Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 - Oct 15)
The influence of Spanish-speaking countries is all around us. In the Triangle area, we can enjoy diverse and delicious food and drink from Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, México, Spain and Perú, among other countries. Many of our goods have parts and labor from Hispanic partners in commerce. Cable companies offer several TV channels to perfect our Spanish speaking skills, to watch soccer from all over the world (the real football!), or perhaps to catch a telenovela. American media companies broadcast original content in Spanish with English subtitles. Through the magic of the internet, we have access to Latin-American and Spanish media, and can keep abreast of the latest news, events and gossip. More than ever, we can easily travel to Spanish-speaking countries; enjoy their hospitality, its people, the weather, sites and their culture. Daily, we can hear Spanish spoken in our hospitals by our patients and employees. We may even be inadvertently using words that originated in Spanish-speaking countries (e.g., jerky comes from charqui, a Quechuan word spoken by the Incas). You may catch us watching a movie from Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón or Alejandro González Iñárritu, or dancing to “Despacito”! 

This month we celebrate our inheritance of Latin-American and Spanish culture. We also rejoice about the dynamic and ongoing enrichment of America by these influences. Our bilingual children contribute to commerce, health care and politics in the United States. We provide comfort and cultural empathy when we speak to patients in their native Spanish. 

I am grateful for the spirit of inclusivity at UNC, and its active promotion of diversity. As an example, Dr. Marco Alemán directs the Comprehensive Advanced Medical Program of Spanish (CAMPOS), an enrichment program offered to UNC medical students who have intermediate to advanced Spanish fluency. These efforts bring us closer together. As a result, we will all benefit and become stronger. Salud (with a nice Peruvian Pisco Sour)! 

-Dr. Francisco Sylvester, Division Chief, Pediatric Gastroenterology
¿Hablas español?

Do you want to communicate with a patient or family in a language other than English?  
You must be cleared first.

Interpreter Services offers bilingual assessments for employees who wish to communicate with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients without the use of an interpreter. This applies for speakers of Spanish and other languages as well. 

Visit Interpreter Services to complete a brief questionnaire and an Education Specialist will arrange your assessment. 
Interpreter Services

Do you have questions about the role and purposes of our interpreters? In-services from Interpreter Services are available at UNCMC. 

Topics can include Role of the Interpreter, How to Work with an Interpreter, Cultural Issues, Federal Requirements, Documentation, and more.  

Contact Myriam Peereboom, Education Specialist for UNC Hospitals’ Interpreter Services department for more information or to set up an in-service.
Patient/Family Policy on Non-Discrimination
Against Providers and Staff

UNC Medical Center is committed to encouraging and sustaining a healthcare environment that is respectful, inclusive and free from prohibited conduct such as discrimination and harassment. UNC Medical Center respects the dignity of every patient and expects our patients to respect the dignity of our providers and staff.

UNC Medical Center expects its patients to respect our providers and staff without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, or veteran status.

A staff member or learner who observes or is the subject of patient/family members comments or requests in violation of this policy should report the behavior to the attending physician or a member of nursing leadership (i.e. Supervisor, Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, or House Supervisor). The attending physician or member of nursing leadership is responsible for discussing the issue with the patient. In the clinic setting, a clinic may consider dismissing a patient who refuses to comply with this policy. (Contact Risk Management for assistance and guidance for dismissing a patient.) In the inpatient setting, the attending physician or member of nursing leadership may contact Patient Relations or Risk Management for further assistance regarding patients who continue to violate this policy.
DEI Certificate Program

The DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Certificate Program is a new initiative from the SOM Office of Inclusive Excellence in support of the 2019 SOM Strategic Plan to foster an inclusive workplace environment. The program’s curriculum offers workshops and trainings designed to broaden awareness about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion topics among the SOM faculty/staff and deepen engagement with and between individuals in the SOM at all levels – from patients to leadership. The workshops offered as part of the certificate program address a broad array of DEI topics, including those related to race and ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, culture and religion, socioeconomic status, and more.

For details on program curriculum, visit the Office of Inclusive Excellence website.

September Dates to Note
September 2, 2019: Celebration of Ganesha Chaturthi
This 10-day celebration marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, one of the most popular deities for worship in the Hindu religion. 

Lord Ganesh is known as the Remover of Obstacles, God of New Beginnings, of wisdom and of intelligence. Traditionally the final day of festivities is marked by a procession and the immersion of the clay idol in a body of water.   
September 9-10, 2019: Ashura
A Muslim holiday commemorating the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, which occurred in Karbala (modern-day Iraq). Of particular importance for the Shiite sect of Islamic faith, observance includes a voluntary day of fasting and mourning. 
September 13, 2019: Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival
With origins dating 3000+ years back, this East Asian festival celebrates family, togetherness, and harvest. Moon cakes are the traditional pastry as noted in this video. 
September 29 - October 1, 2019: Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of Judaism's holiest days. Meaning "head of the year" or "first of the year," the festival begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls during September or October. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also knows as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two "High Holy Days" in the Jewish religion.

Click here for more details on Rosh Hashanah festivities.
Stuart Gold, Committee Chair
Christian Lawrence
Robin Howard
Jennifer McElroy
Nina Jain
Jessie Feudale
Hadley Kifner
Ian Buchanan
Kenya McNeal-Trice
Benny Joyner
Jennifer Gutierrez-Wu
Zachary Pettigrew