LGBTQ Center for Health Excellence

One in ten people in the U.S. are LGBTQ, and this population will grow as that number is twice as high among young people. LGBTQ people experience widespread discrimination resulting in adverse physical and mental health. Public health is key to addressing these inequities; however, the field lacks the infrastructure to prepare learners to have the necessary skills to protect the health of this marginalized population and to be leaders in the field.

The LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

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Mission

Advance health equity for LGBTQ communities

Approach

Working with partners across Harvard and around the world, we focus on training to prepare the next generation of LGBTQ health leaders, research to expand the evidence base of LGBTQ health, and dissemination to inform policymakers, healthcare providers, and the larger public about how to improve LGBTQ health most effectively.

Leadership

Brittany Charlton
Founding Director, LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence; Associate Professor, Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

“Ongoing discrimination and an unprecedented wave of legal, political, and societal threats is inflicting severe damage on the mental and physical health of LGBTQ people. We need more funding for research to document the resulting health inequities, more training for health professionals to recognize and address the unique needs of the LGBTQ community, and a stronger focus on developing and promoting policies to support the equality, dignity, and humanity of every human being. The need is urgent, and the time is now.”

Events

Project 2025’s threat to LGBTQ health equity

September 23rd, 1 pm–1:50 pm | Kresge 502 | Lunch will be served

Project 2025—a blueprint for a second Trump Administration—contains harsh, dehumanizing language about LGBTQ people and proposes to criminalize efforts to support LGBT and questioning youth. This presentation will focus on proposals that would affect the rights and safety of LGBTQ people, health equity, racial and gender equity, and sexual and reproductive health—including HIV and STI prevention and care.

Featuring guest speaker Sean Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research, Fenway Health

Affiliates

AFFILIATED FACULTY

Jarvis Chen, Senior Lecturer and Associate Director of the Population Health Sciences PhD Program, Harvard Chan School
Christy Denckla, Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard Chan School
Heather Eliassen, Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard Chan School
Sebastian Haneuse, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies of Biostatistics, Harvard Chan School
Douglas Krakower, Associate Professor in the Division of Therapeutics Research and Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Julia Marcus, Associate Professor in the Division of Therapeutics Research and Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Margaret McConnell, Associate Professor of Global Health Economics, Harvard Chan School
Alecia McGregor, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Politics, Harvard Chan School
Vanessa McMahan, Assistant Professor in the Division of Therapeutics Research and Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Alon Peltz, Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Insurance Research, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Shoba Ramanadhan,  Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard Chan School
Deepali Ravel,  Lecturer and Director of Education for the HMS-HSPH Curricular Initiative on Racism in Health and Scientific Research, Harvard Chan School
Natalie Slopen,  Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard Chan School
Jessica Young, Associate Professor in the Division of Biostatistics, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

INTERNAL ACADEMIC COUNCIL

S. Bryn Austin, Professor of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital
Elizabeth Boskey, Instructor of Surgery and Co-Director of Research in the Division of Gynecology, Boston Children’s Hospital
Frances Grimstad, Gynecologist and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Boston Children’s Hospital
OP Hamnvik, Associate Professor of Medicine and Program Director of Endocrinology Fellowship, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Kenneth Mayer, Co-Director of The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health; Professor of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Timothy McCarthy, Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Faculty Chair of the Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program, Harvard Kennedy School
Shail Maingi, Hematologist, Medical Oncologist, and Palliative Care Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Jennifer Potter, Co-Director of The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health; Professor of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Sarah Richardson, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University
Meredith Rosenthal, Professor of Health Economics and Policy, Harvard Chan School; Director of the Health Policy Program PhD and Faculty Chair of Advanced Leadership Initiative, Harvard University
Jennifer Siegel, Medical Director of the Transgender Health Program, Massachusetts General Hospital

EXTERNAL ACADEMIC COUNCIL

Kitt Carpenter, Professor and Founder of Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, Vanderbilt University
Tonda Hughes, Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, Columbia University School of Nursing
Mitchell Lunn, Associate Professor and Co-Director of The PRIDE Study, Stanford University School of Medicine
Sarah McCarthy, Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health
Brian Mustanski, Professor and Director of the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Stephen Russell, Professor and Chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
Scout, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Cancer Network
Alex Shelton, Executive Director, GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality

HARVARD ALUMNI COUNCIL

Bill Bean, MPH ’ 11, Health Policy and Management
Ivan Hsiao, MPH ’24, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Alberto Inzulza Galdames, MPH ’24, Global Health and Population
Gabriel Murchison, PhD ’21, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Corey Prachniak, MPH ’ 16, Health Policy and Management
Gabriel Schwartz, PhD ’20, Social and Behavioral Sciences

ADVISORY BOARD

In formation

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS

Payal Chakraborty, Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Aimee Huang, Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Landon Hughes, Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Sarah McKetta, Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Colleen Reynolds, Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Kodiak Soled, Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Michelle Tam, Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Nicholas Andrysiak, SM candidate, Epidemiology
Jessica Broach, SM ’24, Epidemiology
Mary-Frances Hall, MPH ’23, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Victoria Kolbuck, MPH ’24, Epidemiology
Alexis Miranda, PhD candidate, Epidemiology
Chinelo Njubigbo, SM ’23, Epidemiology
Jennifer Trebbin, MPH candidate
Ana Warner, MPH candidate in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Claire Wynne, MPH candidate in Health Policy and Management

STAFF

Isa Berzansky, Research Analyst, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Tabor Hoatson, Research Analyst, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Banapsha Rahman, Project Coordinator, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Denise Simon, Senior Project Manager, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

Training

Student Scholarships
The LGBTQ Health Equity Fellowship supports tuition for students focused on LGBTQ health. Inaugural fellows: Inkyu Kang, MPH candidate in Quantitative Methods; Ishan Saha, MPH candidate in Health Policy

Mentoring Program
To address the needs of professionals focused on LGBTQ health, we have adapted some of the best mentoring practices and evidence-based curricula into three parallel programs—one for faculty mentors, one for emerging mentors including fellows, and one for student mentees. The next faculty, fellow, and student cohorts will be selected in 2024–2025.

Courses
Several courses led by faculty at Harvard Chan School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute already include LGBTQ health content. New courses—such as those focused on LGBTQ research methods—are in development for the upcoming academic year.

Service or Innovation Projects
Funding is available to support community-engaged service projects or innovation projects. Inaugural awardees will be selected in 2024–2025.

Faculty Development Training
In teaching, faculty must ensure their curricula, pedagogy, and classroom environment are LGBTQ-inclusive. A new training is in development that will help faculty learn to do this most effectively.

Dean’s Working Group
With support from the Dean’s Office at Harvard Chan School, this working group includes members from across the School and aims to advise leadership on fostering inclusivity and enhance training, research, and dissemination opportunities related to LGBTQ health. Inaugural leaders: Brittany Charlton and Jarvis Chen, faculty; and Kimberly Harris, staff.

Research

Field Practice Projects
Funding is available to support field practice projects related to LGBTQ health. This could include support for a practicum, field immersion, or fieldwork. Inaugural awardee: Nepantla Canizzo

Research Projects
Funding is available to support research projects related to LGBTQ health. Inaugural awardee: Payal Chakraborty

Conference Stipends
Conference stipends support students and postdocs presenting, organizing, or moderating at professional conferences. Inaugural awardees: Claire Wynne, Landon Hughes

Dissemination

Public Events
There is a rich tradition of public events in the center’s two parent organizations. Examples include the 2023 Harvard Chan School Alumni Weekend and the 2022–2023 seminar series on LGBTQ reproductive health. Several new events are in development for the coming year.

Community Gatherings
Connecting our students, staff, faculty, and postdocs to one another through community gatherings can help reduce isolation, provide support and resources, allow people to find role models, and form a sense of community and belonging. Several events are in development for the coming year.

LGBTQ Health Voices Fellowship
This fellowship aims to increase the impact of LGBTQ public health leaders by amplifying their voices and shaping the public discourse. Fellows will learn to engage the public about LGBTQ health issues including via op-eds, social media content strategy, and more. Inaugural fellows: Ash Alpert, Nicholas Andrysiak, Tabor Hoatson, Ivan Hsiao, Anna Hu, Jade Lin, Jack MacDonald, Sarah McKetta, Corey Prachniak, and Tina Purnat.

Commencement Awards
The LGBTQ Health Equity Award recognizes the work of students, faculty, staff, or postdocs who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting and improving health for LGBTQ people. The award is presented annually during the School’s awards celebration at Commencement. Inaugural winners: S. Bryn Austin, faculty; Colleen Reynolds, student.

Additional Harvard Resources in the Longwood Medical Area

School-wide offices
Harvard Chan Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Harvard Medical School Office of Recruitment and Multicultural Affairs

LGBTQ and allied faculty and staff
Harvard Chan School
Harvard Medical School

Medical education
Harvard Medical School LGBTQ Societal Theme

Student groups
Harvard Chan Student Sexuality and Gender Association
Harvard Chan Intersex and Trans Justice Student Society
Harvard Medical School LAHMS

Public health education
Women, Gender, and Health Interdisciplinary Concentration

Support us

Join us in achieving health equity for LGBTQ people. We have several ways that you can contribute.

“We need to cultivate a new generation of LGBTQ leaders. We need their expertise, innovation, and fresh perspectives to enact real change. There’s an opportunity at Harvard to make a lasting impact on our community.” —Michael Dillon, Former PwC Partner and Chief Diversity Officer

Make a gift through Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

Please send your check payable to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute with ‘LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence’ in the memo to: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute Program Donations, PO Box 411873, Boston, MA 02241.

Make a gift through Harvard Chan School

Please send your check payable to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health with ‘LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence’ in the memo to: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, DBA President and Fellows of Harvard College, PO Box 411873, Boston, MA 02241.

You can also give online using the “Select a Fund” menu. Select the entry titled “Other” and enter in the text box: LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence.

Additional opportunities

You can also support us via credit card, wire, or by donating securities, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, making a bequest, creating a charitable annuity or trust, or directing a donor-advised fund or family foundation grant by calling Harvard University’s Alumni and Development Services Office at (617) 495-1750.

Partner with us

Please contact us at lgbtqhealthexcellence@hsph.harvard.edu to find out how to partner with us.