Seven nations of the world have officially declared Thanksgiving Days. They are Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Liberia, Switzerland, and the Untied States. Recently, the President of Argentina declared a national Thanksgiving Day for that country. Essentially the organization is interested in creating an environment throughout KUMC and in the community of awareness and respect for individual diversity. Recognition of diversity goes beyond race, gender, age, class, color and religion.
Diversity is extended to linguistic heritage, national origin, sexual orientation, and disability.
In striving to create this awareness and provide education to students, we've been fortunate to bring to the community of KUMC information regarding homosexuality and religion in healthcare. In September, the topic of Homophobia in Healthcare raised some important issues pertaining to how healthcare providers have taken a traditional view in interactions with clients who are not heterosexual. With the order of questioning that has been rooted in a heterosexual habit of mind, Lesbian clients may feel awkward by responding yes to being sexually active while negating the use of contraception because it gives rise to questioning that is suspect. It was suggested that healthcare providers not presume every client is heterosexual and, instead, ask specific questions of the client as to what her sexual orientation is at the beginning of the health interview to curtail an experience that is marked by awkwardness. In October, three guest speakers representing Christian Science, Islam, and Judaism spoke as a panel addressing the issue of religion in healthcare.