LGBTQ Medical Education Research Group–

Project: LGBT Students in American and Canadian Medical Schools

Project: LGBT Students in American and Canadian Medical Schools
Aims/Objectives
  • Determine what proportion of medical student respondents identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.
  • Determine what proportion of LGBT medical students are “out” at school regarding their gender identity or sexual orientation.
  • Determine LGBT medical students’ reasons for not being “out” at their institution.
  • Determine how LGBT medical student respondents rate their institution’s LGBT-related curricular content.
  • Determine LGBT students’ strategies for increasing LGBT-related curricular content in undergraduate medical education.
  • Assess differences between LGBT and non-LGBT medical students' levels of preparedness and comfort with LGBT patient care.
  • Explore LGBT medical students' free-text responses about their unique experiences in medical school.
Overview Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) medical students experience discrimination and hostility in medical school.  We assessed LGBT students’ experiences in medical school as well as their perspectives on LGBT-related curricular topics to better understand this unexplored population.
Data Source Allopathic and osteopathic students were recruited from all medical schools in Canada and the United States to complete a web-based questionnaire investigating LGBT-related curricular content.
Partners/Collaborators
  • American Medical Association: Medical Students Section
  • American Medical Student Association
  • Student Osteopathic Medical Association
  • Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents
  • Canadian Federation of Medical Students
Related Literature
  • Risdon C, Cook D, Willms D. Gay and Lesbian Physicians in Training: A Qualitative Study. CMAJ 2000; 162(3):331-334.
  • Merchant RC, Jongco AM, Woodward L. Disclosure of Sexual Orientation by Medical Students and Residency Applicants. Acad. Med. 2005; 80:786.
  • Townsend MH, Wallick WM, Cambre KM. Support Services for Homosexual Students at U.S. Medical Schools. Acad. Med. 1991; 66:361-363.
  • Townsend MH, Wallick WM, Cambre KM. Follow-up Survey of Support Services for Lesbina, Gay, and Bisexual Medical Students. Acad. Med. 1996; 71:1012-1014.
  • Klame, D.L., Grossman, L.S., Kopacz, D.R. Medical Student Homophobia. J Homosex 1993; 37(1):53-63.
  • Schatz B, O'Hanlan KA. Antigay Discrimination in Medicine: Results of a National Survey of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Physicians. San Francisco, Calif: Gay and Lesbian Medical Association; 1994.
  • Oriel KA, MadlonKay DJ, Govaker D, Mersy DJ. Gay and lesbian physicians in training: family practice program directors' attitudes and students' perceptions of bias. Fam Med. 1996; 28:720
  • Wallick MM. Homophobia and heterosexism: out of the medical school closet. NC Med J. 1997; 58:123-125
LGBT MERG Presentations, Abstracts, and Publications Data in this paper will be presented at the 2011 Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Conference and the 2011 AAMC Research in Medical Education (RIME) Conference.
LGBT MERG Contact William White, M.A.

Footer Links: