Medicine must open its window on the world

In almost every nation in the world, increased burdens of morbidity and mortality afflict racial and ethnic minorities and new immigrant populations. In his commentary on racial stereotyping and medicine, Dr. Jack Geiger cites the inferior health status of African-Americans, people of Hispanic origin, American Indians and others in the US as a cause for concern.

He states the US is not the sole culprit in this area, as the poor health status of Canada�s aboriginal population and that of many ethnic groups in countries around the world is also alarming.

Dr. Geiger is heartened that there has been an �explosion of interest� in undergraduate and graduate training for cultural competence and the continuing development of resources to assist physicians and other health care workers in that process.

However, he cautions that beyond changes in knowledge and attitudes, the success of these endeavours depends on generating improved outcomes.

Racial stereotyping and medicine: the need for cultural competence

Dr. Geiger, is Arthur C. Logan Professor of Community Medicine Emeritus, Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, City University of New York Medical School