Increasing Awareness and Support
Join us October 17 to 21, 2022 to bring awareness of LGBTQIA+ people and their oral health to the broader dental and public health communities, create community support, and offer resources, educational materials, and advocacy opportunities. Each day will feature a new theme with activities to elevate all community voices. Pledge to support health equity for all.
Schedule
Monday: LGBTQIA+ Terminology
Tuesday: LGBTQIA+ Stories in Oral Health
Wednesday: Creating Inclusion
Thursday: Destimatizing LGBTQIA+ Oral Health Care (register here)
Friday: LGBTQIA+ Advocacy
Resources
During the dental visit, oral health professionals can foster a safe, inclusive environment for patients. That starts with terminology -- a foundational aspect of LGBTQIA+ health equity and education.
Stories
Jacob Smith, DDS (he/him): “Part of treating fellow members of the LGBTQIA+ community is understanding that their motivations may be different. Understanding someone’s identity is much more than a pronoun. When you meet a person where they are and listen to their story, you can understand more about them and make them feel comfortable using the information they volunteer. What is important is relating to the patient that they are worthy of care, worthy of freedom from pain, and worthy of feeling their best.”.
Jen Kopp, BHS, RDH (she/her): “Whenever I have a LGBTQ+ patient in my chair and I let them know I am part of the family, they instantly relax. There is a sense of camaraderie and understanding. I hope all my dental LGBTQ+ colleagues live out loud and proud. The youth is looking to us to show them it is safe to be themselves, and hopefully they can build upon the strides already made.”
Webinar
Partners
