The goal of the LGBTQ Health Pathway is to provide a number of educational opportunities and experiences to medical students that will better prepare them to provide culturally responsive care for the LGBTQ population. This pathway will offer a number of different teaching methods: didactics, on-line modules, community advocacy/service, and mentoring opportunities.
Students will complete a clerkship rotation in a clinic site that specifically cares for a large LGBTQ population. Those students who have completed all of the pathway requirements will be awarded a Certificate of Completion at graduation and will be recognized by the Dean of the School of Medicine. In selecting each incoming class for the LGBTQ Health Pathway, we strive to create a group that is diverse in identities, personal experiences, and first-year sites. Anyone interested in LGBTQ Health is encouraged to apply. In addition, Queers in Medicine (QMed) is the LGBTQ medical student organization at UWSOM and provides opportunities for outreach, education, and support.
The LGBTQ Health Pathway is sponsored by the Office of Healthcare Equity and Corinne Heinen, MD, Associate Clinical Professor Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, serves as the Director.
Learning Goals and Objectives
• Develop an awareness of the health disparities that face the LGBTQ community
• Learn to provide effective and compassionate medical care to LGBTQ patients and address their unique health concerns
• Gain insight into how research can help illuminate and address LGBTQ health issues
• Develop skills to be an effective, multi-disciplinary advocate for the LGBTQ community
• Learn more about community programs that can provide support for LGBTQ individuals
• Learn to deliver non-judgmental care through understanding and empathy for LGBTQ patients
Pathway Requirements Overview
Requirements for Completion
- Online modules
Completion of three online training modules designed to introduce medical students to skills and knowledge necessary for LGBTQ competent care. Module content was developed in collaboration with Ingersoll Gender Center, Gender Justice League, and Gay City Health - Non-clinical electives
- FAMED 561 LGBTQ Health & Health Care Disparities (1 credit) (Fall Quarter Offering)
- CONJ 570 Clinical Management of Transgender Patients (1 credit) (Winter Quarter Offering)
- UCONJ 624 Health Equity and Community Organizing (1 credit, highly recommended, not required)
- OR
- Any non-clinical elective with a focus on serving underserved communities
3. Clinical Requirements
Optional – Preceptorship (during MS-1 or MS-2) at a clinical site that provides services/health care to the LGBTQ community.
Clerkships – at least 1 clerkship at an LGBTQ health site (4 weeks)
- Country Doctor Community Clinic
- WWAMI Network Family Medicine Special Electives (FAMED 699)
- Internal Family Medicine, Madison Clinic, Harborview Medical Center
- Swedish Family Medicine, First Hill
- Sub-Internship at a site approved by a Pathway Coordinator
- MEDDECK 612 P-HIV Clinical Care
- LGBTQ Elective Clerkship, known as FAMED 703 (must register for this clerkship)
4. Service learning, advocacy, community service, or engagement in LGBTQ Health
LGBTQ Pathway students must complete 36 hours of service learning, advocacy, community service and/or engagement in the LGBTQ community. 24 hours must be completed in the pre-clinical/foundations phase, while the remaining 12 hours are encouraged to be completed longitudinally during MS-3 and MS-4 years.
5. Scholarly Project of Research Options
Students must complete a project with an LGBTQ Health focus. RUOP Projects completed within the context of a RUOP program in a location that serves an LGBTQ demographic in part would quality for credit. Independent Investigative Inquiries completed in other ways, such as a formal narrative literature review or MSRTP project would be given if the topic is related to LGBTQ health issues. If a student wishes to do their III on a subject unrelated to LGBTQ Health, they may do a shortened lit review narrative to satisfy this part of the pathway. This would entail completing a project that meets the criteria for the lit review criteria in narrative form on the III website, but would only require 5 pages in length, which includes the title page and abstract and 3 sources. A formal faculty mentor is not required but the paper is reviewed by the pathway director.
