YES Institute had the opportunity to present four sessions on Patient and Family Centered Care for Gender & Orientation Diverse Populations to all first-year medical students at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. That’s nearly 200 future medical providers who can now be better equipped to provide inclusive, respectful care to all people and their families —especially populations in the PRIDE community that often face multiple disparities in health outcomes.
Our presentations focused on increasing comfort and confidence when working with gender and orientation diverse patients, understanding common barriers to care, and identifying affirming language and approaches that foster trust. This patient population is prevalent, yet opportunities for students to learn about this during their training are often scarce within medical education.
To help bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and real-life experiences, two community guest speakers courageously shared their personal stories of navigating the healthcare system as LGBTQ+ individuals. Their lived experiences helped participants reflect more deeply on the importance of empathy, inclusive language, and provider accountability.
Medical students shared powerful reflections in their post-surveys:
“I think today’s session did a great job of describing some of the health disparities and inequities affecting those who identify as LGBTQ+, those who have HIV, and other marginalized groups, and I found it helpful to learn about how I can care for these groups as a future physician.”
“I appreciated hearing the perspective of the speakers, I think it’s really moving to hear personal experiences and discuss how we can be more inclusive physicians for our future patients.”
“I definitely developed a better vocabulary and more comfort with discussing topics involving this population.”
YES Institute is proud to collaborate with institutions like University of Miami that recognize how inclusive education leads to better health outcomes. We look forward to continuing this important work with tomorrow’s medical leaders.
Want to learn more about our training and education programs for healthcare professionals? Please connect with us, using this form, or giving us a call.