The United States has historically been known as a melting pot of many different groups and cultures. In America, we have intersections of so many diverse groups, all with different backgrounds and perspectives. As a result, this diversity ends up influencing society, which plays a role in the relationship between health, illness, and culture. With our large immigrant population, gaps in understanding or a lack of linguistic and cultural alignment can often cause issues in medical settings.

Patients may be hesitant to describe symptoms in detail or may avoid care altogether if they feel misunderstood or judged. For example, mental health is perceived very differently in many communities. While some Western areas treat mental illness as a clinical diagnosis, other cultures may interpret it through spiritual, social, or even moral lenses.

Some may even end up disregarding it completely because of a lack of exposure to proper treatment processes and options that these patients have. For many providers, approaching this can be difficult and might end up leading to improper treatment and gaps in communication between them and their patients. Religion and tradition can also shape how people perceive illness and healing.

A diagnosis of cancer, for instance, may prompt one patient to seek aggressive medical treatment while another may turn to faith-based practices or traditional remedies first. This has led to multiple spiritual care groups, such as the UCLA Health Spiritual Care Team and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Spiritual Care Services, being formed that support patients like these with their beliefs in order to improve recovery through reducing depression and anxiety and increasing positivity in trying times.

The challenge in the U.S. healthcare system is to make space for these differences between cultures rather than forcing patients into a one-size-fits-all model of care. The U.S. healthcare system is advanced in many ways, but cultural competency is not always a given. We have made progress with diversity training and outreach, but there’s still a long road ahead.

Culturally responsive care isn’t just a bonus; it’s essential for trust, equity, and healing. As the nation continues to diversify, our healthcare system must evolve with it, not only through policies and translation services, but through deep, human empathy and curiosity. By understanding the ways culture shapes health and illness, we can begin to create a system where every patient feels seen, heard, and genuinely cared for.