A perspective from United States of America

For professionals in the U.S., the ability to engage with Cuba and Cubans is new and unexpected. For more than 50 years, this island of over 11 million inhabitants, only 90 miles from Florida’s southern coast, has largely remained a mystery to most in the U.S., known through heavily propaganda-laden news accounts, reports from tourists who travelled through third-party countries, or Cuban expatriates. At the same time, the reputation of the Cuban approach to health has provided an important example of how community based, integrated primary care can be a strong contributor to population well-being. So, it is no surprise that the “opening” of travel to Cuba from the U.S. government and increased opportunities for U.S. citizens to visit with and meet Cuban colleagues have been seen as important events to many U.S. health professionals, including psychologists.