**7. Applications in the field**

Patient navigation is an emerging component of the cancer care delivery team and system that offers an innovative solution to decrease cancer health disparities by bridging the chasm between access to and optimal utilization of services through sustainable and culturally relevant mechanisms. Embedding cultural competence in medical education has been a long-standing objective, reinforced by the painful disparity in outcomes that perpetuate excess morbidity and mortality among underserved minority populations (Betancourt 2003; Smedley, Stith et al. 2003; Betancourt 2006; Betancourt 2006). This section will discuss the role of culturally competent patient navigation and cultural competence training in the era of health reform.
