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Kelly Hays, right, listens as Peggy Pelish, Ph.D., talks with a patient at the UNMC Community Health Center. Hays – a junior at Nebraska Wesleyan University — spent a morning shadowing Dr. Pelish as part of the weeklong cultural competency workshop. |
The participating students expressed interests in medicine, optometry, dentistry and radiation technology professions.
“The workshop provides a general overview of the growing cultural diversity in our state,” said Liliana Bronner, program coordinator with the Rural Health Education Network (RHEN). “Students gained a historical perspective of culturally diverse health care and applied concepts they learned through mock patient scenarios.”
During the weeklong workshop, which was held Jan. 6-11, students learned about differences and similarities among ethnic populations, factors that determine health disparities, and communication tips to help them be culturally responsive.
The workshop was first offered seven years ago through funding from the Nebraska health care cash fund (tobacco settlement).
It is now is supported in part through the RHEN and Area Health Education Center (AHEC) funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services.
The students also worked in small groups and researched topics dealing with various controversial issues in health care. On the final day of the workshop, students presented their findings in a student debate forum.
As part of the workshop, the students also are required to spend nine to twelve hours with an organization or a health care facility that benefits underserved communities.
Hometowns and names of the participating students are listed below.