Table 1.

Goals, objectives, and milestones for the LGBTQ Health Pathway at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Learning goals and objectives	Pre-clinical milestones	Clinical milestones
1: Develop an awareness of the health disparities that face the LGBTQ community	• 3 interactive online modules introduce students to topics on addressing assumptions and biases, gender identity/expression, sexuality and attraction, communicating with LGBTQ patients, and real-world needs and issues faced by LGBTQ communities. • 2 courses (LGBTQ Health and Health Disparities, and the Clinical Management of Transgender Patients) expose students to specific LGBTQ health and healthcare disparities. These courses also teach students the nuances of caring for LGBTQ patients.	• During their LGBTQ-focused clinical clerkship, students learn from physicians and patients about the disparities of LGBTQ populations. In addition, students gain experience directly addressing these disparities in a clinical setting. • Under the mentorship of experienced providers of LGBTQ healthcare, students practice caring for and managing large panels of LGBTQ patients at various clinics.
2: Learn to provide effective and compassionate medical care to LGBTQ patients and address their unique health concerns
3: Develop skills to be an effective, multi-disciplinary advocate for the LGBTQ community	• Students complete 24 hours LGBTQ-focused community service/advocacy work during their pre-clinical years, which allows students to gain experience providing for the LGBTQ community in a non-clinical setting. • Pathway students engage with LGBTQ organizations as part of their service/advocacy work. In addition, LGBTQ community partners help with the development of Pathway content and connect with students during the self-reflection component of the online modules.	• Students complete an additional 12 longitudinal service hours throughout both their pre-clinical and clinical years. This allows students to obtain long-term exposure to LGBTQ advocacy.
4: Learn more about community programs that can provide support for LGBTQ individuals
5: Gain insight into how research can help illuminate and address LGBTQ health issues	• Pathway students complete scholarly projects that focus on LGBTQ issues, with mentorship from experienced researchers and providers of LGBTQ healthcare.	• Clerkships at sites focusing on LGBTQ healthcare provide students opportunities to apply their scholarly work to clinical practice.
6: Learn to deliver non-judgmental care through understanding and empathy for LGBTQ patients	• Online modules introduce students to the importance of understanding and empathy when caring for LGBTQ patients. • Through pre-clinical coursework, students learn from LGBTQ patient panels and patient narratives about experiences and needs of LGBTQ individuals navigating the healthcare system.	• Students develop empathy for LGBTQ patients through continuous interactions with LGBTQ individuals in clinical settings. • Mentorship from experienced clinicians allows students to learn from mistakes, observe culturally competent care, and develop a deeper understanding of LGBTQ patient experiences.