In this article, the author discusses the importance of cultural and mental health skills and why medical and health science students need them in today’s world.
From memorizing facts about illnesses to learning how to perform procedures, every medical and health science university offers curricula and opportunities to ensure that its students hone their hard skills.But as our world moves past the pandemic and patient populations increase in diversity, those skills should only be part of a healthcare professional’s education. “A complete and competent physician is not only skilled in the hard sciences associated with anatomy, chemistry, and biology, but just as importantly, they have the desire and knowledge for cultural competence and cultural humility, so as to treat a patient’s body, mind, and spirit,” says Jeffrey R. Gardere, PhD, board certified clinical psychologist and an associate professor and course director at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) in New York City and Middletown, NY.
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