Cultural Competence/Mutual Respect Course

Welcome! With the help of a nationally recognized expert, we have developed a cultural competence and mutual respect course. We believe this course will address fundamental issues of creating accountability for understanding cultural and behavioral aspects of working in healthcare and ultimately build effective communication strategies for the benefit of all those we will work with and ultimately the patients we serve. The course is comprised of four (4) modules

• Module I-Accountability and Mutual Respect
• Module II-Attitudes, Beliefs and Expectations: Disparity of Care and Relationships
• Module III-Accountability-based Teambuilding: Solutions to Cultural Clashes
• Module IV-Cross-Cultural Communication

Each module has eight individual sessions. Registration for individual sessions must be completed by midnight prior to the start of the individual session. Prior to attending each of the four modules students are required to complete the following:

• Read the module in WebCT
• Complete the exercises within the module
• Read the assigned article
• Register for module

You must attend and complete all requirements for all FOUR modules in order to pass this course. Your attendance and homework will be recorded by the Course Coordinator. If you DO NOT complete the FOUR modules you will receive an incomplete for the course.

You will be participating in a ground-breaking approach to education in cultural competence and mutual respect. This course is unique and to our knowledge not taught in this form anywhere in the country, and that will soon change. What you will be experiencing in this course is much sought after and relevant in current healthcare provider environments among all disciplines of medical and healthcare practice.

Emphasizing mutual respect among the different disciplines in healthcare as this course does, is the first stage in developing cultural competence and will be emphasized throughout the learning and facilitated discussions you will experience during class.

We hope and expect that you will vigorously embrace this curriculum as you would any other course. Striving for cultural competence in your interactions with all those you will inter-depend with for the benefit of patients and their families is vitally important not only in becoming an excellent healthcare and medical practitioner, but also providing an equal standard of care to all of your patients regardless of cultural background or ethnicity.

The expectation is that you thoroughly read the course materials from the syllabi prior to each session and that you come fully prepared to contribute to the class discussion.

Click on the Begin Registration button below to begin the registration process. Be sure to revew the requirements for each module before you register.

We look forward to your participation and contribution to this very important endeavor!

A. Lorris Betz, MD, PhD - Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean, School of Medicine

Ronald M. Harris, MD, MBA - Associate Vice President for Health Sciences Diversity