English-speaking international health care providers often experience difficulties communicating with native-English-speaking patients because of differences in accents. The diversity of pronunciation and intonation patterns hinders communication and thereby affects patient care and the physician-patient relationship.

A multidisciplinary team of educators, researchers and clinicians within the Indiana University and Clarian Health System has designed a specialized program to help international health care professionals address this communication challenge.

The initial focus of the "American English Intonation: Effective Intercultural Communication for the Health Care Provider," project is to help health care personnel reduce or eliminate their international accents. The secondary phases of the program will focus on the neutralization of cultural influences on language and behavior.

For additional information and registration, contact: Dr. Poonam Khurana at 317-962-2275, or e-mail pkhurana@iupui.edu.