“Where are you from?”

By Lucia Ponor, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Medicine

“Where are you from?” seems like such a simple question, and it’s often asked with genuine curiosity, as an invitation to share something about ourselves. Yet for those of us who’ve lived between countries, cultures, and communities, the answer can be far more complicated than the name of a place—because identity is shaped by more than one home.

For many years, I thought being “from” somewhere meant identifying a point on a map— the country where I was born, the city where I grew up, the language I first spoke. Those things remain deeply woven into who I am. They shaped my earliest memories, my values, my traditions, and the way I learned to understand the world. But as my life expanded beyond the place of my birth, I began to realize that identity isn’t confined to geography. Being from somewhere can include more than one place.

When we leave one country and build a life in another, we don’t arrive as blank pages. We carry our history with us. We bring the voices of our families, the traditions of our communities, the food we remember, the celebrations we cherish, the language that feels like home, and the values passed from one generation to the next.

But something else happens along the journey from place to place—the new place begins to shape us too. We learn new customs and new ways of communicating. We develop friendships, pursue dreams, and create memories. Slowly, a place that was once “foreign” becomes familiar.

This is when the question “Where are you from?” becomes harder to answer—and this is precisely the insight we need in clinical practice.

Identity doesn’t have to be an either-or proposition. I can honor the country that formed me while loving the country that welcomed me. I can preserve my traditions and heritage while embracing new perspectives. Belonging to a new community doesn’t require abandoning the old one. We can belong to more than one place without belonging less to any of them.

Over time, I’ve come to see identity not as a fixed label but as a collection of experiences. I’m shaped by where I began, by every place I have lived, by the people who have welcomed me, by the challenges that tested me, and by the choices I’ve made along the way. My identity includes both inheritance and transformation—both roots and growth.

The power of seeing the whole person

There’s something powerful about being asked “Where are you from?” when your accent, appearance, or name suggests you may have another story. Sometimes the question feels welcoming and sometimes it reminds us that others may see us as outsiders. In those moments, it’s important to remember that belonging isn’t determined solely by how others perceive us. We define our own identity.

Today, when someone asks me where I’m from, I understand that my answer can be larger than a country. I’m from the people who raised me and the values they gave me. I’m from every experience that has changed me without erasing where I began.

What this means for clinical care

Every patient who walks through our door carries a similar complexity. They aren’t defined by a single diagnosis, zip code, or demographic category. They bring their own layered identities—shaped by culture, family, experiences, losses, and triumphs. They belong to multiple communities and hold multiple truths about who they are.

As clinicians, the question we should ask isn’t simply, “Where are you from?” but rather, “What places, people, and experiences have made you who you are?”

Practical tips for providing more culturally attuned, person-centered care:

1. Listen for the full story.

Ask open-ended questions that invite patients to share their background, not just their medical concerns.

2. Avoid assumptions.

Names, accents, and appearances tell only part of someone’s story. What matters is what they tell you.

3. Recognize multiple identities.

Both a patient’s cultural heritage and their current community shape their health beliefs and needs.

4. Validate complexity.

Patients who navigate multiple cultures, languages, or communities bring resilience. Acknowledge that their complexity is a strength.

5. Reflect on your own identity.

Understanding your own cultural background and biases helps you meet patients with genuine openness rather than assumptions.

6. Create space for connection.

In clinical settings, small moments of seeing someone fully—not just as a patient—can strengthen trust and improve outcomes.

This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.