Webinar Helps FPs Build Rapport Across Cultures

Cultivating Cultural Humility in Global Health Practice, a live webinar on April 10 at 7 p.m. CT, features Natalia Galarza, M.D., FAAFP, a practicing family physician at the Regional Center for Border Health San Luis Walk-In Clinic in Somerton, Ariz.; and Kathy Chang, M.D., M.P.H., FAAFP, associate program director and assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque.

“Cultural humility refers to a continuous effort of reflection, learning and understanding one's cultural beliefs, biases and limitations,” Galarza said. “It also involves respectfully engaging with and valuing the diverse cultural backgrounds, beliefs and experiences of others.

“One of the main goals of cultural humility is to recognize power imbalances in health care interactions and take active measures to address them. For family physicians, understanding cultural humility is crucial because it helps to build trust and rapport with patients from different cultural backgrounds we serve.” 

Members will have the opportunity to ask Galarza and Chang about strategies for the specific needs of their practices and learn best practices from other attendees in a Q&A.

By the end of the webinar, which will be available on demand along with previous sessions in the series shortly after the live event, attendees should be able to

• understand the concept of cultural humility and its significance in the context of global health;

• analyze case studies and real-life scenarios to reflect on personal biases, assumptions and stereotypes that may influence interactions with diverse patient populations in global health; and

• learn to use community engagement as a tool to practice cultural humility in global health settings.

Participants can earn 1 AAFP Prescribed credit.

The global health webinar series has been made possible through a grant from the AAFP Foundation.

The AAFP offers several other resources for family physicians on global health, as well as blogs, articles and related content that address cultural humility, cultural competency and related topics.

Members also are encouraged to attend the AAFP Global Health Summit, a preconference to the 2024 Family Medicine Experience in Phoenix in September. The theme for this year’s summit is “SOAR Together: Global Health for All.”