NEOMED’s Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA) chapter has set out to inform and educate future health care professionals about the unique experiences and needs of the queer community. Second-year College of Pharmacy student and MSPA treasurer Jade Natali shares more about the student organization.
Tell us about MSPA.
JN: The Medical Student Pride Alliance is an activist and social organization committed to empowering sexual and gender minority health care students and allies, increasing the number of providers trained in LGBTQ+ inclusive health care, and addressing the unique needs of queer communities through research, advocacy, education and service.
Who serves on the NEOMED chapter MSPA’s board?
JN: Please email any of us any time if you want support, or if you are interested in joining. We would love to hear from you!
- Dominic Bucci, M2, president (he/him/his)
- Alex Tang, M2, vice president (he/him/his)
- Lance Reidenbach, M2, secretary (he/him/his)
- Jade Natali, P2, treasurer (she/her/hers)
- Nicholas Osborne, 3rd year M.D./Ph.D. program, graduate student representative/former president (he/him/his)
Can any student join MSPA?
JN: Yes! It began as a medical student club, but NEOMED has expanded it as an all-inclusive club that encourages pharmacy, medicine and graduate students.
Why do you encourage students to join MSPA?
JN: It is a great interprofessional club aimed at educating us as future providers. It will be great for networking, as we plan to have many health care providers come and speak to us. It is of utmost importance to support our LGBTQ+ community here at NEOMED. We must be present for each other and for our future patients!
Tell us your plans for the 2020-2021 academic year.
JN: We plan on having more diverse speakers, since now, no geographical location is a problem for us! We plan to have guest speakers and panels of health care providers and patients to learn about potential pathways in health care to provide care for the LGBTQ+ community and learn about patients’ experiences navigating health care to find proper care.
Photo L to R: Dominic Bucci, Alex Tang, Lance Reidenbach, Jade Natali, Nicholas Osborne