Focus on Culturally Competent Health Care

Working for a learning organization that also happens to be the only academic health center in the state of Oregon, I am fortunate to have access to myriad learning opportunities.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion hosts regular cultural competency lectures that focus on providing patient-centered care. I'm proud to be part of the team that organizes these lectures alongside diverse employee resource groups and other entities at OHSU.

Over the last year, we hosted a number of engaging scholars who addressed issues related to culture, health attitudes, microaggressions (special presentation by Dr. Derald Wing Sue, pictured above), strategic diversity leadership, among other important topics.

Below is a snapshot of speakers and lectures. Click here to access links to video archives and other presentation materials.

"I Have a Reservation"
Capt. Stephen "Miles" Rudd, M.D., Portland Area Indian Health Service

"Policy, Ethics & Communications in Tribal and Rural Communities"
Sarah Kastelic, Ph.D., Deputy Director, National Indian Child Welfare Association

"Disability Inequity in the Workplace"
Dan Friess, Executive Director, Incight

"Depression in African-Americans"
Elisa Torres, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Tribes, Treaties and Natural Resource Management"
Hon. Elizabeth Furse

"Learn About Disability Etiquette"
Workshop led by Employee Resource Group members

"LGBT Patient-Centered Care"
Webinars offered by the Human Rights Campaign

"Microaggressions in Everyday Life"
Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Education, Columbia University

"Patient Care in the Context of Culture"
Panel discussion among OHSU faculty and physicians in the schools of Medicine and Nursing (pictured below)

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...

A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga

The modern practice of yoga in Western culture is often criticized for disconnecting from its cultural, historical, and spiritual roots. In many studios and gyms, yoga is reduced to a fitness routine—focused on stretching rather than its original purpose of enlightening the mind. In "A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga," celebrated practitioner Nikita Desai reconnects readers with yoga’s ancient Indian origins. Drawing on her Indian heritage, Desai explores the deeper meanings behind yoga’s forms, postures, and intentions, offering a rich historical and philosophical context for those seeking a more authentic practice. Desai shares her personal journey of reclaiming yoga’s essence, inviting readers to do the same by integrating cultural awareness into their practice. Her tone is welcoming and nonjudgmental, making the book accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Although I do not practice yoga, my meditation roots lie in Zen Buddhism. Through conversations with prac...

Wash

Ebony Stewart’s "Wash" is a powerful, unflinching poetry collection that draws the reader into a world of raw emotion, deep introspection, and lyrical brilliance. As I read through the poems, I found myself captivated by Stewart’s honest reflections on identity, love, loss, and healing. Her voice is unapologetically bold, revealing the complexities of being a Black womxn navigating relationships, societal expectations, and hard-fought victories toward self-worth. Yet, her themes are universal, resonating with anyone who has grappled with their own identity and relationships. What struck me most was Stewart’s emotional transparency: each poem feels like a cleansing, a shedding of shame, doubt, and grief, revealing the triumph of knowing one’s value in a world that often seeks to diminish it. Stewart doesn’t shy away from exploring the pain of extractive love or the vulnerability of desire, but she also leaves room for empowerment and resilience. As a celebrated spoken word ...

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