The 1st International Conference on Cultural Competence in Nursing, themed “Embracing Diversity for Global Health Equity,” organised by the SRM College of Nursing, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) was inaugurated on March 17 at the Hippocrates Auditorium, SRM Medical College Campus, Kattankulathur. The conference is drawing participation from nursing faculty, healthcare professionals, researchers, and students across India.
Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Jothi Clara Micheal, Founder of Healthbridge and former Country Director of Nursing at Gleneagles Hospitals, India, emphasised the importance of cultural awareness in healthcare. “Cultural competency is not a soft skill; it’s the foundation of truly patient-centred healthcare,” she said.
The event witnessed registrations from across the country, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Jaipur, Jammu, AIIMS Patna, and Odisha, highlighting its wide national outreach. Participants gathered to deliberate on the growing significance of cultural competence in nursing education and patient care.
Delivering the felicitation address, Prof. Dr. R. Jayanthi, Dean (Medical), SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, underscored the evolving role of nurses. “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,” she noted.
Prof. (Dr.) Helen Shaji J. C., Dean, SRM College of Nursing, highlighted the relevance of the theme, stating that cultural competence enables nurses to provide respectful and inclusive care while bridging gaps in healthcare access.
In her keynote address, Prof. Shauna Houk, University Teaching Fellow and Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies Academics at Dalhousie University, Canada, stressed the value of collaborative learning. “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,” she said.
Prof. Ruth Martin-Misener, Director of the School of Nursing and Assistant Dean (Research), Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Canada, highlighted the role of inclusive research. She stated that global health equity begins when research reflects diverse cultures and contexts and is shaped in collaboration with the communities it serves.
The conference souvenir was released by the dignitaries during the programme. Conducted in hybrid mode, the conference features lectures and research presentations by national and international speakers, focusing on cultural competence in nursing practice, healthcare education, and contemporary nursing challenges.
