Integrating Culture Competency into
Optometric Treatment Plans
OBO #1270 (Culture Competency)
Course expires: 8/1/2027
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will describe that every patient encounter is
cross-cultural and describe cultural competency and outline why it is an
important optometric “skill”. It will encourage optometrists to consider their
own culture and how it influences their interactions with their patients. It
will give attendees tools on how to implement culturally competent care in
their practices.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Attendees will be able to analyze how their cultural understanding influences the care they give, and begin to formulate ways to account for this influence
2. Attendees will be able to describe organizational, structural, and clinical barriers to care and how they contribute to health and health care disparities
3. Attendees will be able to plan organizational, structural, and clinical interventions to better meet the needs of minority patients
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will describe that every patient encounter is cross-cultural and describe cultural competency and outline why it is an important optometric “skill”. It will encourage optometrists to consider their own culture and how it influences their interactions with their patients. It will give attendees tools on how to implement culturally competent care in their practices.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Attendees will be able to analyze how their cultural understanding influences the care they give, and begin to formulate ways to account for this influence
2. Attendees will be able to describe organizational, structural, and clinical barriers to care and how they contribute to health and health care disparities
3. Attendees will be able to plan organizational, structural, and clinical interventions to better meet the needs of minority patients
Video
Text material
Exam
Certificate
Matthew Pearce OD, DrPH, MPH, FAAO
Matthew received his Doctor of Optometry from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, his Master of Public Health from Emory University, and his Doctor of Public Health from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. His career has included teaching, lecturing, and conducting research in the United States and various developing countries. He currently provides full-scope optometric care at Kaiser Permanente in metro-Portland, Oregon and helps manage a private optometric practice with his wife in West Linn, Oregon. He has particular interest in the intersection of health systems-strengthening and non-governmental organizations, the training and support of mid-level eye care providers, and the translation of public health science to clinical care.