AMSA teaches "LGBT Acceptance: 101" to New York Medical College

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation's largest, independent medical student organization, is outraged at the recent action by New York Medical College (NYMC) to ban a student group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and has organized an on-campus "teach-in" entitled, "LGBT Acceptance: 101," on Thursday, January 27, 2005.

At the start of the academic year, the LGBT student group, previously named, Student Support Group, changed its name to the "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender People in Medicine." Due to the modification, the NYMC administration revoked the charter, taking away funding and other benefits. Dr. Ralph O'Connell, NYMC provost and dean states, "�it was clear that the organization and its leader would advocate and promote activities inconsistent with the values of NYMC."

O'Connell has not responded to formal meeting requests from AMSA or the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.

Last week, Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Westchester County Health Commissioner and NYMC professor, resigned his faculty status at the college to protest the school's decision. Lipsman is invited to address the students at Thursday's event.

"The actions taken by NYMC are inconsistent with the goals of medical education. Instead of creating more discrimination, there needs to be awareness of the health needs of LGBT patients," says Dr. Brian Palmer, AMSA national president. "By disbanding its LGBT student group, NYMC harms both its own students and their future patients. Prospective students should seriously evaluate the quality of medical education they would receive at a school that openly discriminates."

AMSA consists of many subgroups, including a national committee for LGBT people in medicine. The organization's Student Bill of Rights includes both the right of students to organize themselves and the right to be free from discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as race, age, religion, disability, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

"Medical education must provide opportunities that reduce bias and enhance tolerance and understanding in order to eliminate health disparities," continues Palmer.

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