Søren Estvold, MD, MPH

During the month of June, many businesses show their support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community by flying rainbow flags in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, but what happens during the rest of the year? How can healthcare providers demonstrate their allyship by providing a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ patients to seek care and receive care without judgement?

According to a Gallop poll, about 6% of US adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. This estimate is up from 4.5% in a previous Gallup’s update based on 2017 data. Gallup’s research also shows that younger generations are more likely to identify as LGBTQ+, with more than one in six Gen Z respondents identifying as something other than heterosexual.

This population is growing, and it’s important for healthcare providers to be prepared to create an LGBTQ+ friendly practice to respond to an expanding need for care.

Building an LGBTQ+ friendly practice

Søren Estvold, MD, MPH is a 2018 graduate of the 

University of Medicine and Health Sciences

 and is currently working in a Family Medicine residency at Augusta University Medical Center in Georgia. Dr. Estvold specializes in LBGTQ+ medicine and serves on the board of the Equality Clinic, an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers serving the under- and uninsured LGBTQIA+ community of Augusta, Georgia and the surrounding areas.

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How can healthcare providers provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ patients?

Søren Estvold, MD, MPH

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