Scaling Community and Expert-Informed LGBTQ+ Continuing Education Program to MCW and Froedtert Health Providers

Project Summary:

LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites experience disproportionate rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, and barriers to quality healthcare. These inequities are driven by minority stress, stigma, and a lack of affirming healthcare. To provide equitable, person-centered care, healthcare providers must understand the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ patients. However, most providers report limited training, knowledge, and confidence in delivering affirming care. This gap in provider competency perpetuates health disparities across Wisconsin. While the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has pockets of excellence, training remains siloed by department, leaving significant unmet needs across specialties. The Pride in Practice (PiP) initiative uses an implementation science framework (ADAPT) and community-engaged mixed methods to bridge this gap. This project will adapt existing curriculum from fragmented, specialty-specific education to a unified, scalable continuing education program designed to ensure all patients receive affirming, comprehensive care regardless of the clinical setting. The result will be the establishment of a unified, community-informed LGBTQ+ care continuing education program. By moving beyond siloed, specialty-specific training, the PiP program will be a scalable resource for healthcare systems to systematically address the health disparities disproportionately burdening Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ residents. Ultimately, this work will foster a more affirming healthcare environment, increasing patient trust and engagement in preventive care, and reducing the prevalence of preventable mental and physical health crises across the state.