In celebration of Pride, CHEA would like to highlight Rosemary (Rose) Thomas, MPH, CHES (she/her), the Associate Director of Penn Medicine Program for LGBTQ Health, as well as CHEA’s Director of Operations. 

Rose has been working with the LGBTQ Health Program since 2015, and has been pivotal to the program’s success. She has been especially instrumental in standardizing the collection of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Data at Penn Medicine. 

The LGBTQ Health Program has been recognized as a leader in LGBTQ healthcare equality by the Human Rights Campaign. The program seeks to support and improve care for LGBTQ populations. It focuses on institutional climate and visibility, health education, research, patient care, and community outreach. 

We would also like to highlight LZ Mathews, MSW (they/them), patient navigator for the LGBTQ Health Program. They work primarily with transgender and gender diverse patients to ensure their care needs are met and that they have an affirming care experience at Penn Medicine. 

The work done by Rose, LZ, and all staff and providers within the LGBTQ Health Program are critical to assuring LGBTQ populations at Penn Medicine experience the best care we can provide.

Celebration of Pride does not begin and end in June! Year-round, we should be championing and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community. 

This month, check out Pride-related events taking place across Penn Medicine.