Penn Health Equity Week: Prepared to Care? Health professions students’ readiness to treat SGM patients

Studies across health professions have documented that students feel inadequately prepared by their programs to care for LGBTQIA+ populations. This lack of training is mirrored in studies of patient experience, with LGBTQIA+ patients reporting negative experiences with health care providers and subsequent avoidance of care.

This presentation shares findings from a 2025 study of Penn dental, nursing, and medical students examining their attitudes toward treating LGBTQIA+ patients and their sense of preparedness to do so. Results are compared with a similar 2014 assessment to explore changes over the past decade. The session will highlight effective teaching strategies across disciplines and identify opportunities to strengthen LGBTQIA+ health education moving forward. A catered reception will follow the event. 

This is a hybrid event open to the Penn community. Event location and link to webinar will be sent via confirmation email to your Penn email address. Register here for virtual attendance.

Speakers:

• Katherine France, DMD, MBE, Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine, Penn Dental
• Abigail Green, DNP, RN, AGPCNP-BC, Instructor, Penn Dental
• Marissa DeCesaris-Siegel, DNP, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, RN, Practice Assistant Professor, Penn Nursing
• James Wolfe, MS, NCC, Associate Director of Innovative Projects, Penn Nursing
• Edward (Ted) Kreider, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Penn Medicine
• M. Elle Saine, MD, PhD, MA, Fellow and Post-Doctoral Researcher, Penn Medicine;
• Eleanor Lustig, MD Candidate, Penn Medicine

Hosted by: EIDOS LGBTQ+ Health Initiative