CULTURA, which means "culture" in Spanish, is a lively student-run organization on the P&S Campus that is committed to making Columbia medical students better care-givers both during their four years here and beyond -- and we have a lot of fun doing it! Culture is a large part of health, from beliefs to practices and behaviours, and knowing the cultural context in which you are learning medicine provides an extra dimension to your ability to connect with your patients and therefore learn good medicine.

We have organized a handful of opportunities for you, the students of P&S, to enrich your own experience of learning medicine. We invite you to become a part of the community of Washington Heights. This webpage provides some information about the diverse programs we offer throughout the year. They are individually run programs, but they all function under the organization we call CULTURA! If you want to get involved in any of our programs or if you have an idea for a new community program, we encourage you to join us!!

Lecture Series and Workshops: There will be events throughout the year featuring Columbia professors and members of the local community who will speak on cultural competency and issues critical to understanding patients.

Family Exchange Program "The Intercambio": A handful of students can participate in our local family-student exchange program, which was very successful last year. This program will give students the unique opportunity to provide companionship and support for the next six months to these World Trade Center victims, while also learning about a culture different from their own. We are fortunate to be starting this program, which gives us a way to contribute and support those in need while enriching our own lives as humans and future practitioners. In addition, Cultura is continuing to do the exchange with families from last year. In all, it is a privilege to become a part of the community around us and gain a whole new family in the process.

Spanish Lunches: Practice Spanish with your classmates and a local member of the hospital faculty or professor. Usually twice monthly for an hour on Fridays we get together to enhance our language skills while learning about a relevant community or hospital issue in Spanish. This hour gives you a chance to get to know your classmates while brushing up on language skills. Practice makes perfect, right? These lunches are entirely informal conversation. You've got to eat lunch anyway, so come join us for some locally catered Dominican cuisine. All level Spanish-speakers are welcome, from beginner to fluent.

Cultura List-Serve: If you think our organization looks interesting but cannot commit to anything right now, feel free to join our general list-serve. Every now and then, we send out cool opportunities you might like to know about -- whether it is helping out in a 1-time community service project, taking free salsa dance lessons, going to hear a one-of-a-kind speaker, or just coming to one of our parties. It's no commitment. If you want to be on the list-serve, just contact one of the members of the executive council.