The Temple University Hospital–Main Campus recently held its annual International Fair, organized by the Office of Patient Experience. The event took place on October 30 and featured food and traditional clothing from countries such as Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Colombia, and India.
Patient Experience Coordinator Tonita Brown explained the motivation behind the event: “Our employees and patients come from so many different backgrounds. We encourage everyone to learn more about, and celebrate, each other’s cultures.”
Employees contributed dishes representing their heritage. Caribbean cuisine was highlighted at this year’s fair. “Everyone loved the Caribbean food,” Brown said. “We had curry chicken, jerk chicken, and rice and beans. Abiona Berkeley, MD coordinated our collaboration with students from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University—they catered Caribbean trays and brought butter chicken!”
Susie Akinyi-Okumu, DNP, MPA, BSN, RN, CPXP, AVP of Patient Experience noted other popular offerings: “The German food was a hit, and so was the tomato pie and biscotti from Italy, the Columbian guava dessert, and a special dessert from Albania.”
Akinyi-Okumu’s team worked with the Dietary department to extend international menu options to patients and guests during the fair. “Patients on a regular diet could choose an international menu, which was available to guests as well,” she said.
Brown added that cards saying “Thank You” in various languages were included on patient meal trays as a gesture of appreciation: “It was a way of letting our patients know we appreciate them and thanking them for trusting us with their care.”
Promoting cultural understanding is seen as important for both unity among staff and patient care outcomes. “Temple Health is a melting pot of different cultures, and the more we get to know one another, the better we work together,” Akinyi-Okumu said. “We value each other’s backgrounds—and our patients’—in a way that translates to the bedside.”
Shamin Mathews MSW LSW Manager of Community Engagement and Volunteer Services commented on employee participation: “It’s a great way to promote togetherness. I love seeing what everyone wants to showcase about their cultures. Our Italian team members had handcrafted 100-year-old art pieces that had been passed down for generations, and they were having music battles and dance sessions with our team members from Puerto Rico trying to teach each other. It really shows how everyone is welcome at Temple Health.”
Labor & Delivery services have recently moved from Temple University Hospital–Main Campus (Broad & Ontario) to a new women & families hospital.
