Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals are less likely to access health care and have an increased risk for certain cancers, poor nutrition and mental health issues. Among LGBTQ adolescents, there is a reported six times greater rate of suicide contemplation than the overall teen rate. In fact, statistics from the 2005 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed an increase in risky behaviors for LGBTQ youth, despite the fact that there was a decline in these behaviors in adolescents overall.

Taking better care of this often invisible, at-risk population is at the root of a 2007 Albert Schweitzer Fellowship project led by second-year medical students David Longstroth and Greta Spottswood. Spottswood and Longstroth were two of seven UVM medical students chosen as 2007-08 Schweitzer Fellows to work with a community agency on a health-related community service project of at least 200 hours.

"The LGBTQ community is an underserved population that tends to avoid routine healthcare," said Spottswood. "When they do access care, studies show they are less satisfied with the care received than other patients."

Some barriers to care include standard screening questions and intake forms, which prevent medical care providers from accurately capturing critical information from this population. In addition to their research and collaboration with area agencies such as RU12?, Outright Vermont and University Pediatrics at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Spottswood and Longstroth are working to develop new guidelines on LGBTQ patient care for training healthcare providers and medical students in an effort to remove as many barriers as possible.

As part of their Schweitzer Fellowship, Spottswood and Longstroth hosted a colloquium for medical students, advisors, faculty and administrators on Nov. 29 to address the health care needs of LGBTQ patients. Panelists included Kara DeLeonardis, executive director of RU12?; Dr. Michael Upton, UVM clinical associate professor of psychiatry; Dr. Kym Boyman, UVM clinical instructor of obstetrics and gynecology; Dr. Jon Porter, medical director, UVM Center for Health and Wellbeing; Dr. Ruth Uphold, UVM professor of surgery emerita and Fletcher Allen emergency medicine specialist; and Samuel Lurie, transgender training and advocacy expert. Based on discussion at the colloquium, Spottswood and Longstroth hope to build upon elements already in place in the College of Medicine's Vermont Integrated Curriculum, and enhance patient-centered care for LGBTQ patients of all ages.

One of only seven such programs in the U.S., the NH/VT Schweitzer Fellows Program annually selects a group of health-science and legal students to carry out health-related service projects that address the needs of underserved members of their communities. For more information, visit the NH/VT Schweitzer Fellows Program website at NH/VT Schweitzer Fellows Program.