Objectives:

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner should be able to:

1. Recognize the importance of culture and spirituality in the provision of healthcare with AI/AN
2. Identify common cultural characteristics/values among the Southwestern American Indian tribes
3. Describe culturally responsive approaches in communicating difficult news with patients in palliative care settings

Bio:

Cathy Witte is a US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officer who is a pharmacist and chaplain with the Oncology Center of Excellence at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center. She is a licensed pharmacist and graduated with a Bachelors of Pharmacy from of the University of NC at Chapel Hill and received graduate degrees in theological studies and bioethics at Fuller Seminary and Alden March Bioethics Institute at Albany Medical College, respectively. CAPT Witte directs pastoral care services/program for PIMC with a specialized focus on palliative/end-of-life care and is the chair of PIMC ethics committee and member of the Phoenix Area Institutional Review Board.