The 2024 LGBTQ & Allies Caucus Annual Meeting was held June 7 in Chicago.
Education session
Minority Affairs Section, Medical Student Section and LGBTQ Advisory Committee Joint Education Session: “Approaches to Indigenous Health Equity”
- Speakers: Siobhan Wescott, MD, MPH; Elton Naswood, MA; Albert Mensah, MD; Shandiin Begay, LCSW
Attendees of this incredible session learned from leading experts on Indigenous health on the unique social determinants of health, health care access barriers and specific cultural considerations faced by individuals identifying as both Indigenous and the two-spirit community. The robust health and behavioral health services provided by the American Indian Health Services of Chicago (AIHSC) were also featured and highlighted by Dr. Mensah, medical director, and Shandiin Bengay, behavioral health team lead at AIHSC.
Physician members gained appreciation and information on best practices for providing culturally humble and competent care and considerations for the creating safe spaces and unbiased health care delivery for all members of Indigenous communities. Thank you to the incredible panelists!
Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Issues celebrates service and leadership
The AMA thanks and honors Hunter Pattison, MD, who finished their term as immediate past chair, Maya Green, MD, who completed their second term as an at-large member and Deniz Goodman Jr., MD, MPH, who concluded their term on the Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Issues this month in their role as the Medical Student Section Representative. We are so grateful for their service and leadership to the committee.
Congratulations to Jason Schneider, MD, who was re-appointed to their role as at-large member and re-elected as chair, and Shail Maingi, MD, for her re-appointment as the GLMA representative on the committee as well as being re-elected vice-chair on the committee. We welcome Benjamin Laniakea, MD, who joins the committee as an at-large member and Alex Tolbert as the Medical Student Section representative. The passion, expertise and engagement of all these individuals is essential for sustaining our efforts and continued successes.
At the conclusion of the House of Delegates meeting we will also know if the HOD approved the Committee on Long Range Planning and Development Report 1 to approve the Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Issues as an AMA Section! Stay tuned.
