The decision to come out is a deeply personal one — one in which the advice and expertise of trained and compassionate professionals may be of value. That’s why Summa Health recently sat down with medical professionals from its Pride Clinic to discuss tips on how to come out and tell your friends and family who you really are. On the flip side, there are ways friends and family can show support when their loved ones come out and share this personal journey with them.  Scott...

Read more

Dr. Hite discusses HIV and AIDS, explains how the infection progresses, answers frequently asked questions, and reminds viewers about prevention and treatment options.

Read more

Join us as we explore PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a powerful tool in preventing HIV infection. We'll cover its definition and remarkable effectiveness in reducing the risk of HIV transmission.

Listen now

While serving patients at Summa Health, I often ask them, “What is it like to be you?” It is a provocative question, but a crucial one to encourage conversation beyond the normal boundaries of polite conversation. You see, the patients I visit often have a diagnosis or prognosis that is terminal, and the news shatters their sense of identity. Patients may wonder, Who will I become if I can’t provide? What is my worth if I can no longer perform the duties that make me valuable...

Read more

We talk about tips on how to go about telling friends and family. And for friends and family, ways to show support when loved ones share with you.

Listen now

Anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can support the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) community. But being an ally of this population takes action. Allies work to stay informed on current LGBT issues and events. They speak up for what’s right and they support equality by fighting for policies that protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination. Allies are important and welcomed supporters of the LGBTQ movement, as they...

Read more

All of us rely on healthcare services at one time or another — and many of us take them for granted. But the sad truth is in today’s world, access to medical advice and treatment isn’t equal. It is true LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) individuals face health disparities in a number of ways. As a result, this community is at a higher risk for certain medical conditions, has less access to healthcare and experiences worse health outcomes than their...

Read more

LGBTQ individuals are almost three times more likely than others to experience a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety and LGBTQ individuals have a higher rate of suicide as compared to those in the general population. Much of this is due to minority stress. Minority stress within the LGBTQ community stems from a variety of factors including social stigma, discrimination, prejudice, denial of civil and human rights, abuse, harassment, victimization, social...

Read more

The medical definition of sexual orientation is “an enduring, emotional, romantic or sexual attraction that one feels toward men or women, or both.” While this definition may suffice for the purposes of education, one truth I have learned is there is no single definition that can encompass all of human sexual orientation, identity or gender identity. Summa Health is an inclusive healthcare provider whose mission is to provide the right access to the right care for the...

Read more