Encounteringthe OtherThrough Ongoing Cultural Learning

Abstract

Encountering the other in a significant way requires more than a generalized knowledge of cultural characteristics—or cultural competency. In this column, the author describes encountering the other from the humanbecoming theory perspective and proposes a teaching-learning process of ongoing cultural learning that pushes the boundaries of the familiar and expands horizons of understanding. The model encourages healthcare providers to shift their epistemological location and view the world from the perspective of the other, thereby increasing their capacity to care for and be with the other in meaningful ways.