Here at Temple Health, we couldn’t be more proud of the work we do for our LGBTQ+ patients, team members, and community. We recently earned a LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the fifth time, scoring a 100/100 on its Healthcare Equality Index survey. The physicians in our highly-regarded Gender Affirming Surgery Program are working with their colleagues across the country and the globe to bring the latest procedures to Temple and provide gender-affirming care to patients worldwide.
We’ve also created a Gender-Affirming Resource Library with extensive materials to help support trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals and their friends and family, which is accessible to patients, staff members, and the general public. Patients can search our LGBTQ Affirming Providers list to find a care team member who has completed training on and affirmed their support of LGBTQ+-related issues, and can record their chosen name, preferred pronouns, and sexual orientation in MyChart.
We’ve achieved these goals thanks to the hard work of our Temple teams, including the members of the LGBTQ+ Task Force at Temple Health, Temple Resident Pride, and owLGBTQ+ in Medicine at Temple University. On June 2nd, Temple Health handed out materials and LGBTQ+ health information and offered rapid HIV testing at Philly Pride in Center City, and on June 25th, the LGBTQ+ Task Force, Temple Resident Pride, and oWLGBTQ+ in Medicine hosted our annual Temple Pride Celebration.
The latter event, which was held in the lobby of the Medical Education and Research Building at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (Katz), featured music and refreshments. Robert Bettiker, MD, FACP, MGA, a Katz Professor of Medicine and member of the LGBTQ+ Task Force and advisor to Temple Resident Pride and owLGBTQ+ in Medicine, and the Marjorie Joy Katz Dean of Katz, Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, also delivered remarks.
“The Temple community is diverse and inclusive, and we’re dedicated to making sure every individual feels welcomed, respected, and valued,” Dean Goldberg said. “While we’ve made significant strides, there are still many barriers and prejudices that LGBTQ+ individuals face in healthcare and beyond. It’s our responsibility to continue to educate ourselves, advocate for change, and support one another towards equality. Let’s reaffirm our commitment towards a Temple where everyone feels safe and empowered to be their true selves. Together, we’ll make a difference, and create a brighter, more inclusive future for all.”
