Minnesota is home to the largest Karen community in the United States, with many members being refugees from Burma, now known as Myanmar. Navigating the American healthcare system can be especially challenging for these individuals due to cultural differences and language barriers, on top of the inherent complexity of the system itself.
In order to help bridge this gap and assist Karen immigrants and other underserved groups, healthcare organizations are hiring professionals from the same communities to provide support in accessing healthcare and other services. M Health Fairview, located in the Twin Cities, employs cultural brokers who represent various communities, including the Hmong, Karen, African American, Native American, and Latinx communities. Lah Tha Pwee, an immigrant from Thailand, recently joined as an additional cultural broker specifically working with the Karen community.
During a conversation with MPR News guest host Nina Moini, Lah Tha Pwee discussed her role as a cultural broker and the importance of having individuals who share the same background and experiences as the communities they serve. These cultural brokers help facilitate communication, build trust, and ensure that individuals receive the care and services they need.
Lah Tha Pwee explained that her experience as an immigrant from Thailand has given her a unique perspective on what it’s like to navigate a new culture and language barrier. She said that this perspective has been valuable in her role as a cultural broker for Karen immigrants because she understands firsthand what challenges they may face when trying to access healthcare or other services in America.
To listen to the full conversation with Lah Tha Pwee on how she helps bridge gaps between Karen immigrants and American healthcare systems using her own experiences as an immigrant yourself or subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts or any other platform you use for listening podcasts
