Empowering Physicians: Student-Led LGBTQIA+ Healthcare Training in Rural Montana
Published June 25, 2024
Inside OME
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. Urban settings often provide a broader range of affirming healthcare providers and a visible LGBTQIA+ community, whereas rural areas like Great Falls typically offer fewer resources and a smaller, less visible LGBTQIA+ population.
As we celebrate Pride Month this June, we reflect on the importance of inclusive, respectful and supportive practices in the medical field, especially for LGBTQIA+ patients. This year, we aim to highlight the experiences of many LGBTQIA+ patients in rural environments and emphasize the unique opportunity medical students have to train the next generation of physicians.
Navigating Rural Healthcare: The Importance of Affirming Care
By Michael Ny, OMS II
A personal challenge led to a new perspective and insight, revealing numerous opportunities to enhance visibility and accessibility for LGBTQIA+ individuals in Montana. The challenge? Finding an LGBTQIA+ affirming provider, whose significance I only fully appreciated when I no longer had one. Experiencing inclusive care underscored the subtle yet impactful differences in the care I received from my new provider in Montana, including an abbreviated sexual history and unfamiliarity with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP/Truvada), a medication that has revolutionized HIV prevention.
During my intake visit with my new provider, it became evident that I was likely the first or only patient he was prescribing PrEP to. His need to consult with colleagues about the necessary labs and subsequent reliance on online resources highlighted a knowledge gap that could benefit from targeted PrEP education.
The TouroCOM Montana Chapter of the Rainbow Health Coalition prioritizes educating local primary healthcare providers on tools such as PrEP and DoxyPEP. As the LGBTQIA+ community in Great Falls grows, bolstered by new medical school classes with LGBTQIA+ students, it becomes increasingly important to support healthcare providers in delivering inclusive care. Additionally, we aim to initiate dialogues with local healthcare providers across all specialties, encouraging them to register on platforms such as www.outcarehealth.org and www.lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org. By identifying themselves as LGBTQIA+ affirming, these providers can offer a vital resource for LGBTQIA+ Montanans seeking comfortable and safe healthcare options.
A New Student-Led Approach: The Plus Program
By Leah Claus, OMS II
The Plus Program was launched at TouroCOM Montana in April 2024 by our Student Government Association and Rainbow Health Coalition to proactively address the healthcare needs of LGBTQIA+ patients, both within our own rural community and across the nation. The program consists of a series of interactive modules, led by students, that seek to train future physicians in navigating the healthcare needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals. In these modules, students are taught how to think more inclusively, from the basics of taking a health history to destigmatizing and providing education on hormone replacement therapy and PrEP.
An osteopathic medical education emphasizes a holistic, person-centered approach to healthcare. We are taught to value the whole patient and the social, environmental and cultural factors that impact their health. Training in cultural competence and inclusivity ensures that osteopathic physicians can provide more respectful and equitable care to all patients, regardless of their background or orientation. By addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ patients, we support the broader goal of improving healthcare for all underserved groups, recognizing the intersectionality that can impact health outcomes. This is especially important in rural areas where LGBTQIA+ individuals may face additional barriers to healthcare access and quality. In these cases, increasing the number of affirming physicians can make a significant difference in patient health outcomes.
Work done by The Plus Program and student organizations like the Rainbow Health Coalition plays a vital role in addressing the historical mistrust between LGBTQIA+ patients and the healthcare system, often resulting from previous discrimination and inadequate understanding. Teaching current and future physicians in an engaging and impactful way to be more inclusive ensures that LGBTQIA+ patients will receive respectful, informed and equitable care.
Learn more about The Plus Program.