Dr. Helene Hedian will be the inaugural Assistant Vice Chair for LGBTQ+ Equity and Education for the Department of Medicine. In her new role, she will represent the DOM for LGBTQ+ matters in the School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Health System as well as establish and lead the DOM LGBTQ+ Equity and Health Education Council.
Dr. Hedian is an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine and director of clinical education for the Johns Hopkins Center for Transgender Health. She earned her medical degree at the University of Maryland in 2012 before completing an internal medicine residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center where she served as chief resident. She joined Hopkins as an assistant professor in 2016. Since then, she has served as a clinical coach for the Barker Firm of the Osler Medical Residency and provided gender-affirming primary care to patients through the Center for Transgender Health since it opened in 2017. Her research focuses on provider attitudes and knowledge regarding LGBTQ+ health with the goal of expanding competent and compassionate healthcare practices. In order to support primary care providers who prescribe gender-affirming hormones, she authored the Quick Guide: Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy by the Primary Care Provider, which has been downloaded by users in countries across the globe.
Dr. Hedian’s new role will combine her interests in internal medicine, medical education and the health needs of LGBTQ+ patients. She will collaborate with the JHM Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity in the planning, implementation, execution and evaluation of all LGBTQ+ related equity and education initiatives and programs. She will also conduct a needs assessment to identify key gaps in support and education initiatives in the DOM and develop relevant initiatives and programs.
In order to best meet the needs of our faculty, staff, trainees and patients, we must continue to grow and evolve. As we evaluate and restructure our vice chair team, diversity remains a top priority. We look forward to the creation of the DOM LGBTQ+ Equity and Health Education Council and Dr. Hedian’s leadership. More information about how to join the council will be forthcoming.
