Our Interview With Henry Young, Program & Communications Director at OutCare Health

Inspira Advantage interviewed Henry Young, the Program & Communications Director at OutCare Health, a nonprofit for LGBTQ+ health equity worldwide, with a dedicated focus on advancing support for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex (TGI) communities.

What makes the work at OutCare unique in advancing LGBTQ health and equity?

OutCare’s commitment to a holistic approach in advancing LGBTQ+ health and equity is what makes it unique. The OutList, which is our database of affirming providers, paired with our training for healthcare professionals, in addition to our research, combine to advance health equity for our communities. We are providing access to affirming healthcare through the OutList, for which we have a robust vetting system. We’re not scraping names of doctors from online lists. We don’t allow bulk uploads. Providers have to come directly to us and be fully vetted before we add them, so patients can really trust when they come to us they will find affirming care.

We connect that with our training which we provide to healthcare professionals across the country. This helps to increase the amount of providers who are able to give affirming care to patients from the LGBTQ+ community. Finally, we’re conducting research to push equitable healthcare forward and ensure that providers have the information they need to provide the best care that they can. All of these initiatives work in concert to comprehensively create more equitable healthcare.

What lessons or qualities should future doctors and healthcare leaders develop if they want to provide more inclusive care?

Future doctors and healthcare leaders should develop an openness to understanding, a commitment to education, and a deep capacity for respect. As someone seeking to provide equitable and affirming care for others you need to be open to that person’s experience and be willing to understand how to adapt your practice to suit their unique needs. In order to do that successfully, you need to be committed to continuing to educate yourself throughout your career.

As healthcare progresses we continue to develop new and better understanding of how to deliver affirming care for diverse populations of every stripe. However, the value that drives all of this work is undeniably respect. The ability to respect your patient’s identity and their needs is paramount. This combination of empathy, scholarship, and respect is what future doctors and healthcare leaders need to develop if they want to provide more inclusive care.

Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Henry Young to help pre-med students understand the importance of culturally responsive care and inclusive support for diverse communities.