The 2024-2025 academic year marks a significant milestone for the University of Louisville School of Medicine as it celebrates its tenth year of integrating the eQuality program into its curriculum. This innovative program focuses on offering training for future physicians on the unique healthcare needs of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), gender nonconforming (GNC), or born with differences of sex development (DSD).

eQuality is more than just an educational program; it is an integrated educational model that incorporates content throughout required medical curricula, promoting student and faculty development and institutional change. The curriculum is based on medical education competencies from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

“eQuality allows us to instill in current and future physicians the importance of delivering evidenced based, affirming healthcare that is tailored to fit patient needs, specifically those of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Lisa Gunterman, director of the HSC LGBT Center.

Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ face unique challenges when seeking healthcare. These challenges are often overlooked and result in decreased access to care or willingness to seek care. This disparity has led to an increase in medical morbidity and mortality for these patients.

The UofL School of Medicine is committed to bridging the gap in training health care professionals for these patients, with the goal of diminishing disparities among this community. The eQuality program trains accepting, informed, patient-centered physicians.

“Entering the tenth year of the eQuality program at the UofL School of Medicine, we would like to recognize the efforts made by our students, staff, and physicians to change the outlook of health care for the LGBTQ+ communities and encourage other medical institutions to adopt eQuality resources for use within their own teachings,” said Ann Shaw, MD, vice dean for Undergraduate Medical Education.

Designed for continuous assessment, refinement, and dissemination, the eQuality program aims to drive global improvement in medical education and physician competence. As the nation’s pilot site for eQuality, the UofL School of Medicine has set a precedent for success and serves as a model for other institutions.

The eQuality program represents a decade of progress and a promising future of continued advocacy and excellence in medical education. The UofL School of Medicine remains dedicated to this crucial initiative to create a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system for all.