As shared earlier in the Pulse, this year’s Multicultural Festival will be Thursday, Oct. 9, from 5-7 p.m. Please join in the celebration of all our community’s varied and beautiful cultures by registering here.
The Multicultural Festival is a fun opportunity to meet others and learn about the many cultures in our NEOMED community.
The importance of multiculturalism in the health professions is outlined by our many professional organizations, as well as the personal experiences of our faculty and staff. Beyond our hope to have our students reach their full potential as excellent, thoughtful practitioners, several associations respective to our colleges provide their own views on the importance of cultural competence in healthcare.
Professional Societies’ Perspectives
In their description of important characteristics to consider for medical school admissions, the AAMC provides this definition of Cultural Competence:
“Cultural Competency demonstrates knowledge of sociocultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors; shows an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity; recognizes and acts on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment; engages diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work; recognizes and appropriately addresses bias in themselves and others; interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.” (The Anatomy of Cultural Competence)
The American Dental Association Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct states the following:
“The dentist has a duty to treat people fairly. This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to be fair in their dealings with patients, colleagues and society. Under this principle, the dentist’s primary obligations include dealing with people justly and delivering dental care without prejudice. In its broadest sense, this principle expresses the concept that the dental profession should actively seek allies throughout society on specific activities that will help improve access to care for all.” (ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct).
More concisely, the American Dental Education Association uses this definition:
“Cultural Competency is a person’s ability to understand and interact with people from cultures and backgrounds other than their own” (ADEA).
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy defines Cultural Competency:
“Cultural competency in pharmacy practice is the complex integration of knowledge, attitudes and skills that promotes effective communication and appropriate interactions with patients from various ethnic and/or cultural groups” (Ohio Board of Pharmacy).
The AAMC also points to “Cultural Humility” as a more in-depth understanding of enacting inclusive practices in medicine:
“Cultural humility incorporates a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique, to redressing the power imbalances in the patient-physician dynamic, and to developing mutually beneficial and non-paternalistic clinical and advocacy partnerships with communities on behalf of individuals and defined populations” (Effective Cross Cultural Medicine, citing Tervalon and Murray-Garcia, 1998).
Faculty and Staff Perspectives
Additionally, faculty and staff in the NEOMED community have the following to say about multiculturalism in health professions education.
Brook Wyers, SSL Writing Specialist, Writing Center, shared:
“In my role at the Writing Center as the SLL writing specialist, I have the amazing opportunity to connect with students who are from other countries, who are bilingual, and who are new to NEOMED and the U.S. These students are inspirational, and it showcases to me just how intertwined culture and language are.”
Bernhard Fassl, M.D., director of the Center for Global Health Innovation, College of Graduate Studies, and professor of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, shared:
“Both from a personal and a professional experience, exposure and immersion to different cultures, different ways of doing things, different value systems and different frameworks which govern decision making, has opened my eyes with regards to the possibilities which exist globally but are difficult for us to conceptualize locally. By opening your eyes and mind to different cultures and customs, one can not only achieve an improved understanding of the world and society on a personal level, but it opens a door to learning and broadens one’s professional background. Tolerance, appreciation and a richer experience of life follow automatically.”
Julie Aultman, Ph.D., dean of College of Graduate Studies, director of the Medical Ethics and Humanities Program, College of Graduate Studies, professor of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, and 2024 UH-NEOMED Faculty Scholar, shared:
“Multiculturalism has been central to my personal and professional trajectory as a bioethicist, educator and academic leader. From my early graduate research in Costa Rica and Uruguay to more recent scholarship on refugee health and global bioethics, I have consistently sought to understand diverse cultural frameworks of health, illness and justice. My work with refugee populations, international colleagues and interdisciplinary teams has deepened my appreciation for cultural humility, teaching me to listen to narratives shaped by displacement, race, gender identity and inequity. These experiences have not only shaped my scholarship but have also guided my leadership as Dean and educator, where I prioritize inclusive environments that respect multiple perspectives in medicine and ethics.
“Multiculturalism enriches my educational and research practices by broadening the scope of inquiry, expanding the voices represented, and deepening ethical engagement with real-world problems. In my research on refugee health, pediatric ethics and health disparities, multicultural perspectives help ensure that study designs and outcomes remain context-sensitive and socially just. Within teaching, drawing from diverse cultural narratives and international experiences fosters critical reflection among students and residents, preparing them to care for increasingly diverse patient populations. With teams and other work groups (and student interest groups that I advise) multiculturalism fosters creativity, accountability and humility. These are qualities that are indispensable in collaborative projects ranging from refugee research ethics to interprofessional health education. Ultimately, it ensures that both scholarship and practice are not only rigorous but also responsive to the global and pluralistic nature of healthcare. From working at the U.S.-Mexico and Guatemalan borders, to supporting our own community groups such as ASIA Inc. in Akron, the most rewarding aspect is learning from others’ experiences and coming up with collective, innovative ideas to promote health and overall human flourishing. I am humbled by the experiences of others.”
Maya Deeb, administrative coordinator, College of Graduate Studies
“For much of my life, I found myself in spaces where I was the only Latina. In many of those spaces, it felt like my cultural background was a hindrance, and so I minimized myself as much as possible. This mindset was all-consuming.
“Then, I had the unique privilege of moving all over the country as a teenager, and those experiences shaped the way I view the world. Whether it was;
- Exploring a Bavarian village in Washington with an Indian man who helped me begin to value my own perceptions of the world;
- Volunteering with a charity that built a school in Kenya, and getting to meet a fellow volunteer, a British astrophysicist, who taught me about ‘making tiny changes to Earth’;
- Learning from others that joy and community are still possible, even in the worst of circumstances like homelessness;
- Or, learning patience and forgiveness from a girl who spoke no English in a bad situation.
“Every person I’ve ever met has helped me grow in some way.
“As I’ve grown personally and professionally, I’ve found that the parts of my identity and culture I feared would hold me back are the very same things that have driven my successes. By leaning into the things I’ve learned and growing confidence in my identity, so many more doors have opened for me than I ever thought possible.
I was one of seven nominees selected statewide by the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission for the Premio La Cumbre award, recognizing advocacy for fellow Latinos. Because of the pain I witnessed of others struggling to make ends meet, I was thrilled to learn how to repair car headlights and join an organization that does so for free, ensuring community safety and minimizing the risk of legal interactions. By embracing my identity and how so many communities shaped me, I am honored to have been chosen to give a TEDx to the inverse — how we shape our communities in kind.
Multiculturalism expanded my understanding of my own identity, as well as allowed me to connect with others on the most human levels. It’s one of the things I’m most grateful for in my life.”
– submitted by Michael Appleman, M.A.Ed., assistant professor, Family and Community Medicine