Dustin Nowaskie– OutCare Health Network
June is #PRIDEMonth, a time to celebrate love, unity and inclusion. This month, Herd Strategies is celebrating PRIDE by sharing the stories of #ChangeAgents that work and fight for our LGBTQIA+ community today and every day. This week, we interviewed Dustin Nowaskie, MD, Founder and President of OutCare Health. Dr. Nowaskie is a queer, nonbinary psychiatrist whose passion for helping LGBTQ+ communities led to the creation of an online resource that seeks to create a world where every LGBTQ+ person has access to quality healthcare.
Q: What first made you realize that there was/is a need for a service like OutCare?
A: Recognizing the need for OutCare was an early revelation for me, stemming from personal encounters with the healthcare system during my adolescence, where I grappled with feelings of discomfort and lack of support. These experiences were further compounded by instances of discrimination within both societal and healthcare frameworks, igniting a fear of stigma that persisted even as I embarked on my medical education. It was the firsthand experience within these flawed systems that intensified my resolve to champion an enhanced and equitable national healthcare service for LGBTQ+ communities.
Q: We see you have a mentorship program. How have you seen the impact of this program on the LGBTQ community?
A: OutCare's Mentorship Program is such a vital resource for LGBTQ+ people. OutCare Mentors (over 100 and counting!) are LGBTQ+ affirming people who provide advice in school, career, research, and life pursuits. We receive weekly requests for mentors and have heard wonderful stories of appreciation.
Q: How can healthcare providers become a part of the OutCare network?
A: There are multiple avenues for providers to become a part of the OutCare network, including joining the OutList directory of LGBTQ+ affirming providers (outcarehealth.org/join), taking OutCare's on-demand LGBTQ+ training (outcarehealth.org/training), joining the OutTalk series on diversity and intersectionality (outcarehealth.org/outtalk), and becoming an OutCare Mentor (outcarehealth.org/mentorship). There's also multiple opportunities for providers to inform patients about OutCare's free community programming and services (more information is at outcarehealth.org/provider-solutions).
Q: How can communities support OutCare initiatives and help build awareness of the various resources and available training?
A: Communities can bolster OutCare initiatives by actively participating in and promoting the diverse range of resources and training opportunities we offer. By volunteering with OutCare, individuals across the nation can facilitate essential dialogues within local communities about the array of services we provide. To get involved, folx can simply express their interest at info@outcarehealth.org.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share?
A: OutCare's vision is to create a world where every LGBTQ+ person has access to quality healthcare and feels empowered to live their healthiest, most authentic life. We hear you, we welcome you, and we support you. Come join us!
To keep up with Dustin’s work, follow OutCare Health on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn or visit their website.
