US Medical Schools Increase LGBTQ Students, Doctor Training
2020-03-03
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1Aliya Feroe remembers the doctor who sent her to another doctor after learning she identified as queer.
2The doctor who would not treat her was a woman who specializes in women's health.
3For Rhi Ledgerwood, it was a doctor advising about things like pregnancy prevention.
4Ledgerwood was designated female at birth but now identifies as transgender and does not have sex with men.
5Transgender people have a gender identity different from that designated at birth.
6For Tim Keyes, it is when doctors thought he was sexually active with women.
7But he had no interest in having sex with women.
8When he was 17 years old, Keyes announced that he was gay.
9Ask any LGBTQ patient about their experiences with doctor visits and chances are they will have an unpleasant story to tell.
10The term LGBTQ is short for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.
11When doctors think all of their patients are heterosexual, those who identify in other ways can feel ignored.
12They also are less likely to seek medical care.
13This can lead to health problems including high rates of depression, suicidal behavior, alcohol and drug use and ineffective health screenings.
14That information comes from LGBTQ advocates in the United States.
15But changes are coming to the medical field, these advocates say.
16For example, the American Medical Association, or AMA, promised in November to push for a federal ban on conversion therapy.
17The treatment attempts to turn members of the LGBTQ community into heterosexuals.
18In addition, U.S. medical schools are expanding education on LBGTQ health issues.
19And some schools are pushing to have more LGBTQ medical students.
20Research shows that patients often get better care when treated by doctors who are more like them.
21Feroe, Keyes and Ledgerwood are part of that movement.
22They are all studying for careers in medicine.
23Feroe is a third-year medical student at Harvard University in Massachusetts.
24She told The Associated Press that LGBTQ doctors should be treated like other members of the medical community.
25She also thinks LGBTQ patients should get the same quality of care other patients get.
26Increasing LGBTQ student enrollment in medical schools and training in LGBTQ health issues can help reach those goals, advocates say.
27Exact numbers of these medical students and doctors are unknown.
28In 2018, the AMA added sexual and gender identity to the information members could choose to include on their profiles.
29Of the 15,000 doctors and students who have volunteered that information so far, about four percent identify as LGBTQ.
30In autumn of 2019, Harvard's entering class of medical students was 15 percent LGBTQ, a high rate that is no accident.
31Harvard asks students if they want to be identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.
32An answer is not required, but the choice "sends a message that you're wanted," said Jessica Halem.
33She works with LGBTQ students at the medical school.
34"We know that doctors need to look like and be a part of the communities they serve," Halem said.
35"We have gay Muslim students, lesbians from China; students who are survivors of conversion therapy," she said.
36"They are now out and very proud gay people and they are healing those wounds."
37In the beginning, Aliya Feroe planned to present herself as heterosexual in medical school.
38She feared that making the truth known would cause patients to dislike her and make her feel different from the other students.
39But Harvard has an active LGBTQ student group and teachers who ask students what their chosen pronoun is.
40It also has classes dealing with LGBTQ medical care.
41During a recent visit to one of Harvard's sister hospitals, Feroe was happy to see some patients there with their same-sex partners.
42She said doctors who were training her "smoothly asked about people's lives" and were at-ease "when learning patients were queer."
43All are important steps, Feroe says, toward offering non-judgmental "patient-centered" care.
44The Association of American Medical Colleges reports that while most schools offer LGBTQ courses, half reported three or fewer classes, group discussions or other learning activities.
45And a study of medical students published in March 2019 found a serious lack of knowledge on LGBTQ health issues.
46Carl Streed was the lead writer of a report on the study.
47He is a doctor and an associate professor at Boston University's medical school.
48Streed said that a bad experience with a doctor 15 years ago when he was sick made him want to join the medical field.
49When he told the doctor he was gay, the doctor became very unfriendly and then "suggested HIV testing, left the room and never came back."
50Streed was a young student at the time.
51Testing elsewhere showed he did not have the virus, but no one suggested tests for infections more common among college students.
52And he never found out what his sickness was.
53Streed said doctors' personal beliefs should not affect their quality of care and kindness toward patients.
54Tim Keyes started attending Stanford University's medical school in 2015.
55Back then, LGBTQ health issues were only discussed in one unrequired class that had low enrollment.
56But now expanded coursework is part of the required study program.
57Two years ago, Keyes was among six students at four universities who created the Medical Student Pride Alliance.
58The group now operates at 31 universities across the United States.
59Its aim is to get more LGBTQ students into medical schools, push for more informed coursework and improve LGBTQ medical care.
60I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm Alice Bryant.
1Aliya Feroe remembers the doctor who sent her to another doctor after learning she identified as queer. 2The doctor who would not treat her was a woman who specializes in women's health. 3For Rhi Ledgerwood, it was a doctor advising about things like pregnancy prevention. Ledgerwood was designated female at birth but now identifies as transgender and does not have sex with men. Transgender people have a gender identity different from that designated at birth. 4For Tim Keyes, it is when doctors thought he was sexually active with women. But he had no interest in having sex with women. When he was 17 years old, Keyes announced that he was gay. 5Ask any LGBTQ patient about their experiences with doctor visits and chances are they will have an unpleasant story to tell. The term LGBTQ is short for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. 6When doctors think all of their patients are heterosexual, those who identify in other ways can feel ignored. They also are less likely to seek medical care. This can lead to health problems including high rates of depression, suicidal behavior, alcohol and drug use and ineffective health screenings. That information comes from LGBTQ advocates in the United States. 7But changes are coming to the medical field, these advocates say. 8Reaching out to LGBTQ individuals 9For example, the American Medical Association, or AMA, promised in November to push for a federal ban on conversion therapy. The treatment attempts to turn members of the LGBTQ community into heterosexuals. 10In addition, U.S. medical schools are expanding education on LBGTQ health issues. And some schools are pushing to have more LGBTQ medical students. 11Research shows that patients often get better care when treated by doctors who are more like them. 12Feroe, Keyes and Ledgerwood are part of that movement. They are all studying for careers in medicine. 13Feroe is a third-year medical student at Harvard University in Massachusetts. She told The Associated Press that LGBTQ doctors should be treated like other members of the medical community. She also thinks LGBTQ patients should get the same quality of care other patients get. 14Increasing LGBTQ student enrollment in medical schools and training in LGBTQ health issues can help reach those goals, advocates say. 15Exact numbers of these medical students and doctors are unknown. In 2018, the AMA added sexual and gender identity to the information members could choose to include on their profiles. Of the 15,000 doctors and students who have volunteered that information so far, about four percent identify as LGBTQ. 16Changes at Harvard 17In autumn of 2019, Harvard's entering class of medical students was 15 percent LGBTQ, a high rate that is no accident. 18Harvard asks students if they want to be identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. An answer is not required, but the choice "sends a message that you're wanted," said Jessica Halem. She works with LGBTQ students at the medical school. 19"We know that doctors need to look like and be a part of the communities they serve," Halem said. 20"We have gay Muslim students, lesbians from China; students who are survivors of conversion therapy," she said. "They are now out and very proud gay people and they are healing those wounds." 21In the beginning, Aliya Feroe planned to present herself as heterosexual in medical school. She feared that making the truth known would cause patients to dislike her and make her feel different from the other students. 22But Harvard has an active LGBTQ student group and teachers who ask students what their chosen pronoun is. It also has classes dealing with LGBTQ medical care. 23During a recent visit to one of Harvard's sister hospitals, Feroe was happy to see some patients there with their same-sex partners. She said doctors who were training her "smoothly asked about people's lives" and were at-ease "when learning patients were queer." All are important steps, Feroe says, toward offering non-judgmental "patient-centered" care. 24The Association of American Medical Colleges reports that while most schools offer LGBTQ courses, half reported three or fewer classes, group discussions or other learning activities. 25And a study of medical students published in March 2019 found a serious lack of knowledge on LGBTQ health issues. Carl Streed was the lead writer of a report on the study. He is a doctor and an associate professor at Boston University's medical school. 26Streed said that a bad experience with a doctor 15 years ago when he was sick made him want to join the medical field. 27When he told the doctor he was gay, the doctor became very unfriendly and then "suggested HIV testing, left the room and never came back." Streed was a young student at the time. 28Testing elsewhere showed he did not have the virus, but no one suggested tests for infections more common among college students. And he never found out what his sickness was. 29Streed said doctors' personal beliefs should not affect their quality of care and kindness toward patients. 30Tim Keyes started attending Stanford University's medical school in 2015. Back then, LGBTQ health issues were only discussed in one unrequired class that had low enrollment. But now expanded coursework is part of the required study program. 31Two years ago, Keyes was among six students at four universities who created the Medical Student Pride Alliance. The group now operates at 31 universities across the United States. Its aim is to get more LGBTQ students into medical schools, push for more informed coursework and improve LGBTQ medical care. 32I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm Alice Bryant. 33Lindsey Tanner reported this story for the Associated Press. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 34_______________________________________________________________ 35Words in This Story 36queer - adj. of or relating to a sexual or gender identity that is different from traditional ideas of sexuality and gender 37gender - n. the state of being male, female or something else 38designate - v. to call something or someone by a particular name or title 39heterosexual - n. someone who finds members of their own sex to be sexually appealing 40screening - n. health tests to look for sicknesses or diseases before you have symptoms 41enrollment - n. the number of people registered at a school, or for a class or program 42profile - n. a brief written description that provides information about someone or something 43out - v. to publicize or make public the sexual identity of someone 44pronoun - n. one of the words (such as he/him, she/her or they) that can be used in place or a noun or noun phrase; the way people like to be identified based on their gender identity 45HIV - n. the virus that causes AIDS