UNMC holds cultural competency workshop

Participants in the cultural competency workshop were, back row from left — Holly DeVorss, Kirsten Foster, Sarah Merithew, Aleisha Menning, Holly Walts, Patrick Pick, Emily Vanis, Trent Jones, Jordan Hoge and Christopher Deans; middle row — Alexis Bowder, Jacey Fisher, Kara Maddox, Megan Puckett, Derek Hoffman, Kassandra Connell and Travis Kirchner; front row — Michelle Vu, Leanna Kalvelage and Nicole Williams.

UNMC hosted 20 college students from 10 Nebraska schools for the annual cultural competency workshop May 17-22.

During the weeklong workshop, 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 provides a general overview of cultural competency, diversity and multiculturalism,” said Liliana Bronner, interim director of the Rural Health Education Network (RHEN). “The curriculum was intended to help the students think critically.”

The students gained a historical perspective of health disparities and fundamental cultural theories, Bronner said. They also:

• Analyzed various case studies;
  
• Learned about the growing diversity in Nebraska;
  
• Applied communication concepts they learned through mock patient scenarios; and
  
• Learned about the health professional’s role in providing culturally competent health care.

Student participants expressed an interest in the medical, dental, physician assistant, physical therapy and radiation technology professions.

“You need to learn as much as you can about people that are different than you, so you can try to better communicate with them in health care situations,” said Kirsten Foster, a junior from Nebraska Wesleyan University, who thought the workshop was a wonderful opportunity.

Workshop supporters The workshop was first offered eight years ago through funding from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund (tobacco settlement). It is now supported, in part, through 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 a clinical issue that affects underserved populations. On the final day of the workshop, participants presented their findings at a student forum.

The Nebraska Office of Minority Health and Health Equity designed the bulk of the curriculum for the workshop.

The student participants and their hometowns are:

• Auburn: Trent Jones, Hastings College
  
• Edga: Derek Hoffman, Dana College
  
• Elgin: Emily Vanis, Chadron State College
  
• Fairfield: Jacey Fisher, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  
• Grand Island: Sarah Beth Merithew, Doane College
  
• Humboldt: Kassandra Connell, Wayne State College
  
• Lincoln: Kirsten Foster, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Megan Puckett,Hastings College: Michelle Vu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  
• Nebraska City: Holly DeVorss, Midland Lutheran College
  
• Ogallala: Travis Kirchner, University of Nebraska at Kearney
  
• Omaha: Kara Maddox, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Patrick Pick, University of Nebraska at Omaha
  
• Orchard: Aleisha Menning, Nebraska Wesleyan University
  
• Papillion: Alexis Bowder, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Holly Walts, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  
• Plainview: Leanna Kalvelage, Dana College
  
• Scribner: Jordan Hoge, Dana College
  
• Seward: Nicole Williams, Doane College
  
• Brighton, Colo.: Christopher Deans, University of Nebraska at Kearney