Partnership for Diversity: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Nurturing Cultural Competence at an Emerging Medical School

Med Ref Serv Q. 2015;34(4):451-60. doi: 10.1080/02763869.2015.1082379.

Abstract

Fostering cultural competence in higher education institutions is essential, particularly in training future health care workers to care for diverse populations. The opportunity to explore techniques to address diversity and cultural competence at a new medical school was undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of librarians, faculty, staff, and medical students. From 2011 to 2015, the team sponsored a voluntary programming series to promote cultural competence and raise awareness of health care disparities for the medical school. Thirteen events were hosted with 562 participants across all. This approach to diversity proved effective and could be adapted in any higher education setting.

Keywords: Cultural competence; diversity; medical students; undergraduate medical education; underserved populations.

MeSH terms

  • Cultural Competency / education*
  • Curriculum*
  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Librarians
  • Michigan
  • Organizational Case Studies
  • Schools, Medical*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires