Cultural Proficiency in Addressing Health Disparities

This book has important information and current statistics on health disparities within the United States. It identifies our most vulnerable populations and offers guidelines on how to avoid cultural incompetence and promote cultural proficiency. Cultural Proficiency in Addressing Health Disparities will help us to address Healthy People 2010, which challenges individuals, communities, and professionals to take specific steps to ensure that good health, as well as long life, is enjoyed by all. This demands the ability to relate effectively to persons of many different cultures to assure collaborative participation in research (that must include minorities), clinical patient care and disease prevention. Cultural Proficiency in Addressing Health Disparities is written by experienced health care practitioners and researchers who work every day to eliminate health disparities and produce a culturally proficient health care environment for patient, practitioner, and researchers. Physicians, researchers, healthcare workers, health sciences educators and students, community workers, advocates, planners, policy-makers and similar professionals in non-profit and at the government level will benefit from the information, insights and experiences recounted in this book.

Dr. Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, is the Associate Vice President for Health Sciences, and Professor in the School of Medicine, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), and Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska.

Dr. Cynthia Theresa Cook, is a medical sociologist and adjunct assistant professor at Florida A&M University.

Dr. Richard O'Brien is University Professor and a member of the Center for Health Policy & Ethics of Creighton University. Contributors:Janet BonetNebraska Supreme Court, Certified InterpreterCynthia CookDrake ReponzilExecutive Director, Minority Health, HHSSAnnette DulaVisiting Scholar, University of PittsburghFather John P. SchlegelPresident, Creighton UniversityIsidore FloresResearch Scientist, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Heath Science Center, South Texas CenterValda Boyd FordCOO, Center for Human Diversity, Inc.Gordon GongF. Marie Hall Institute for Rural and Community Health, Texas Tech University Health Science CenterMargaret GrahamAssistant Professor, Dept. of Psychology and Anthropology, The University of Texas Pan-AmericanGleb HaynatzkiVera HaynatzkaCathy HudsonAdeola JaiyeolaDirector, Northern Plains Tribal Epidemeology Center, Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen's Health BoardJudith KissellDirector, Health Administration and Policy Program, Creighton UniversityDiane LoweNebraska HHSNelda MierAssistant Professor, Social Behavioral Health Department at the Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health South Texas CenterAnn MillardAssociate Professor, Texas A&M University System HSC School, Rural Public Health, South Texas CenterPhyllis A. Nsiah-KumiAssistant Professor, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical CenterAlbert OkunadeProfessor, Economics Department, The University of MemphisRubens PamiesVice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Dean for Graduate Studies, University of Nebraska Medical CenterPatti PattersonProfessor of Community Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterFrank PeakMike RaileySt. Louis County HealthKarl RothProfessor & Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Creighton University School of MedicineEsmeralda SanchezProgram Coordinator, Texas A&M School of Rural Public HealthWehnona StablerTribal Health Director, Omaha Tribe of NebraskaJohn StoneChutima SuraratdechaHealth Policy and Economics Officer, PATHEthel WilliamsUniversity of Nebraska at OmahaM. Roy WilsonChancellor, University of Colorado DenverAnthony ZhangNebraska DHHSGenny Carillo ZunigaAssistant Professor, Texas A&M, Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health