Cultural competence: A call to action

Abstract

C e US SURGEON GENERAL Richard Carmona, RN, MD, MPH, FACS, had a chance encounter that changed his whole life. At the time, Carmona was a 17-year-old high school dropout in New York City. He encountered a man, Sal, who was dressed in a uniform and green beret. During that chance conversation, Sal told Carmona that he needed to do something with his life and encouraged him to join the army. Carmona went on to join the army, obtain his GED, and become a combat medic with the Special Forces in Vietnam.