Colors of the rainbow filled the streets of Burlington, Vermont, on a sunny Sunday in early September, when thousands of people turned out for the annual Pride Vermont Parade & Festival. Students, faculty, staff, and colleagues from UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, Cancer Center, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and health network partners joined the annual family-friendly celebration of queer joy, community building, and solidarity.
The health care colleagues kicked off the event with a brunch and socializing at the Vermont Comedy Club, hosted by Larner and health network partners. They gathered with festival goers at Burlington City Hall Park to decorate trucks and signs, then marched in solidarity along the parade route to Waterfront Park. Festivities at the park included entertainers, vendors, food trucks, music, and resources.
“Partnering with our local health network to support and participate in the Pride parade demonstrates the Larner College of Medicine’s unwavering commitment to ensuring excellence in medical education and health care for the populations we serve.” — Christa Zehle, M.D.
The event provided an opportunity to model the values of compassion and respect, said Christa Zehle, M.D., Larner senior associate dean for medical education, professor of pediatrics, and director of UVM Health Network Education. Dr. Zehle and her daughter marched in the parade with Larner students, faculty, and staff.
“Standing with our LGBTQ+ community is essential to training physicians, who are not only clinically skilled, but also culturally responsive and deeply compassionate,” Zehle said. “Pride offers a space to celebrate, uplift, and advocate for every patient, learner, and provider.”
The Larner College of Medicine, the UVM Cancer Center, UVM Medical Center, and Home Health & Hospice joined forces to host resource tables and health screenings at the festival. While attendees lined up to gather complimentary sunscreen and disease prevention resources, clinicians provided diagnostic tests, vaccinations, and referral services in the cancer center’s new Outreach and Education Van.
Devika Singh, M.D., associate professor of medicine and project director of the Ryan White Program at the UVM Medical Center HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Care Clinic, and project co-director Zpora Perry, LICSW, led a sexual health education team that offered resources, screenings, and access to vaccinations.
“Our presence at Pride highlights the importance of sexual health, which includes ensuring access to vaccinations,” Dr. Singh said. This includes protection against mpox and human papillomavirus virus, a common pathogen that spreads through skin-to-skin contact and can lead to cancer. Singh added, “We are dedicated to HIV prevention, which translates into counseling patients about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (HIV PrEP) and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (HIV PEP), and HIV testing.”
For health care professionals and educators, Pride highlights the importance of inclusive care, ensuring access to quality services, and fostering a safe, respectful environment for all patients and providers. Participating in community festivals and educational events like the Burlington Pride Festival highlights the strength of a supportive community and the quest for a world characterized by equal respect for all individuals.
“Partnering with our local health network to support and participate in the Pride parade demonstrates the Larner College of Medicine’s unwavering commitment to ensuring excellence in medical education and health care for the populations we serve,” Zehle said.