Diversity In Health Care

The United States is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world. Many people of different customs and religions share the same space. Yet, the healthcare workforce does not represent the nation’s diverse population. Physician Assistant (PA), specifically, still remains predominantly white. According to the 2013 annual report from the National Commission on Certification of PAs, 85.6% of certified PAs indicated they were white. Given that diversity matters to healthcare and treatment of patients, many minority groups still experience health disparities despite the overall improvement in the healthcare system. Being an American of Vietnamese descent, I want to be a part of the nation’s movement in making PA become
a more diverse workforce. Born and live in Viet Nam for fourteen years, I am well-acquainted with the custom, culture, views, and ideas of the Vietnamese people. Utilizing this knowledge as well as my PA educational experience, I can facilitate cultural awareness and sensitivity in medical setting to provide the best quality services to my Vietnamese patients. During didactic and rotation years at Mercer University, I will volunteer to translate and work at a clinic in an area that have a large Vietnamese community. Eliminating communication problems and improving patient’s understand about the Western medical practices, the Vietnamese patients will be more at ease seeking preventive cares and less likely to decline a medical treatment. Continuing my focus on improve healthcare access, after graduation I would like to work in an underserved Vietnamese community. Furthermore, I look forward to bring new ideas as well as broaden my classmates and colleagues’ perspectives about the important of patient’s cultural beliefs and practices in medical setting. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that the Vietnamese patients as well as other minority patients from a more disadvantaged background have equal access to healthcare benefit and enjoy good health.