I hope this message finds you and your families healthy!
This year’s theme for our departmental D&I work is “equity.” Gender equity is always a top priority for our work, and this month I’d like to shine the light on cis- and transgender equity.
This past week, Nov 13-19, has been Trans Awareness Week, and today, Nov 20, is Transgender Day of Remembrance. In memory of those who were lost to anti-transgender violence, please visit this site that lists their names. https://www.glaad.org/blog/tdor-memoriam
When we use the term “transgender” to refer to today’s memorial, please keep in mind that this is actually shorthand for “transgender and gender non-conforming.” Included in this categorization are all those whose identifies differ from or transcend their assigned sex at birth. This includes those who are non-binary (do not identify as only men or women, could be both or neither), gender non-conforming (outward expressions of gender that do not conform to either men or women), or gender-expansive (a broader term to encompass those not otherwise listed).
This becomes an issue of equity for those of us in healthcare because it’s likely most of us have spent far less time learning to care for transgender patients than we have cisgender patients. If you don’t feel adequately prepared to care for your current and future transgender patients, which includes an understanding of preferred pronouns, providing a welcoming environment, and transgender-specific medical concerns, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of Duke’s teaching modules. Log in to the Learning Management System and search the word transgender.
A few announcements:
The first piece of news for this month is that the Duke Neurology Underrepresented in Neurology Tele-shadowing Experience is now up and running. We launched about 3 weeks ago and already have 133 applicants from across the country!
In summary, we are interested in providing college students with exposure to neurology via shadowing a tele-health clinic. Research has shown that early exposure to neurology is an important factor in the eventual selection of neurology as a career choice. Please help us spread the word about this new initiative.
If you are doing tele-health clinics and have not signed up to have a student shadow but would like to, please let Victoria Stabile know.
Visit our website to see details.
The Neurology Department is looking for volunteers to share their time and career experience with 6th and 8th grade students at BOOST. BOOST (Building Opportunities and Overtures in Science and Technology) is an educational program designed to excite young people – particularly underrepresented minorities, girls, and kids from economically challenged backgrounds – about science and inspire them to pursue careers in medicine and related fields. The Neurology Department has worked with BOOST for more than 5 years; it’s a great way to educate people about neuroscience and careers. If you are interested, please contact Will Alexander.
She mentioned an organization that she and her husband created to help underprivileged students pursue their dreams of becoming physicians. The organization is called ElevateMeD, and if you were inspired by the work they’re doing, you can read more and, if so inclined, donate, here.