Concentration Directors
Emily Allen, MD
Hasbro Children’s Hospital
593 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-444-5980
Denise Crooks, MPH, LICSW
950 Warren Avenue
East Providence, RI
401-606-0606
Overview
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people comprise a significant portion of every patient population in the United States and around the world. Social stigma and prejudice surrounding LGBTQ identities has often created barriers to health care for these vulnerable populations, resulting in significant health disparities within the LGBTQ population. The purpose of the LGBTQ Healthcare and Advocacy Scholarly Concentration is to prepare medical students to serve gender and sexual minority populations as future clinicians. This scholarly concentration strives to delve deeper into the issues faced by all gender and sexual minority individuals at the intersections of their socioeconomic, political, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Upon completion of this program, participants must demonstrate their mastery of and sensitivity to, the social, political, and cultural context of health issues facing the diverse LGBTQ community through clinical expertise, research, service, and advocacy.
The general curricula with include LGB youth, aging, sexual health and behavioral health with attention to the intersections of LGB identities with race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Special focus will be given to sexual minority health issues such as: gender nonconforming children, adolescent sexuality, risk and resiliency among young adults, social stigma and sexual minority issues in the workplace and home, as well as issues relevant to an increasingly numerous aging LGBTQ population. Curricula related to gender and gender diversity will include: gender nonconforming children and social transition, adolescent and adult hormonal transition, surgical components of care, risk and minority stress theory, family and social acceptance paradigms, and civil rights advocacy. Curricula related to sexual minorities will include: STI screening, prevention; PEP and PrEP; and comprehensive sexuality counseling.
The role of physician as educator and leader provides additional opportunities for students to learn how to best serve as social and cultural role models as advocates for gender and sexual human rights, and participating in political, legislative, insurance, and other community activism.