Working with medically underserved communities may not be compelling for many people. It can be a challenge understanding how social and non-medical factors play a role in determining health outcomes. It can also be a challenge learning how to care for an underserved community which can demand dealing with patients’ needs creatively, in the face of limited resources. Yet, the very qualities which make working with a medically underserved community challenging are in fact the very qualities which draw me to work with them. Growing up in an underserved community has helped me gain the perspective necessary to understand how the welfare of some of the most marginalized groups very often slips through the cracks of our health care system. As a …show more content…
Language and communication difficulties at nearly every level of the health care system—from scheduling appointments and gaining access through health insurance to understanding a diagnosis accurately and complying to treatments prescribed by a health care provider—have the potential to affect the outcomes of their health. In addition, cultural differences can have an impact on the way patients like my parents understand and utilize health care services. Going with my father to see his physician helped me gain insight on how important cultural and linguistic connections are for building rapport—in such a way that the patient too can play a role in managing their own health. My father has seen the same primary care doctor for years because he feels that their shared cultural and language background makes it easier to talk about his health. He also feels that his doctor perceives his problems the same way that he does, which has allowed trust to develop between him and his doctor. Compared to his experiences with past primary care doctors, my father is happier and feels more in control of his health. Through my family’s experiences, I recognized how representation in medicine can play a key role in mediating health