Liany Serrano Oviedo, an Ethics & Leadership in Healthcare BDP Student, designed a workshop to prepare pre-health students to be providers who are culturally competent and effective communicators.
"The most rewarding part of this experience has been seeing the puzzle pieces of all my coursework and previous research come together.”
What is the title of your research project?
Professional Development Workshop for Pre-Health Students: Cultural Humility, Patient-Centered Communication, and Ethical Decision Making
How would you describe your research project and how did you come up with the idea?
I designed a workshop to prepare pre-health students to be providers who are culturally humble and effective communicators. The workshop emphasized the effects of bias on interpersonal health communication and patient outcomes. I came up with the idea after hearing some alarming and prejudiced statements from classmates who aspired to be physicians. As a Public Health major, I recognized that there was a gap in undergraduate education regarding health disparities.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your Connecting Experience?
The most rewarding part of this experience has been seeing the puzzle pieces of all my coursework and previous research come together. I created this workshop to be something I would've loved to attend as an aspiring provider myself and being a resource for other aspiring providers is incredibly fulfilling.
In what ways has this Connecting Experience shaped your plans for the future?
I am not only the creator but also the audience for this workshop. I currently work in healthcare and use what I learned while creating this project every day I walk into the clinic. It shapes the way I communicate with my patients and has helped me find mentors in supervisors and mentors, who will help me get to my graduate clinical program. It was the first step to becoming the provider I aspire to be and has cemented my motivation and perseverance to not only work in healthcare, but to also advocate for others.
Please discuss the relationship that you had with your faculty mentor(s), and how they helped you during this Connecting Experience.
I chose my mentor after working with them previously on another Connecting Experience, where I took a liking to the independent work style they provided me. Dr. Osier's expertise in this area of study was unmatched and they provided me with feedback that always pushed my deliverables beyond the ordinary. I am incredibly grateful for their faith in me.