MEDICAL STUDENTS ’ AND RESIDENTS ’ EXPERIENCES WITH

An increasingly diverse society requires physicians to be able to competently treat those with whom they do not share ancestry and/or culture. However, physicians and patients may see cultural issues as barriers to a successful clinical encounter. In addition, dominant cultures may have their own perceptions of what constitutes standard quality clinical care. Furthermore, many physicians struggle to be culturally competent and avoid racial stereotyping, as they can be sensitive to cultural differences, but remain unable to negotiate them in communication with patients. Cultural competence and freedom from bias are becoming increasingly urgent professional responsibilities. Cultural competence is defined as a set of skills that allow individuals to increase their understanding of cultural differences and similarities within, among and between groups. Multiple studies have demonstrated that minorities in the society may have inferior health status compared to their counterparts due to numerous factors (social, economic, political and others). Therefore, it is imperative for physicians to b