Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Visiting professor urges California optometrists to expand cultural competence as Hispanic population grows
Summary
Dr. Héctor Santiago told the California State Board of Optometry that demographic shifts and health disparities make cultural competence essential for improving access and outcomes for Latino patients; he urged practices to use interpreters, involve families and adapt communication and outreach.
A virtual presentation to the California State Board of Optometry on Feb. 14 urged optometrists to prioritize cultural competence as the state’s Hispanic population grows and to adapt clinical practices to reduce health disparities.
The board heard Dr. Héctor Santiago, professor and director of research at Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry, describe cultural factors that influence health‑seeking behavior, expectations of care and adherence to treatment. “There is not such a thing as neutrality,” Santiago said of Western medical practice, arguing that clinicians…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
