ISC: LGBTQ+ Health Care

School of Medicine

This course delves into the interdisciplinary nature of LGBTQ+ health, spanning medical, surgical, and psychiatric specialties. We aim to enhance medical knowledge pertinent to LGBTQ+ patient care, critically analyze our biases, and equip students to provide equitable, comprehensive care to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Enrolled students will be integrated into VIVID Health, VUMC’s comprehensive interdisciplinary LGBTQ+ clinical program for adults. Students will integrate foundational sciences with clinical care, spanning topics from the biochemistry of gender-affirming hormone therapy to epidemiological trends within LGBTQ+ subpopulations. By bridging disciplines such as endocrinology, pharmacology, microbiology, healthcare policy, and behavioral sciences, learners will gain a holistic understanding of the unique health challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Students will apply foundational knowledge through clinical experiences with patients, spending time in LGBTQ+ health-focused clinics. This will include hands-on experience with gender-affirming hormone therapy, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and advancing clinical skills such as trauma-informed physical exams.