New Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research Focused on LGBTQ Community Needs

The launch of the Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research (CSGMHR) has been announced by Columbia University School of Nursing.

The program plans to use innovative methods to study “health among sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations across the lifespan with an emphasis on resilience.” Further, the program will support nursing and interdisciplinary scholarly work focused on social justice and health equity with the objective to eliminate SGM-related health disparities, according to a press release from Columbia.

“While recognition of LGBTQ people’s unique needs is growing, we lack solid evidence on how marginalization, stigma, and discrimination impact health,” said CSGMHR executive director Tonda Hughes, PhD, in the press release. “The center will support rigorous interdisciplinary research on the social, political, and economic determinants of health for SGM populations, which will in turn inform practice and form a knowledge base for interventions to address health disparities.”

Previous research shows that SGM individuals experience worse physical and mental health than their heterosexual peers and face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, substance abuse disorders, depression, and suicidal behavior. Prior surveys, such as the 2015 US Transgender Survey, have found that many LGBTQ individuals feel discriminated by clinicians, with this survey finding 1 in 4 people reporting not seeking necessary medical care due to this fear.

“Dr. Hughes and her colleagues are conducting ground-breaking research that will further Columbia Nursing’s commitment to health equity and social justice,” said Lorraine Frazier, PhD, the dean of Columbia University School of Nursing and the senior vice president of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, in the press release. “Under her leadership, the center will train the next generation of researchers in this vital field and educate experienced investigators on the importance of SGM status for health.”

REFERENCE

Columbia Nursing launches center for sexual and gender minority health research. Columbia School of Nursing. Published June 15, 2021. Accessed June 16, 2021. https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/news/columbia-nursing-launches-center-sexual-and-gender-minority-health-research