FM 5485 - CULTURAL COMPETENCY

Minimum Credits: 0
Maximum Credits: 0
Course objectives: to create better understanding of different health beliefs in different culture, resulting in students with facility in operating in a multicultural environment; foster an understanding of the challenges to physicians and the health care system of varying cultural beliefs and practices; improve the recognition of health beliefs and practice as they present in the clinical setting. The medical student will be introduced to a variety of cultural issues as they relate to medical care. Directed readings will be assigned to expose students to major health beliefs, disparities, challenges and practices of members of a variety of culture groups, including native Americans, African Americans, Arab Americans, eastern European immigrants, Latino Americans, and Asian Americans. Students will spend time with UPMC medical translators, attending to inpatients and outpatients, both in clinics and on house calls, learning both from the medical reasons for the patient seeking care, and the background health belief. Students will also attend health education events as available in community settings, including steps to a healthy community programs, center for minority health programs, Jewish community center programs, and other opportunities. The student will be expected to do a complete family health belief study on a selected patient's family, including recommendations for improvement of the quality of their health experience. Students will have a weekly meeting with the course director to discuss suggested readings and how the content applied to the clinical experiences.
Academic Career: Medical School
Course Component: Clinical
Grade Component: H/HS/S/LS/U
Course Attributes: School of Medicine Year 4

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