Our Interview With Josh Blakesley, M. Div., Executive Director at The Welcome Project PA

Inspira Advantage recently interviewed Josh Blakesley, M. Div., the Executive Director at The Welcome Project PA. Learn how our med school admissions consulting services can help you gain admission to medical school today.

What makes the work at Welcome Project PA unique in advancing LGBTQ health and equity?

‍Our unique approach is to pair medical students, doctors, and nurses with members of our training cohort who identify as nonbinary or trans. In our training programs, our panels speak directly to healthcare best practices, what they want healthcare providers to know, and what factors contribute to better healthcare outcomes and gender-affirming care. Our cohort also answers questions of medical students and doctors, so as to address the questions that they have more specifically and to implement changes in real time. Moreover, our 7 adult LGBT+ Support Groups combat isolation and curate spaces for belonging, building of resiliency, and increased agency.

What are some of your recent initiatives that have contributed to more inclusive healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community?

‍Our training program and cohort, as mentioned above. More specifically, our documentary film "See Me, Hear Me, Know Me" and accompanying training video that tells the story of our training cohort and highlights the work of our org to improve access to gender-affirming care for trans, nonbinary, and intersex patients. Also, our Healthcare Symposium with Drexel Univ. College of Medicine trains more than 200 medical students each year.

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

‍The first lesson is simple--treat each patient with dignity and respect, and address the healthcare needs they are seeing you for. This means not focusing on someone's sexuality or gender expression, and more on the whole person and their healthcare outcomes. More inclusive care is also visible, meaning that intake forms, office spaces, etc. can reflect a welcoming environment with appropriate pronoun use and options, specific info for LGBT+ patients, and bathrooms that are gender-inclusive.

Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Josh Blakesley, M. Div. to help pre-med students understand the importance of culturally responsive care and inclusive support for diverse communities.