Cultural competency foundation of patient-centred care – Dr. Micheal at SRMIST International Nursing Conference

“Cultural competency is not a soft skill; it’s the foundation of truly patient-centred healthcare,” said Dr. Jothi Clara Micheal, Founder of Healthbridge and former Country Director of Nursing at Gleneagles Hospitals, India, while addressing the inauguration of the 1st International Conference on Cultural Competence in Nursing – Embracing Diversity for Global Health Equity organised by SRM College of Nursing, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST).

The conference was inaugurated on 17 March 2026 at the Hippocrates Auditorium, SRM Medical College Campus, Kattankulathur. Nursing faculty, healthcare professionals, researchers, and students participated in the programme to deliberate on the role of cultural competence in nursing education and patient care. The conference witnessed registrations from across the country, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Jaipur, Jammu, AIIMS Patna, and Odisha, reflecting its wide national reach.

Delivering the felicitation address, Prof. Dr. R. Jayanthi, Dean (Medical), SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, said, “Nursing today goes beyond treatment; it is about understanding people. Guided by Tiruvalluvar’s four pillars of healing, the patient, the treating doctor, the medicine, and the nurse and other supporting staff, nurses connect care with compassion, culture, and communication to deliver equitable healthcare for all.”

Prof. (Dr.) Helen Shaji J. C., Dean, SRM College of Nursing, noted, “Cultural competence in nursing is the need of the hour. It enables nurses to deliver respectful, inclusive care across diverse cultures, bridge gaps in access, and advance global health equity.”

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Shauna Houk, University Teaching Fellow and Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies Academics at Dalhousie University, Canada, said, “When knowledge is shared, healthcare evolves. In these spaces of collective learning, nurses remain at the frontline, driving care with compassion, skill, and a deep commitment to equity and justice.”

Prof. Ruth Martin-Misener, Director of the School of Nursing and Assistant Dean (Research), Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Canada, said, “Research is not just discovery; it is about understanding people, cultures, and context. True global health equity begins when research is inclusive, reflective, and shaped with the people it serves.”

During the programme, the conference souvenir was released by the dignitaries on the dais. The conference features lectures and research presentations focusing on cultural competence in nursing practice and healthcare delivery.

Conducted in hybrid mode, the conference includes sessions by national and international speakers, addressing key themes in cultural competence, healthcare education, and contemporary nursing practice.