On 3 July 2026, we hosted a one-day workshop on Cultural Safety in Genomic Medicine, funded by the Adelphi Genetics Forum and supported by the Centre for Personalised Medicine, University of Oxford. The workshop explored how cultural safety can contribute to more equitable and inclusive genomic care. The workshop brought together 15 participants, including clinical geneticists, genetic counsellors, midwives, GPs, and colleagues with an interest in genomics, from Genomic Medicine Service Alliances across England, including North Thames, West Midlands, North East and Yorkshire, North West, East, Central and South, and London-based services.
The workshop built on our ongoing programme of research examining how ethnicity is conceptualised and operationalised in genomic medicine. It was informed by the concept of ‘cultural safety’, which emphasises that safe and effective care depends not only on clinical competence but also on whether patients feel respected, able to participate in decision-making, and confident that their experiences are recognised without prejudice. In genomic medicine, where conversations about identity and family history are integral to care, cultural safety provides a valuable framework for promoting equitable, person-centred practice. Our research initially focused on how ethnicity is understood and used in clinical practice but, through interviews with healthcare professionals, expanded to encompass broader questions of identity, communication, workplace culture, and health inequities. These findings shaped the workshop, which provided a space for participants to reflect on these interconnected issues and their implications for both patient care and professional practice.
The workshop combined short introductory presentations with facilitated group discussions centred on participants’ own experiences. Discussion prompts were shared with participants in advance to encourage reflection and support open conversation throughout the day. Sessions explored clinical encounters, language and interpreter use, inclusion within teams, and practical approaches to embedding cultural safety across genomic services.
Participants described how conversations about ethnicity often opened up broader discussions about trust, relationships, language, and the assumptions that shape everyday clinical practice. They reflected on the challenges of discussing identity with patients, working effectively with interpreters, navigating uncertainty, and balancing the different ways ethnicity is used in genomic medicine – from informing clinical decisions to monitoring health inequalities. The discussions highlighted that culturally safe care depends as much on curiosity, listening, and self-reflection as it does on technical knowledge.
The workshop also prompted rich discussions about the experiences of the genomics workforce. Participants explored issues of belonging, psychological safety, and authenticity, describing how organisational cultures influence whether people feel able to contribute different perspectives, challenge inequities, or bring their full selves to work. Several shared experiences of minimising their own discomfort, remaining silent after discriminatory encounters, or feeling responsible for educating colleagues while worrying about being perceived as creating difficulties. These conversations reinforced the idea that supporting staff to feel safe, valued, and included is fundamental to delivering equitable care.
Participants welcomed the opportunity to engage in honest dialogue, noting that opportunities for this kind of discussion are uncommon within routine clinical practice. Listening to colleagues from different professional backgrounds and regions helped broaden perspectives and highlighted both shared challenges and examples of good practice. Participants emphasised the importance of creating ongoing opportunities for shared inquiry and peer learning as part of routine professional practice.
The workshop concluded with a discussion of future priorities. Participants identified opportunities to integrate cultural safety into existing education programmes, create regular reflective forums within genomic services, encourage leadership to actively support inclusive working environments, and embed cultural safety into service development. The positive engagement throughout the day highlighted the value of dedicated, facilitated spaces for deliberation and discussion, with participants expressing strong interest in future workshops to sustain these conversations and support implementation across genomic services. The discussions have provided valuable direction for the next phase of our work on cultural safety and equitable practice in genomic medicine.
Nishtha Bharti