TL/DR –
The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute is teaming up with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to launch the LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence. The first of its kind, the center will leverage the research and teaching capabilities of both institutions to advance health equity for the LGBTQ community. It will focus on training, research, and dissemination to inform policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public on how to effectively improve LGBTQ health.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute Launches LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence
The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute has unveiled the LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence to advance health equity for LGBTQ communities. This first-of-its-kind center is a partnership with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, leveraging the distinctive research and teaching capabilities that both institutions are renowned for.
Leadership and Goals of the Center
Leading this initiative is Brittany Charlton, associate professor at the Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. Charlton, known for her research on reproductive health and cancer disparities affecting LGBTQ communities, aspires to create an inclusive and equitable environment for LGBTQ health. She states, “LGBTQ people experience widespread discrimination, resulting in adverse physical and mental health. As leaders in public health and medicine, we have the responsibility to drive real change.”
Together with worldwide partners, the center aims to prepare the next generation of LGBTQ health leaders, expand the evidence base of LGBTQ health, and inform relevant stakeholders about improving LGBTQ health most effectively.
Center’s Activities and Future Directions
The center’s planned initiatives include awarding scholarships and research grants, designing new courses on LGBTQ health research methodology, and launching a fellowship to train public health leaders in engaging the public about LGBTQ health issues.
Emily Oken, president of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, praised Charlton’s leadership and emphasized the need for change in addressing health inequities in the LGBTQ population.
Notable Faculty Members and Supporters
The center will be staffed by faculty members from both the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, including Douglas Krakower, Julia Marcus, Alon Peltz, Jessica Young, Jarvis Chen, Christy Denckla, Heather Eliassen, and more. Andrea Baccarelli, dean of the faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, also lauded the center’s commitment to advancing health equity.
Official Launch Event
The center officially launched with a Pride 2024 event, featuring speakers from both partner institutions and other health organizations. The event also included a fireside chat between Brittany Charlton and Alex Spinelli, Engagement Editor at STAT, and a reception featuring story time with the Boston Chapter Director of Drag Queen Story Hour.
The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, a unique collaboration between Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School, is focused on improving health care delivery and population health through innovative research and education, in partnership with health plans, delivery systems, and public health agencies.
Similarly, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is committed to educating a new generation of global health leaders and producing powerful ideas that improve people’s health everywhere. It trains new full-time students each year and thousands more through online and executive education courses.
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