Curriculum
All med students learn about LGBTQ+ health issues in our MD curriculum. For those students who are interested, there are opportunities to explore more about LGBTQ+ health through electives and rotations. Here is an overview of our current offerings:
Doctoring course session in M1 year about sexual orientation and gender identity in a clinical context. Students learn how to take a sexual history from LGBTQ+ patients, practice with standardized patients, and are exposed to health disparities and ethical issues faced by LGBTQ+ patients.
In the Scientific Trunk reproductive sequence, students learn about transgender health.
LGBTQ+ health issues are included in the Doctoring curriculum because these patients are an important part of our population, and I think we need to teach our students how to take care of everybody. We need to have them recognize that health disparities exist and encourage them to think of ways to overcome them.
In the Clinical Trunk, LGBTQ+ health issues are explored further in our family medicine, internal medicine, and OB/GYN clerkships.
In the Branches, students can choose a Transgender Medicine elective where they rotate with a multidisciplinary team of physicians and health care providers from OB/GYN, Family Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Endocrinology and Urology.
Other opportunities to learn more about LGBTQ+ health include presentations by student groups, such as OutMD.
We need to train our students to be comfortable talking to everybody. We have made a lot of progress in the last few years. I can tell you that when I trained that we did not talk about issues related to LGBTQ+ health at all. Even providers weren't as comfortable talking about it, which meant patients were uncomfortable telling us. We still have a long way to go, but we're definitely seeing the progression that is needed to take care of all of our patients.
You Might Be Interested In...
Research
For med students who are interested in research related to LGBTQ+ health, we recommend starting with the following resources:
Transgender Research Group
A group of faculty, staff, students, and other trainees from across the health system and University at-large who conduct and/or interested in research related to improving health and health care for transgender people. Meetings every other month on Wednesday evenings involve presentations and discussion of current research and clinical topics. The group is open to all interested in participating. For more information contact Dr. Daniel Shumer at [email protected]ich.edu.
U-M LGBTQ Health Network
Includes more than 200 members of the Michigan Medicine community, including faculty, staff, students and community members, who are interested in improving LGBTQ health on campus.
Sign up to join (allies are welcome!) and receive monthly updates from the U-M LGBTQ Health Network.
Other resources open to med students:
Community
OutMD welcomes LGBTQ+ individuals and allies at the University of Michigan Medical School, Michigan Medicine and beyond. There are many ways to get involved and connect, even before you arrive on campus. Through OutMD, you will find a place to participate in:
- Outreach activities to show support for LGBTQ+ students and allies.
- Regular curricula reviews to evaluate LGBTQ+ health and disparities content.
- Lunch talks.
- Community action campaigns.
- Networking with medical professionals on campus, within the health system and on a national level.
- Resources for med students interested in information about conferences, community activities and supportive venues.
- Panel discussions on topics ranging from gender transitioning and ally training to marginalization and faith.
- Fun social events, including the 24 Hours in Blue interview days and the Second Look at Michigan revisit event.
Out In Ann Arbor: Student Recommended LGBTQ+ Friendly Spaces
LGBTQ+ Resources at U-M
Center for Sexuality & Health Disparities
A joint research team from the University of Michigan School of Nursing and School of Public Health dedicated to improving physical and mental health among oppressed and marginalized communities.
Comprehensive Gender Services Program
Interdisciplinary group of providers at Michigan Medicine who help transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary adults access and obtain the highest quality gender affirming medical care. CGSP is featured in this Michigan Medicine Headlines article.
Designated Pronouns
Q&A review of designated personal pronouns recognized by the University of Michigan. How to designate pronouns in Wolverine Access.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Health
Information provided by Student Life University Health Service for patients who identify as LGBTQ+.
Lesbian-Gay-Queer Research Initiative
Founded in 2001 within the Institute for Research on Women & Gender. Connects interdisciplinary faculty, graduate students, and staff engaged in sexuality research and scholarship.
LGBTQ+ Events at U-M
Various annual events and celebration programs coordinated by the Spectrum Center.
LGBTQ+ Health Resources
Health information guide for members of the community and health professionals.
LGBTQ+ Student Groups at U-M
List of currently active student organizations on campus.
MaPPS Faculty/Staff and Student Mentorship
The Spectrum Center sponsors this Mentorship and Professional/Personal Support (MaPPS) program for all University of Michigan undergraduate and graduate students.
Sexual and Gender Diversity in Public Health
SGDPH's mission is to increase visibility of LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and communities as an effort to prevent discrimination, promote awareness, protect individual identity, and create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all students.
Spectrum Center
The University of Michigan’s LGBTQ+ resource center. Spectrum hosts events, drop-in space, and educational programming. Subscribe to the Spectrum Center Digest, a monthly newsletter for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies at U-M.
Trans Care at University Health Service
The Trans Care Team at UHS is made up of health care providers that are specially trained in providing affirming care to trans and non-binary patients.
Diversity Resources at U-M
Discrimination and Harassment Resource Guide for Graduate Students
Advice, information, and support for graduate students and those who want to help.
Institute for Research on Women & Gender
Interdisciplinary unit of the University of Michigan Office of Research that supports research on women, gender and sexuality.
Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Focused on University-wide initiatives to recruit and support diverse faculty, staff and students while fostering an inclusive and equitable campus community.
Office for Health Equity and Inclusion
OHEI sponsors OutMD and several other Medical School student organizations. OHEI also provides academic coaching, wellness initiatives, cultural impact and diversity workshops, brown bag series, and a dedicated faculty lead for medical student success.
Office of Student Conflict Resolution
Helps all University of Michigan students navigate conflict through educationally focused, student-driven pathways.
Tips for Allies
Four steps people can take to support members of the LGBTQ+ community at Michigan Medicine.
Nondiscrimination Policy Notice
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