In honor of Pride Month, Rocky Mountain University of Health Profession’s Authentic Inclusive Committee hosted a live panel discussion about providing healthcare in the LGBTQIA+ community on June 23.
The panelists included RMU’s Dr. Bryan Gee, Occupational Therapy Chair; Dr. Donnie Akers, College of Optometric Medicine interim dean; and Wendy Chase, Master of Science in Medical Speech-Language Pathology program director; along with special guests Dr. Christy Kane, Kane Counseling Services CEO, and speech-language pathologist Kasey Butler.
The discussion was live-streamed and was attended by members of the community.
Watch the recording to hear the panelist’s answers to the following questions:
- What barriers do their LGBTQIA+ clients face?
- Ever had interactions with LGBTQIA+ individuals that resulted in making a modification or improvement to their approach to working with that community?
- What experiences or resources have the panelists encountered or used to educate themselves?
- Where in RMU’s curricula are our programs currently preparing students to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care for LGBTQIA+ individuals across clinical, educational, and community settings? Where do gaps still exist?
- How can we support family members of individuals who are transitioning genders to navigate healthcare and mental health issues?
- How would a provider be able to express to patients that they are a safe space without putting themselves in danger if they practice in a less LGBTQIA+ friendly area?
- How can faculty approach students who are reluctant to engage in conversations about their role in responding to the LGBTQIA+ community?
- What brings the panelists joy and what are their favorite parts about working with LGBTQIA+ individuals?
- Examples of things people say or do out of ignorance that are most offensive or harmful to members of the LGBTQIA+ community?
- Which communities or individuals do the panelists lean on if they are subjected to miseducation or ignorance and feel offended?
- How can healthcare practitioners use their position of authority or power in society to uplift the voices and interests of the LGBTQIA+ community?
RMU Pride and Community Support
During the month of June, members of the RMU community on campus had the chance to express themselves and show support for the LGBTQIA+ community by writing what pride means to them on a hanging banner. Free rainbow wristbands were also available in the Office of Student Engagement and Success to anyone wanting to wear a sign of support.
Here are the messages they shared on the poster to answer the question, “To me, PRIDE means …”
- Being Queer without fear!
- Loving your neighbor! Supporting your friends!
- The world needs more LOVE
- LOVE IS LOVE
- Being PROUD of who you are
- Studies show the LGBTQ+ population is one of the most empathetic groups – as an ally my heart has always found a home with my friends there.
- Loving yourself!
- PARTY! & PROTEST!
- Being able to relate and love others openly to those who need it 😊
- Be happy, be gay!
- We love & lift one another!
- Loving who you want & being supported!
- Be unapologetically YOU!
- Acceptance and understanding 😊
- Freedom to be yourself & be loved for it!
- Equality for ALL!
- Being an ally to my friends
- Teagan loves Andy! But Andy loves Austin more. LOVE IS LOVE
- Everyone should be “proud” of who they are
- Woo!
- Safety, respect & dignity
- Being an ally (heart)
- LOVE IS LOVE!
- (big heart)
- Never apologize for taking up SPACE
- It’s our world – let’s share!”
RMU & Kasey Butler at Utah PRIDE!
On June 6-7, the RMU Foundation partnered with former University employee Kasey Butler, a gender-affirming voice therapist and speech-language pathologist, at the Utah Pride Festival in Salt Lake City.
RMU students and employees volunteered their time to help with hosting a booth promoting Butler’s gender-affirming voice therapy services, and RMU’s values of authenticity and inclusivity in support of the LGBTQIA + community!
RMU Pride T-shirt Design
This RMU Pride T-shirt was designed this year and remains available for sale in the RMU Store on campus and online!
RMU Podcast: One Man’s Journey & What Providers Need to Know
In the June episode of the RMU Pulse Podcast, Kris Packer, Interim Director of Student Engagement and Success at RMU, and Brad Doll, physician assistant and PA program faculty member, engaged in an honest and touching conversation about transgender healthcare.
Packer shared his personal journey transitioning female to male nearly 10 years ago in Utah—including the challenges of finding affirming providers, navigating hormone therapy, and the ongoing medical monitoring that comes with transition.
Doll brought the clinical perspective, discussing what healthcare providers need to know to treat transgender patients well—from adjusting medications and screening protocols to simply approaching every patient with what he calls being “compassionately curious.”
Together, they made the case that good transgender healthcare isn’t just about medical knowledge; it’s about willingness to learn, checking personal bias at the door, and meeting every patient as a human being first.
