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)

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," renowned Marxian scholar and philosopher Kohei Saito offers a compelling argument against the relentless pursuit of economic growth that permeates contemporary capitalism. Saito’s thesis focuses on the concept of degrowth—a radical reduction in production and consumption that aligns with sustainable ecological limits rather than constant expansion. Pictured above is Kohei Saito Saito makes a significant and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about sustainable living. Slow Down adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental science, economics, and social theory to present a clear and urgent depiction of the current ecological crisis. Saito critiques the widely accepted belief that economic growth equates to progress and questions the sustainability of existing global consumption patterns. He advocates for a fundamental reshaping of our economic systems to prioritize human well-being and ecologica...

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...

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...

Colors of Influence Reviews

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