Growing up in the Twin Cities, I've had the privilege of being exposed to many cultural individuals and their cultural values. I know that culture is a strong part of people's lives and influences their values, views, and many decisions they make in their everyday life. As a nurse, I've been able to connect with my diverse patients on a different level, and observe that this builds trust and shows that I care for them. I always remember to double check that my Somali and Amharic female patients are all right with visiting a male doctor when I am working with a male physician. As I became an adult, I came to realize that in order for me to be able to understand how an individual's culture affects him/her or able to understand certain situations he/she encounters such as discrimination and become a proactive listener, I had to first turn back and absorb more knowledge of my culture. I had to learn to be comfortable in sharing my culture and its values and understand more in depth beliefs. Being able to understand and appreciate my culture allowed me to appreciate and accept other cultures and build a relationship with individuals from different backgrounds. Working in the health care field, I am able to …show more content…
My goal as a physician is to empower my patients and find ways to decrease the many health disparities within my underrepresented community. The key to change is to understand. By understanding why a patient of mine is non-compliant with the care plan or why a patient is receiving limited health care will allow the both of us, together, to find a solution to change and help the individual find empowerment. U of MN Medical School is located in a huge diverse city. I will get to increase my knowledge of more cultural perspectives, develop strong relationships with diverse individuals and groups, and work together to improve the overall quality of care within my