Cultural Considerations in Healthcare, a two-day symposium exploring ways of expanding healthcare and focusing on a variety of underserved groups, will take place on Feb. 22-23, 2016, at the Joe Crowley Student Union on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

The event will offer an array of more than 20 presentations[s3.amazonaws.com] by experts in variety of health-related fields. All lectures and discussions are free and open to students, faculty and the community. 

Pat Cashell, northern Nevada regional director for Volunteers in America, will present the opening plenary session on "Adapting your lens on the homeless population," on Feb. 22 at 9 a.m. Deon Haywood, executive director of Women with a Vision, Inc., in New Orleans, will be the keynote speaker on Feb. 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. She will speak on "Harm reduction as a cultural competency strategy."

All of the presentations, including a number of interactive sessions such as a poverty simulation and mindfulness stress reduction, are intended to expand attendees' perceptions of our communities' health and healthcare and supporting the theme: "Seeing Health: Adjust Your Lens."

This interdisciplinary event is sponsored by the University of Nevada, Reno, Division of Health Sciences, School of Social Work, School of Community Health Sciences, Orvis School of Nursing and High Sierra Area Health Education Center.

Now in its sixth year, Cultural Considerations in Health Care was created by students for students, providing those in the health sciences an educational experience in cultural awareness and its application to health research, policy and practice. This year's event includes an interdisciplinary student poster showcase, highlighting students' collaborative work with community partners through posters illustrating projects and results.