LGBTQ clinic at Equal Access Clinic Network provides inclusive care
Students passionate about providing health care to vulnerable populations volunteer at the clinic
UF medical students Alyssa Nielsen and Thomas Reilly
June 16, 2022 — With social stigmas and discrimination surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, members of this population are less likely to seek preventive medical care, are at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases and have a higher prevalence of mental health issues than heterosexual populations, according to the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
Volunteers at the UF College of Medicine’s Equal Access Clinic Network are working to address some of these challenges. The Equal Access Clinic, a network of student-run, free health care clinics, provides care to all community members and hosts specialty nights such as one for Spanish-speaking patients and another for young patients.
Since 2016, the EAC has also hosted monthly LGBTQ clinics to provide a safe space for community members to access free health screenings.
Thomas Reilly, a second-year medical student and LGBTQ clinic officer, began volunteering with the clinic during his first year and said he is interested in impacting LGBTQ+ health because they often face worse health outcomes than the general population.
“Doctors need to know sensitive information about their patients, like their sexual and mental health history, in order to best treat them,” he said. “This can be uncomfortable for any patient but especially so for LGBT individuals, as they often feel that their doctor will pass judgment on them or treat them differently once they learn about their sexuality or gender identity. That’s why we need doctors and students like the ones we have at our clinic.”
The clinic, hosted twice monthly at UF Health Family Medicine – Eastside, is open to adult community members. In addition to traditional health screenings, services geared toward LGBTQ+ populations are available, including gender-affirming therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that can help prevent HIV.
Miranda Reid, a bisexual student in the college’s MD-PhD Training Program and an LGBTQ clinic officer, said she was motivated to become involved with the clinic because of her experiences receiving health care.
“Being a member of the community, I’ve had negative experiences with physicians and medical establishments in the past, usually unintentionally,” she said. “Some people don’t think others can be hurt by the language they use. For me, it was exciting to move to here and find out there’s a whole group of people who are actively trying to address the LGBTQ community and help them in a way that a lot of medical schools, even in major urban areas, aren’t doing. UF has something special that is unfortunately not common.”
Ryan Nall, M.D. ’09, the clinic’s faculty adviser and an associate professor in the division of general internal medicine, founded the LGBTQ clinic with a group of students in 2016 based upon a student suggestion and has overseen its growth over the years.
“It’s certainly been a passion of mine, and it’s incredible to be able to work with such a motivated and skilled set of students,” he said. “I just think the experience they’re getting as students is incredible.”
Alyssa Nielsen, a fourth-year medical student and student director for the Equal Access Clinic at Eastside, said there is a clear demand for LGBTQ-friendly services in the Gainesville area, which prompted the clinic to expand from once to twice a month. An average of 15 to 18 patients attend each clinic.
“This is the population I love, and it’s an opportunity to learn more about medical treatment you might not regularly come across otherwise,” she said. “It’s something I’m really proud to be part of, and even if we help just one person, it’s worth it.”
LGBTQ clinic information
- UF Health Family Medicine – Eastside, 410 NE Waldo Road
- First and third Tuesday of every month. Patients are seen starting at 5:30 p.m., walk-ins are encouraged to arrive before 6 p.m.
- 352-265-7015
Services offered
- Specially trained LGBTQ health providers
- General health care
- Physical exams
- Point-of-care testing for HIV, rapid strep, pregnancy and A1c
- Other labs such as metabolic panels, lipid panels and other STI testing through Quest Diagnostics
- Gender affirming hormone guidance
- Referral for specialty care, imaging
Become a clinic volunteer
Physicians, professional students and undergraduates are encouraged to contact the Equal Access Clinic Network if interested in volunteering.
