A Call to Action for a Programmatic Approach to Addressing Health Disparities and Cultural Competency in Pharmacy Education

Pharmacy has recognized the importance of health disparities and cultural competency (HDCC) education for two decades. More recently, there has been emphasis on incorporating equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in pharmacy programs. While many institutions identify a need to incorporate a programmatic approach to HDCC education in order to meet the growing needs of a diverse population, pharmacy curricula continue to lack a holistic, programmatic approach to this vital piece of pharmacy education and the societal challenges our graduates will face throughout their careers. More than ever, pharmacists should graduate with the knowledge, values, and skills to provide culturally appropriate care for a diverse patient population. This commentary is advocating for a holistic, programmatic approach to integrating HDCC education and serves as a call to action for curricular development. It is hoped that this commentary will also set the foundation for additional scholarly work and recommendations regarding a programmatic approach.