What Is Cultural Humility? Here’s How To Implement It

Anyone who seeks out a health and well-being provider is looking for someone who will be a part of their health care team. When they walk into a space where they are vulnerable and reliant upon care, they hope that the provider will be respectful and allow them to share their story without judgment. For this to be possible, the provider (or anyone, for that matter) should have cultural humility.

What is cultural humility?

Cultural humility is a process of communal reflection to examine the root causes of suffering, with the goal of creating a more inclusive worldview. It was originally developed by Melanie Tervalon, M.D., MPH, and Jann Murray-Garcia, M.D., MPH, to address health disparities and inequities in medicine and is further discussed by filmmaker Vivian Chavez in the video titled Cultural Humility: People, Principles, and Practices.

It’s a multidimensional concept that includes self-reflection, critical self-thought, and lifelong learning. It also requires an awareness of power dynamics to ensure respectful partnerships and institutional accountability.