The Art of Cultural Competence
By Vishwa Bhatt
In this powerful and deeply personal reflection, Vishwa Bhatt shares the story of her grandfather (“Dada”) an Indian immigrant, chemist, and meditator whose journey through the U.S. healthcare system reveals the critical need for cultural competence in medicine. The narrative explores the emotional and clinical disconnects that arise when traditional healing systems like Ayurveda are dismissed, and how that dismissal can have serious consequences.
Vishwa calls for a healthcare system rooted in structural belonging where patient traditions, beliefs, and emotions are honored alongside biomedical science. Her essay is a reminder that listening, curiosity, and cultural humility can transform not only outcomes, but relationships between providers and patients.
This piece is a tribute to resilience, intergenerational love, and the vision of a healthcare future that embraces diversity in every sense.
In February 2023, we hosted a workshop with Chicago Scholars on the aspects of community belonging. We asked students to create poems to reflect how and why they feel they belong.
To view the collection of poems in a virtual gallery, CLICK HERE. Listen below to a former Chicago Scholar Ambassador Freedom Horton read his poem, “I belong with my sister”.
Belonging can be described as being accepted and invited to participate; being part of something and having the opportunity to show up as yourself and being able to raise issues and confront harsh truths as a full member of a community (Wise, 2022). Its opposite—othering—establishes social exclusion and reinforces disparities in resources and barriers in health care.
We believe belonging is critical to inspiring health equity.
What’s your view of belonging?
How do you create communities of belonging?
We invite you to contribute to our virtual gallery your thoughts on these questions of belonging through art, film, photography, writing, etc.
The accepted mediums include painting, drawings, prints, mixed media, computer generated art or video, short films, photos, collages, and essays. All entries must be original in concept and design.
If you have any questions, please email: centerforcommunityhealthequity@gmail.com