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Health Equity Rounds: Addressing Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Care
February 4, 2026 -
 May 6, 2026
Select Wednesdays
12:30 PM -
 1:30 PM
Register Now

The Rutgers Health Equity Rounds ECHO: Addressing Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Care is an innovative, case-based initiative designed to address the intricate relationship between health-related social needs, culture, and language in community health.

Built on the 15 National CLAS Standards (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services), this series equips healthcare providers with essential knowledge and practical strategies to deliver equitable, responsive care. This second series places a deepened focus on Health Literacy, mitigating linguistic bias, and the effective use of professional interpretation. Recognizing that communication barriers and social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly impact outcomes, we translate these complex issues into actionable clinical practices. By strengthening patient-provider communication and enhancing care for the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) community, we aim to promote health equity and ensure all patients receive the quality care they deserve.

Series Leaders

  • Maria Soto-Greene, MD, Executive Vice Dean and Professor of Medicine, Director, Hispanic Center of Excellence, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
  • Ana Natale-Pereira, MD, MPH, Division Director, General Internal Medicine, Associate Dean of Primary Care, Diversity, and Community Engagement, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
  • Lois Greene, DHA, MBA, BSN, RN  Sr. Vice President of Wellness, Diversity and Equity, University Hospital
  • Vivian González Cueto, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, California State University, East Bay
  • Kamini Doobay, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Learning Objectives

After participating in ECHO, providers will be able to:

  • Describe the purpose, structure, and application of the National CLAS Standards in promoting equitable and linguistically responsive care.
  • Identify systemic, linguistic, and cultural barriers that limit access and quality of care for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). 
  • Explain best practices in health literacy and language access to improve communication and understanding across diverse populations. 
  • Discuss strategies for integrating CLAS principles into organizational governance, workforce development, and daily practice. 
  • Analyze how implicit bias and cultural assumptions influence provider–patient interactions and healthcare outcomes. 
  • Evaluate approaches for advocacy, accountability, and performance measurement that advance and sustain health equity within healthcare systems. 

Continuing Education Accreditation

To view the CE Accreditation for CME, CNE, CPE, and Social Work credits, click here.

  • Continuing Education (CE) certificates will only be issued upon completion of the following surveys:
    • Initial Pre-Series Assessment
    • Post-Session Survey for each session attended
    • Post-Series Assessment after the series concludes
Additional Information

Provided by Rutgers Project ECHO & University Hospital & Funded by Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Office of Primary Care, Diversity and Community Engagement 

Sessions

Advancing Health Equity Through Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services and Systemic Change
Wednesday • February 04, 2026
12:30 PM
- 1:30 PM
Using Data to Understand Population Health, Cultural Health, and Community Needs, including Social Determinants.
Wednesday • February 11, 2026
12:30 PM
- 1:30 PM
Importance of workforce development to reduce inequalities: Embedding CLAS Standards into Everyday Practice
Wednesday • February 25, 2026
12:30 PM
- 1:30 PM
Health Literacy and Communication for LEP Patients
Wednesday • March 11, 2026
12:30 PM
- 1:30 PM
Effective use of Professional Interpretation and Language Access technologies to achieve Best Practices
Wednesday • March 25, 2026
12:30 PM
- 1:30 PM
Understanding and Mitigating Bias in Health Care: A Focus on Linguistic and Cultural Bias.
Wednesday • April 08, 2026
12:30 PM
- 1:30 PM
Advocating for Patient Rights and Cultural Inclusiveness: The Struggles of the LEP Patient. 
Wednesday • April 22, 2026
12:30 PM
- 1:30 PM
Measuring Success: Evaluating CLAS Implementation and Equity Outcomes Across the Health System.
Wednesday • May 06, 2026
12:30 PM
- 1:30 PM

© 2023 All rights reserved​

Rutgers Project ECHO is administered by Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School with generous support from NJ Department of Health, NJ Department Human Services, and other funders.