Know the Person, Not Just the Disease

Abstract

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the least diverse fields of medicine. According to the 2018 American Academy of Orthopaedic Sugeons census, orthopaedic surgeons are 93% male and 85% White. The predominance of people who have long-held power and privilege in society highlights the importance of cultural humility and cultural competence in musculoskeletal medicine. In this article, we present 3 patient experiences that highlight the influence of social and cultural factors: ethnicity, occupation, and environment. Health care professionals can expand their understanding of culture and increase awareness of their own cultural identity, which improves team bonding and camaraderie. Knowledge and training in cultural humility can improve care. Having diverse expertise present in 1 facility is more conducive to comprehensive treatment of the whole patient. This may help reduce health disparities, improve access to better care, increase health literacy, and promote health equity.Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSJOPA/A167).