Insights in Public Health: Ke A'o Mau: Strengthening Cultural Competency in Interdisciplinary Education

In order to successfully address social determinants of health and to achieve social justice for and all the people of Hawai'i, we must broaden our understanding of and approach to healing/health through interdisciplinary, culturally-informed education. Strengthening cultural competence within an Interprofessional Education framework, has potential in meeting important challenges in patient and population health, including meeting the increased demand for culturally trained professionals, increasing access to providers, and reducing health inequities in (Native Hawaiians). We present a model of course design and delivery, (Learning Preserved), intended to provide (students) with a unique body of culturally-anchored and community-based knowledge, skills and values that facilitate work with was implemented in the 2017-2018 academic year at University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa and optimized the authenticity of cultural learning through the engagement of (expert teachers) to instruct in their area of expertise. Design and delivery of the course began with the understanding and honoring of worldviews, knowledge, and practices. Appraisal of learning showed strong evaluative scores, of knowledge development, skills training, and instructional materials. This course not only seeks to resolve critical challenges in patient and population health but also provides a model to support the UH Manoa strategic priority of "striving to be a foremost indigenous-serving institution."