On July 14th, 2018, more than 60 researchers, students, community members, and health care workers gathered for “Improving the Health of the LGBTQ+ Community: Advocating for Ourselves Together” workshop held at the Metropolitan Community Church. We gathered to discuss wellness and cancer care needs in the LGBTQ+ community and inclusion in health research. The LGBTQ+ Research Community Advisory Board, sponsored by the George Washington University (GW) Cancer Center, planned and hosted the event. Download the meeting report here and feel free to share widely with your personal and professional networks:
Improving the Health of the LGBTQ Community: Event Report
Highlights from the day included a game show ice breaker for participants to learn some basic LGBTQ+ health and research facts; a panel discussion with five researchers; and small group discussions for participants to share their experiences with and suggestions for improving research. Attendees voted on research topics that had been collected over the past year in smaller community conversations as well as new ideas raised during the event. The four top research priorities were identified based on the vote counts and included:
- Solutions for social isolation, especially for transgender women and LGBTQ+ elders
- Increase provision of culturally responsive care for LGBTQ+ patients
- Needs of most stigmatized and least understood subpopulations within LGBTQ+ community
- Ensure universal health care access and coverage for basic health services and transgender transition-related services
Mandi Pratt-Chapman committed to leading work in the area of increasing provision of culturally responsive care for LGBTQ+ patients. Dr. Dana Hines committed to leading efforts in community participatory research to identify and address the needs of the most stigmatized and least understood subpopulations within the LGBTQ+ community. For more information or to get involved in these research areas, please email Mandi Pratt-Chapman at mandi@gwu.edu or Dr. Dana Hines at dana_hines2@gwu.edu. Individuals interested in serving on the LGBTQ+ Community Advisory Board should reach out to the GW Cancer Center at cancercenter@gwu.edu.