Health Matters A Pocket Guide for Working with Diverse Cultures and Underserved Populations

Immigrant, minority and refugee populations make up a quarter of our population, but special challenges await the doctors, nurses, clinical care providers, social workers, public health professionals and others who care for our diverse population on a daily basis. Some groups lack health insurance, arrive with no medical records or present with unfamiliar conditions. Access to care can be daunting, and often there are significant language barriers. At a fundamental level, basic concepts of what good health is, where disease originates and how to treat illness can vary dramatically from group to group.

Mark Grey is Professor of Anthropology and Director, Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and Integration, University of Northern Iowa. Michele Yehieli is Associate Professor of Public Health and Executive Director, Project EXPORT Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, University of Northern Iowa.