Doctoring Diversity: Healthcare Scholarships To Help LGBT

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — Healthcare organizations such as Aurora, Froedtert, and the Medical College of Wisconsin are making concerted efforts to guarantee appropriate care for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.

Despite advances in culturally-competent care, Wisconsin LGBT Chamber President and Founder Jason Rae says that many people who are LGBTQ have historically been concerned about discrimination in the doctor's office and spend a lot of time looking for allies in the healthcare industry.

"People really want to find a provider who supports them being themselves, and to be open and honest from the start," he said. "For example, people who are transsexual are much more likely to face discrimination from their doctor."

To support more LGBTQ medical health practitioners and staff, Rae's organization, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Herzing University-Brookfield have partnered on a new scholarship for LGBT individuals working in the healthcare industry.

Rae said the Pride in Healthcare scholarship was created to open up new possibilities for members of the Milwaukee area LGBT community to pursue and advance careers in healthcare while supporting members of the LGBT population through routine and critical care.

The 50 percent scholarships provide half-off tuition, up to $15,000 for LGBT employees of three Chamber members in southeastern Wisconsin – Aurora Health Care, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin health network.

How To Apply

Pride in Healthcare scholarship applications are now being accepted by the LGBT Chamber of Commerce and must be submitted online at https://go.herzing.edu/pride-S... by March 15, 2018.

Each of the three facilities will be offered two scholarships. Recipients could start as early as the summer term which begins in May.

"This scholarship will allow employees at three of our Chamber members the opportunity to get the skills they need to advance their career to the next level and help build the next generation of LGBT leaders in the workplace," Rae said.

Respecting the LGBTQ Community

People who are LGBTQ face a variety of common issues that the general population simply doesn't face: doctors who refuse to recognize someone's sexual orientation or gender identification, a partner or spouse in a same-sex relationship who is not allowed to be present with their child, or providers who do not use culturally-competent terms when addressing their patients or families.

"Discrimination really discourages people from seeking healthcare in general," Rae said. "If they have a bad experience, they're less likely to go back, which leads to overall health issues. A lot of things can happen from one bad experience."

Jarvis Racine, Brookfield Campus President and a member of the University Diversity and Inclusion Committee at Herzing said he had been considering the idea for awhile before approaching the LGBT Chamber with his idea.

"It's a great partnership, and it's more of a giveback to the community more than a scholarship," Racine said.

Racine told Patch.com that he saw similar scholarships developed and offered in other communities, and really wanted to help advance careers for more people who can relate to unique LGBTQ needs.

"Our hope is to create an atmosphere in our healthcare facilities that are respectful with the LGBT community so that they won't be judged. Having more of the LGBT community in leadership roles may help with this comfort," he said.

Applications include short essay questions and require a letter of recommendation from the applicant's current employer.

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