Elise Bell, MD – Psychiatrist, Professor, Author. Dr. Bell will lead a discussion on Cultural competency which requires understanding of values, norms and traditions that affect how an individual of a particular group perceives, thinks, interacts, behaves, and makes judgments about their world. The discussion is designed to bring awareness of cross-cultural issues in mental health, understanding the characteristics of cultural competence, the capacity to design areas necessary for cultural competence and the ability to ethically and effectively practice across cultures.

According to Dr. Bell cultural competence develops out of intentional efforts to gain and implement the relevant knowledge.