At Cornell Health, we recognize and celebrate the rich diversity of our patients and clients, and strive to be inclusive of the many cultures, identities, experiences, practices, and values represented among Cornell’s students and campus community.
We are committed to providing respectful, responsive care to all students who rely on our services, and to advancing health equity and eliminating barriers to care for students of traditionally marginalized backgrounds. Our staff works to promote and support an environment that fosters cultural humility around identities including (but not limited to) race and ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, neurodiversity, body size, and intersectional identities.
We also recognize the impact that systemic discrimination, racism, and bias have on the health and well-being of many Cornellians, and know that students who face these challenges often benefit from additional support throughout their time on campus.
Learn more below about the ways in which we provide support for students from marginalized backgrounds and identities, and prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in our daily work.
Support for students
- Community Liaisons from our CAPS staff provide regular outreach to student communities – including Asian Pacific Islander Desi American students, Black students, Indigenous students, international students, Latinx students, low-income and first-generation students, and LGBTQ+ students, reducing barriers to accessing mental health support.
- Group counseling provides valuable peer connection and support, with groups especially for students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and international students.
- Let’s Talk drop-in services offered at different campus locations connect students with mental health providers in a non-clinical setting, which can be more comfortable for students from marginalized backgrounds.
- Mental health screenings in medical appointments help identify students with mental health concerns and connect them with appropriate support at Cornell Health or elsewhere on campus.
- Well-being coaching helps students find and maximize their strengths, navigate barriers, and connect with additional resources and support.
- Student Disability Services helps ensure that all aspects of student life are accessible, equitable, and inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
- Gender-affirming services support Cornell’s growing population of gender-expansive students by providing hormone therapy, referrals for gender-affirming surgery, free binding and tucking supplies, and more.
- Victim Advocacy provides free and confidential support for those who have experienced assault, harassment, or bias-related incidents.
- Language translation is available for more than 160 languages for students who feel more comfortable communicating about health care concerns in their native language.
- Financial assistance is available to students, including low-income and first generation students, for whom financial challenges may pose an obstacle to receiving needed health care.
- Public health initiatives, trainings, and programs strive to enhance the health of the academic and social environments at Cornell, and reduce the negative impacts of health threats (e.g., alcohol and other drugs, hazing, sexual violence, mental health concerns, bias, and racism) that disproportionately impact students from minoritized communities.
Staff recruitment, training, and collaboration
- Cornell Health’s Engaged Leadership Model (through its committees, workgroups, and clinical care teams) promotes health equity, cultural sensitivity and awareness, and multicultural perspectives through data-informed policies, practices, and allocated resources, following national CLAS standards (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care).
- Cornell Health’s Diversity Working Group includes staff from every Cornell Health department who work together to improve access to and quality of care for students of historically marginalized identities, as well as the experience and well-being of Cornell Health staff.
- Regular staff trainings promote cultural competency and bias awareness, as well as education about identity-specific care (e.g., gender-affirming care; Student Disability Services).
- Staff hiring and retention practices are designed to recruit, promote, support, and retain a culturally and linguistically diverse staff who are responsive to the campus community.
Feedback and data collection
- Post-visit surveys collect patient / client feedback that helps us understand what’s working well, identify opportunities for improvement, and respond quickly to diverse student needs and experiences of care.
- Ongoing engagement with university-wide surveys provide demographic information about the factors disproportionately affecting the health and well-being of students.
- Our Patient Advocacy program assists patients and clients seeking assistance regarding questions, needs, concerns, or grievances (see more below).
Contact us
Every day, through every interaction with a patient or client, our goal is to meet each person with interest, respect, sensitivity, and compassion. If you have concerns, questions, or suggestions, we welcome you to contact us in one of the following ways:
- Use our feedback form to share comments or questions (anonymously, or you may enter your contact information if you would like a response).
- Contact one of our Patient Advocates to discuss any concerns, needs, or questions that were not (or could not be) addressed by staff members directly involved in your care.
- For confidential communication, please call us at 607-255-5155. Our feedback form and email communications are not secure ways to share personal health information.