.D.
Adjunct Instructor of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, OHSU School of Medicine
A Hispanic/Latino Cultural Perspective

August 26, 2004-
James Mason, Ph.D.
Director of the Office of Multicultural Health, State of Oregon
An Introduction to Cultural Competency

OHSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.