Diversity Council
Mission:
To create a diverse, nondiscriminatory learning and working environment for the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine community by promoting competency, awareness, inclusion, respect and equity through the provision of education, training and resources.
Cultural Competency
The state of being capable of functioning effectively in the context of cultural differences. (Holding a deep respect for cultural differences and an eagerness to learn and a willingness to accept that there are many ways for viewing the world).
Elements of Cultural Competency:
- Awareness and acceptance of differences
- Awareness of one’s own culture
- Understanding the dynamics of differences
- Developing of cultural knowledge
- Celebration of diversity
Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
Standard on Cultural Diversity:
The faculty and students must demonstrate an understanding of the manner in which people of diverse cultures and belief systems perceive health and illness and respond to various symptoms, diseases, and treatments. Medical students should learn to recognize and deal with gender and cultural biases in health care delivery, while considering first the health of the patient.
Rational: This standard takes into consideration the growing diversity in society and mandates that medical schools assure the competency of graduates to recognize the influence of cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and gender perceptions on health and medical care, and to learn in environments that are sensitive to the associations between culturally determined factors and health.
Diversity Council Members:
Reaner Shannon, Ph.D. Chair
Amrita Burdick, Co-Chair
Kelly Edwards
Gaby Flores
Timothy Hickman, MD
Marlene Smith
Nasreen Talib, MD
Daryl Thompson, MD
Michael Weaver, MD
Bob Yang, Ph.D.
Kimberly Horii, MD
Students:
SNMA and AMSA Officers