IMPROVING CROSS-CULTURAL SKILLS OF MEDICAL-STUDENTS THROUGH MEDICAL-SCHOOL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Postulating that a program integrating language skills with other aspe cts of cultural knowledge could assist in developing medical students' ability to work in cross-cultural situations and that partnership wit h targeted communities was key to developing an effective program, a m edical school and two organizations with strong community ties joined forces to develop a Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultural Competence Project. Medical student participants in the program improved their la nguage skills-and knowledge of cultural issues, and a partnership with community organizations provided context and resources to supplement more traditional modes of medical education.