Cultural Safety Concepts Episodes

Overview: We sit down with Dr. Lonnie Nelson, a clinical psychologist and member of the Cherokee Indians, to explore the importance of centering Native communities in healthcare research and practice. We learn about how Lonnie’s personal experiences with family health challenges shaped his professional journey, and how he reframes common clinical approaches to focus on culture, self-determination, and relational trust. We dive deep into the role of "culture as medicine," uncovering how tradition...

Overview: We explore the deeply personal and often overlooked connection between spirituality and health, especially within immigrant and refugee communities. Dr. Cat Delestrinos, a pediatrician and Filipino immigrant, shares moving stories from her own life and medical practice—particularly her son’s health journey—to illustrate how faith and spiritual practices can play a vital role in resilience, healing, and coping with fear. We discuss practical ways clinicians can better recognize and resp...

Overview: We explore the challenges and deep rewards of providing care to newly arrived refugee and immigrant families, guided by the insights of Dr. Anisa Ibrahim, an experienced pediatrician and community advocate. We unpack the art of truly welcoming families, emphasizing the power of listening to migration histories, honoring cultural backgrounds, and recognizing that parents are the experts in their children’s lives. We delve into sensitive topics like nutrition, developmental delays, menta...

Overview: We dive into the origins, structure, and impact of Islamic Trauma Healing—a community-driven, lay-led mental health intervention designed for Muslim communities, particularly Afghans and Somalis who have experienced significant trauma. Joining us are Mohammed Haroon , an Afghan mental health counselor and research coordinator, and Jake Bentley, a clinical psychologist from the University of Washington. We explore the barriers many Muslim refugees face with Western mental health servic...

We welcome Samman, the community engagement coordinator at Sahiyo, to discuss the ongoing efforts to address and prevent female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) within the South Asian Bora community and beyond. She provides insight into the importance of using appropriate terminology like FGM/C to foster dialogue and reduce stigma. We explore the prevalence of FGM/C in the United States, countering the misconception that it's only practiced elsewhere. The conversation delves into understanding ...

We delve into the sensitive and impactful topic of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in a compelling two-part series, highlighting its prevalence among over 230,000 women and girls in the US, particularly in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. Host Dr. Raj Sundar shares a personal story about discovering a case of Type 3 FGM in a prenatal patient, underscoring the need for trauma-informed care. Our guest, Isatou Jallow, a Gambian FGM/C survivor, shares her harrowing experiences and advocac...

Summary: We continue our series Dr. Anne Marie Liebel, founder of Health Communication Partners. We delve into the pressures faced by clinicians to be perfect and resolve issues quickly, exploring how this impacts patient care. Dr. Anne Liebel discusses the cultural legacy of paternalistic medicine and the deficit perspective that assumes patients are lesser than clinicians. Dr. Raj Sundar suggests redefining terms like "vulnerable" to "historically exploited" to enable self-definition. Our conv...

Summary: We continue our language series with a conversation featuring Dr. Anne Marie Liebel, founder of Health Communication Partners. We explore her journey from education to healthcare, focusing on improving patient relationships and employee retention through equitable communication. We delve into reflective practice, practical strategies, and the power of viewing patients' strengths rather than deficits. Dr. Raj Sundar shares personal insights on the role of effective communication in tailo...

Summary: We delve into the power of language in healthcare, focusing on how language shapes patient experiences and trust. Reflecting on biases, especially in physician notes, we examine studies revealing how negative language disproportionately affects black and Latino patients, and the resulting implicit biases among medical students. We emphasize the significance of cultural humility and respectful language, including self-identification, and we advocate for systemic policy changes over indiv...

Summary: We sit down with H. Nina Kim to explore the delicacy of discussing hepatitis B without trigger, the consequential distrust in healthcare within immigrant communities tied to historical traumas, and the necessity for culturally sensitive approaches. We delve into the responsibility of healthcare providers to empower and educate patients using relatable metaphors and community-led initiatives, emphasizing the importance of dismantling stigma and fostering hope. In our conversation, we und...

In this episode," we continue our conversation with Tanja Ahlin, a researcher and anthropologist. We delve into the complex dynamics that arise when family members bring their own healthcare knowledge into the mix. As a family medicine physician, I've come to realize the significance of this phenomenon and the valuable insights that family members can offer. However, there is often skepticism or hesitation from healthcare professionals. In this episode, we discuss the importance of fostering tru...

In this episode of "Healthcare for Humans," host Raj Sundar is joined by guest Tanja Ahlin, a researcher and anthropologist, to explore the concept of good care in the context of chronic illness and care collectives. They discuss the limitations of healthcare systems' metrics for measuring success in chronic illness care and emphasize the importance of finding individualized approaches that go beyond clinical outcomes. They delve into the role of technology in facilitating care at a distance, pa...

Aliyah Haq is an experienced registered dietitian with a career spanning 25 years. As the former president of Nutrition First, a prominent public health organization, she spearheaded a nationwide program emphasizing the importance of holistic nutrition education. In this episode of "Healthcare for Humans," host Dr. Raj Sundar and guest Aliyah Haq delve into the topic of culturally sensitive nutrition counseling. They stress the importance of building trust and understanding with patients, ackno...

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