Gender-affirming care is health care that respects and supports a patient’s gender identity, which may differ from the sex they were assigned at birth. While all major medical associations in the U.S. currently recognize this type of care as essential and lifesaving, many practicing clinicians, medical students and other health professionals lack any required training on how to practice it or why it is so crucial. Click through for seven ways faculty and staff can make care more gender-affirming and reduce bias at Michigan Medicine!

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The U-M Medical School’s doctoring course provides foundational knowledge and skills necessary to become a thoughtful physician. Throughout the first year, medical students participate in facilitated small groups. In addition to teaching physical exam skills, communication skills and clinical reasoning, the groups offer multiple opportunities for students to explore their individual worldviews through the lensRead more

For years, the organization has been on a path to improving the experience for patients that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. These patients face unique challenges when managing basic health care needs. As a testament to the ongoing hard work and dedication, Michigan Medicine recently received a score of 100 on the 2022 Healthcare Equality Index and is designated as a “leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality.” Click through for more on this important distinction!

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The Office for Health Equity and Inclusion is excited to partner with more than 20 Michigan Medicine departments and units to host the inaugural Youth Summit at the Big House on Saturday, May 21. The daylong outreach event is aimed at engaging and exposing diverse middle school students from schools across southeast Michigan with health care teams, units and departments. Click through to learn how you can make the summit a success!

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Feb. 1 marked the beginning of Black History Month, a time when our nation celebrates and recognizes the advancement, experiences, successes, beauty and lives of historical and modern Black and Afro–descended people. In recognition of the extensive amount of value Black culture has brought to our nation, world and the U-M and Michigan Medicine community, the organization has an array of programming sprinkled throughout the next few weeks focused on education and motivation. Click through for details!

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For some, Jan. 1 marked the beginning of a new year. For others, the new year is just getting started. Today, Feb. 1, marks the first day of the Lunar New Year, one of the most important holidays for many in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Click through to learn more about the festivities and what the holiday means to those who celebrate at Michigan Medicine!

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As the pandemic continues, and variants evolve from Delta to Omicron, fear of people’s reactions — and the lifestyle changes that come along with those fears — are prevalent for many in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. That's why it's imperative to raise awareness about these incidences and experiences, and provide a space for people to share and to understand that they are not alone. Click through for more on the AAPI Resource Group and the important work the team is performing at Michigan Medicine!

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The clock is always ticking in the emergency room. A patient is rushed in with a condition that may be serious or life-threatening. Rapidly, faculty and staff must make decisions to keep the person alive. In those moments, information about the patient is limited and relationships with them barely scratch the surface. This creates situations in which physicians may dismiss, or make assumptions about, patients from backgrounds that are not similar to their own. Click through for insight from residents on the importance of caring for diverse, vulnerable populations in the ER.

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Creating a culture of belonging and inclusion requires interventions at multiple organizational levels — from the creation of systemwide policies to increasing access to dedicated resources. Organizational change can often be imperfect, difficult and slow-moving, but together we can all create safe spaces for one another. At Michigan Medicine, we have begun tackling LGBTQIA+ inclusion by addressing an array of concerns voiced by the LGBTQIA+ Resource Group and allies. Click through for simple ways you can create inclusive spaces in your daily life!

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