Pride Month 2024: Community Spotlight
Published June 11, 2024
Inside OME
Pride Month is an opportunity to elevate the voices of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies within the osteopathic medical education community. Each year we invite our community to share reflections about what Pride Month means to them and why they celebrate. If you'd like to share your own story, please reach out to editor@aacom.org.
Empowering Physicians: Student-Led LGBTQIA+ Healthcare Training in Rural Montana
By Leah Claus, OMS II, and Michael Ny, OMS II, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Montana
Nearly a year ago, the city of Great Falls, Montana, welcomed Touro University’s newest college of osteopathic medicine campus (TouroCOM Montana), and its inaugural class of more than one hundred medical students. These students arrived from various parts of the country, bringing diverse experiences and perspectives. For some LGBTQIA+ students, transitioning from urban areas to the rural expanse of Big Sky Country posed unique challenges and opportunities. Read more.
Addressing Mistreatment and Advancing LGBTQ+ Healthcare in Osteopathic Medicine
Caitlin Pastor, OMS II, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine – Cleveland
The mistreatment of LGBTQ+ patients in healthcare settings is a damaging issue that persists in today’s society, with significant consequences. Often, these issues occur not behind closed doors, but are observed by residents, medical students and staff. I witnessed an employee deliberately refer to a patient by the wrong pronouns, even after the patient corrected them. The patient’s expressions shifted from frustration to anger as the employee continued to insult them. The employee did not notice. This resulted in the patient leaving the office before seeing the provider. Their chief health complaint was unheard and never addressed. Read more.
Pride in Practice: What We Signed Up For
By Phoebe McGraw (she/her), OMS II, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
In the month of June, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and stand in solidarity with our personhood, stories, authenticity and all those who came before us.
As osteopathic physicians, we base our learning and practices on the body’s dynamic ability to heal, inherently placing trust in the body’s lived experiences. We seek out holistic health rather than just treating disease. We learn to listen and advocate for our patients. With this at top of mind, being a fearless advocate of LGBTQ+ patients should be our goal. Read more.
One-ness and Change: Reflections on Pride
By Linda Grace Solis, PhD, associate professor of applied humanities, Master of Biomedical Science program director, University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
“We are all one – and if we don’t know it, we will learn it the hard way”. - Bayard Rustin
This quote is from Bayard Rustin, the architect of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Rustin has been largely left out of the historical narrative surrounding the Civil Rights Movement. That he was a member of the Communist Party in the 1930s was mentioned as a cause of this slight. That he was imprisoned during WWII as a conscientious objector was also listed as a reason. The true reason, however, seems to be the fact that Rustin was gay. Read more.
Representation Matters in Healthcare and in Medical Education
By Darren C. McAuley, DO, MMEL
Founding Chair of OMM at Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine
Disparities in healthcare are a significant problem that affects the allocation of resources and healthcare outcomes, significantly impacting the quality of life of millions of Americans. Racial healthcare disparities have been relatively well studied. However, despite a growing body of evidence, new examples of both intrinsic and extrinsic reasons for healthcare disparities continue to be discovered. Read more.
Celebrating Pride Month: Embracing Identities in the South Asian Community
By Helan Paulose, OMS II, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Montana
Pride Month is a time of celebration, reflection and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. As someone from the South Asian community, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles that many face in embracing their identities. Our community, rich in cultural values and traditions, often finds it challenging to accept differences, particularly when it comes to gender and sexual identities. Read more.