Our Interview With Stacie Walls, CEO at LGBT Life Center

Inspira Advantage recently interviewed Stacie Walls, the CEO at LGBT Life Center. LGBT Life Center is an organization helping LGBTQ+ communities and all individuals living with HIV through improving health and wellness, supporting families and community, and providing transformative education and advocacy. Learn how our med school admissions consulting services can help you gain admission to medical school today.

What makes the work at LGBT Life Center unique in advancing LGBTQ health and equity?‍

At LGBT Life Center, our work is rooted in the understanding that health is more than a doctor’s visit—it’s housing, food security, mental well-being, and being affirmed for who you are. What makes us unique is that we provide wraparound services that treat people as whole individuals, not just as patients. We also know LGBTQ+ care is more than HIV or STI prevention—it’s comprehensive, affirming care across every aspect of health. By lifting LGBTQ+ voices and lived experiences in everything we do, we’re closing gaps in access and making sure the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities in Hampton Roads thrive.

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

The best providers start with humility and curiosity. Inclusive care isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about listening, respecting, and learning from your patients’ lived experiences. Future doctors and healthcare leaders should practice empathy, use affirming language, and challenge the systems that exclude or stigmatize LGBTQ+ and HIV+ individuals. Most importantly, they must recognize that LGBTQ+ care is more than sexual health—it’s comprehensive care that supports the whole person. That means being willing to adapt: learning about gender-affirming care, understanding the impact of social determinants of health, and recognizing that housing, safety, and equity are inseparable from healthcare. When providers approach care with compassion and a commitment to equity, they create environments where LGBTQ+ and HIV+ patients feel safe, seen, and respected.

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