Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex
Healthcare Best Practices Program
In 2020, The Welcome Project PA, a community-based nonprofit, launched a Healthcare Best Practices Program for Transgender, Non-Binary, & Intersex Patients. The initiative began with an online survey to collect information about LGBT+ healthcare experiences and what LGBT+ patients want doctors to know. WPPA then formed a LGBT+ cohort made up of transgender and nonbinary individuals in order to create training materials and to meet with doctors, nurses, and medical students to develop best practices in healthcare settings. The cohort engaged in candid conversations with doctors, and shared what needs to change and what aspects of their medical care are fragmented.
In the Spring of 2023, WPPA’s cohort, in partnership with Big Picture Alliance, HealthSpark Foundation, and Independence Public Media Foundation, debuted a documentary film highlighting this initiative, “See Me, Hear Me, Know Me.” The film has received the following selections and/or awards:
Best of Show, LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival
Official Selection, Urban Mediamakers Film Festival
Official Selection, New Hope Film Festival
Semifinalist, Philadelphia International Filmmaker Awards
Official Selection, Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival
Semifinalist, Rotterdam Independent Film Festival
WPPA’s cohort works directly with primary healthcare partners such as Jefferson Health/Abington Hospital, with the leadership of Doctor John Russell and Dr. Jimmy Ruiz, providing DEAIB training and materials preparation. This initiative also includes an ongoing partnership with Drexel University College of Medicine, training 300+ 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year students.
The goals for this program: decrease the health disparities that transgender, non-binary, and intersex patients face; lessen the fragmentation of health services for LGBT+ patients and the lack of knowledge across health care systems; encourage other doctors, medical campuses, and health care systems to implement a similar program for LGBT+ patients and the doctors who care for them.
Our cohort is always looking for more members of our team.
If you are interested in joining our cohort, please reach out by emailing info@welcomeprojectpa.org.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Thank you to our past and current funders:
HealthSpark Foundation, UU Fund for a Just Society, Temple Jeanes Campus, Independence Public Media Foundation, and SAMHSA.
Watch the documentary here! See Me, Hear Me, Know Me: The Welcome Project PA is a documentary film highlighting the stories and experiences of transgender and nonbinary individuals in healthcare settings. This film also includes a training video created by members of WPPA’s LGBT+ cohort that may be purchased for use in educational and medical settings.
The information you provide will remain completely anonymous and will be used to help train healthcare professionals to provide care more competently to Trans, Non-binary, and Intersex individuals! The survey involves 10 questions and will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Not all questions are required, but everything you’re able to share will be extremely beneficial in helping us to train more affirming and competent healthcare providers!
Thank you so much for taking the time to help us with this initiative!
