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The virtual panel focused on two main topics: Social Determinants of Health, and Cultural Competency. The panelists discussed strategies for staying up-to-date on current issues, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, building trust, and addressing patients' social determinants of health.
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions of the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks (Healthy People 2030). SDOHs and other barriers mentioned included housing, health literacy, insurance/cost, trauma, and trafficking situations. When asked what students can do as future providers while working with patients who may be affects some of these social determinants, Coleen Schrage, Pharm D, emphasized the importance of mindfulness and literacy issues. "Sometimes you have to just sit back and listen to the patient and try to gain an understanding or perspective from theirs, because their perspective may not match your goals, or what you're trying to do with them, but it also gives you insight to where they are at that moment in time."
Teamwork played an important role throughout the panel, especially when it comes to cultural competency. Cultural competency is the ability to understand, appreciate and interact with people from cultures or belief systems different from one's own (American Psychological Association). Dr. Brian Penly stressed the importance of recognizing and understanding own's biases, and the need for humility and openness. Providers must ask the right questions with respect and curiosity, adapting to different cultural norms and communication styles. Each panelist expressed how empathy and a genuine desire to understand the patient's perspective are key to providing effective, culturally competent care in diverse communities.
This workshop, along with other activities such as Scholars Huddle Speaker Series, are offered exclusively to AHEC Scholars. Applications for the program will open in August 2025 for current health professions students.
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