Care for Patients with Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities

This elective is a four-week multi-disciplinary clinical-and-scholarly experience that trains students to provide high-quality, patient-care to patients who are LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning), Gender Nonconforming, or Born with DSD (Differences of Sex Development). While there will be an emphasis on working with youth, clinical exposure and education on working with LGBTQ adults will also be included to expose students to common health issues related to LGBTQ status that arise across the lifespan.

The elective will primarily be based at Boston Children’s Hospital, but will also include partnerships within the community, including clinical experiences at Fenway Health Center, Cambridge Health Alliance, and other hospitals engaged in LGBT healthcare. Students will have exposure to multidisciplinary teams and providers in different clinical settings as related to LGBTQ healthcare, including but not limited to Psychiatry, Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, and the Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) and the Gender Management Service (GeMS). They will have exposure to other members of the community that play an important role in promoting health and resiliency.

Education and self-directed learning will be emphasized during this rotation with core educational material developed by the Fenway Health Institute and National LGBT Health Education Center and from the AAMC’s Implementing Curricular and Institutional Climate Changes to Improve Health Care for Individuals who are LGBT, Gender Nonconforming, or Born with DSD.

Students will have the opportunity to engage in a scholarly endeavor related to LGBTQD health based on their interest. The endeavor could consist of an advocacy, public health, research, QI or medical education project. A scholarly product is required at the end of the rotation and could be in the form of a poster, case report/publication, presentation, or contribution to the curriculum.

Questions? Email: akeuroghlian@partners.org.