Dr. Guion completes cultural competency fellowship
by Jennifer Hilliard
Dr. W. Kent Guion, associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Allied Health Sciences, has completed the inaugural Health Research and Education Trust Cultural Competence Leadership Fellowship program.
The yearlong program, a partnership among the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, the National Center for Healthcare Leadership and the American Hospital Association, helps university administrators identify and address cultural competency issues at their institutions. Cultural competency refers to academic and personal skills that enhance understanding and appreciation of cultural differences between ethnic groups.
Fellows’ coursework included producing a 90-second public service announcement that highlighted a patient’s frustration navigating a health system without linguistic and culturally appropriate services.
“The fellowship experience put me in contact with many of the premier thinkers and doers in cultural competency,” said Dr. Guion, one of 20 inaugural fellows. “My experiences there have allowed me to better strategize how to implement cultural competency at MCG. Not only does cultural competency fit with our institutional strategic initiatives, but more and more states are requiring cultural competency training for medical licensure renewal.”
He plans a Web site to help students understand the impact of cultural diversity on health care delivery. The site will also enhance the skills and perspectives needed to address multicultural health issues.
Dr. Guion is a member of the Georgia Public Health Association and the National and Georgia Rural Health associations. He serves on the advisory board for the Georgia Go-Local Project, funded by the National Library of Medicine, matching Georgians with the MedLine Plus Web site for information on health topics or conditions, including a list of providers in their area.