Best DO school for queer students?

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I have never heard of allies not being permitted in any group...I'm sure your support would be welcomed.

livedie said:
Do you have to be LGBT to join these groups? I mean are the LGBT accepting of heterosexuals in the group?
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How do you find out if your medical school has a LGBT club? On interviews I have never heard these clubs mentioned, but they have mentioned others.
 
livedie said:
How do you find out if your medical school has a LGBT club? On interviews I have never heard these clubs mentioned, but they have mentioned others.
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Check websites or call the school. If you have a question about a specific school you can also ask here on the pre-do forums I'm sure one of us would be more than happy to help you and give you more information!
 
livedie said:
Do you have to be LGBT to join these groups? I mean are the LGBT accepting of heterosexuals in the group?
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At Western, the clubs are open to anybody, including heterosexual students supportive of the cause. The club also recently had a lecture given by a professor regarding health concerns specific the LGBT community that was open to everybody.
 
TILalot said:
When visiting Touro-CA for my interview I arrived a few days early to check out the campus on my own. Almost every faculty had a sticker that said "Touro, a safe place" with a rainbow in the background. I think you'll be alright there, even though there was a scandal
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It's true. TUCOM-Ca is a very open and accepting environment to both LGBTI students and faculty. I know there has been talks about rough patches in the past (which I'm not well-versed on) but I know our Gay-Straight Alliance Club is going strong and seeing from our campus community there don't appear to be any problems.
 
GotMyHairDid said:
Check websites or call the school. If you have a question about a specific school you can also ask here on the pre-do forums I'm sure one of us would be more than happy to help you and give you more information!
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Thank you its a MD school, and I will check the school's website. I hope eveyone there is as friendly and supportive as this thread. ( well most people are cool)
 
I just saw this thread and am surprised no one corrected the statement
"WVSOM it's rural" implying that it is not an environment supportive of diversity. In fact, a Gay Straight Alliance formed this year on campus, there was a lot of involvement by faculty and administrators as well as students, and I feel as an institution, WVSOM is a very nurturing community and accepting of LGBT students. (ok, I'm from the southeast and that is the correct phrase here 🙂 A handful of the student body was less accepting of the group, but generally that was not the case. I WOULD say that there is a problem for family members, children in the school system in particular, as there is much less acceptance there. Actually doing some public education and reaching out to make the school a safer place and combat bullying is one of the main aims of our GSA.
 
Neon Goat said:
I can assure everyone that UNECOM is queer friendly. Some students have started a queer awareness medical club and they have support from the faculty (the faculty club sponsor) and administration (who approved it) and SGA who voted on it.

Also, queer is not only UNoffensive, it's the most appropriate word. Learned that in the first meeting on how to interact with a queer patient as their primary care provider. I also thought it sounded weird at first 🙂
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The most appropriate word? Says who? So bizarre to label and segregate a group who has been fighting these exact things for such a long time. 😕
 
HooahDOc said:
Why is this an issue? I thought you were going to medical school to learn medicine, not join a club to let everyone know you're gay.
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You take your common sense and get out. GET OUT.

I don't really understand it either. I don't give a damn what people want to do in the privacy of their own homes, so these clubs just seem like a form of self segregation to me. What's the point? It seems like it does little more than further alienate people that already disapprove. Honestly, making clubs and having tons of random activites (lgbt week, gay pride parade, blah blah) seems a bit like an unhealthy obsession with rubbing everyone's face in your sexuality.

edit: Is it just to convince people to come out or what?
 
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No offense to you all, but I'm kind of worried that you all want to be doctors, and you are painfully unaware of major aspects of people's lives (that directly impact their health). The importance for me of going to a place where there is a visible queer community is because I need to go to a school where I feel safe. Maybe many of you have not had the experience of walking by fraternity houses every night and being harassed and physically assaulted, but I have, and so have many others in my community (this is one small example of many). I also need to go to a school where I feel comfortable with my partner being able to be present where that is appropriate (funny how no one jumps down the throat of parents on this community, when they ask what schools are located in communities where it is safe to raise children and where their heterosexual spouses can be involved in school functions, but when I do, people blow up and tell me to keep my personal life at home). Having queer organizations in medical school is not about shoving it down anyone's face. I honestly do not care if people know I am queer, or not. What I do care about is that I have a place where I can go to talk about my experiences and heal (its like an informal version of therapy more or less). A group of like-minded people who have endured the same struggles I have, and who I can just socialize with, or who I can work with to educate the hetero folks of the world, that our oppression still is a daily struggle for some of us. I wish this was an issue that was just about my conduct in the privacy of my own home, but even though I am a very masculine male, I still face intimidation, harassment and violence because of my queer identity (how people know is a completely separate conversation). Honestly, if you all do not understand why I am asking for this feedback, then please, keep your mouths shut and do not post your ignorance on this blog. I have sincere interests in asking, and it is a topic of deep concern for me. Once again, if you do not have a productive way to respond on SDN, do not respond at all. You all need to learn some tact. If you genuinely do not understand why I am asking, then you can simply say "in my experience I have not encountered sexual orientation to be an issue, could you explain why you are concerned so that I can better understand?" There is nothing wrong with a response like this, but instead, we see people respond rather harshly and inappropriately...Listening and asking the right questions is a valuable skill...I think you all need to step back and appreciate that a little more.










kcin said:
You take your common sense and get out. GET OUT.

I don't really understand it either. I don't give a damn what people want to do in the privacy of their own homes, so these clubs just seem like a form of self segregation to me. What's the point? It seems like it does little more than further alienate people that already disapprove. Honestly, making clubs and having tons of random activites (lgbt week, gay pride parade, blah blah) seems a bit like an unhealthy obsession with rubbing everyone's face in your sexuality.

edit: Is it just to convince people to come out or what?
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guydudcl371 said:
No offense to you all, but I'm kind of worried that you all want to be doctors, and you are painfully unaware of major aspects of people's lives (that directly impact their health). The importance for me of going to a place where there is a visible queer community is because I need to go to a school where I feel safe. Maybe many of you have not had the experience of walking by fraternity houses every night and being harassed and physically assaulted, but I have, and so have many others in my community (this is one small example of many). I also need to go to a school where I feel comfortable with my partner being able to be present where that is appropriate (funny how no one jumps down the throat of parents on this community, when they ask what schools are located in communities where it is safe to raise children and where their heterosexual spouses can be involved in school functions, but when I do, people blow up and tell me to keep my personal life at home). Having queer organizations in medical school is not about shoving it down anyone's face. I honestly do not care if people know I am queer, or not. What I do care about is that I have a place where I can go to talk about my experiences and heal (its like an informal version of therapy more or less). A group of like-minded people who have endured the same struggles I have, and who I can just socialize with, or who I can work with to educate the hetero folks of the world, that our oppression still is a daily struggle for some of us. I wish this was an issue that was just about my conduct in the privacy of my own home, but even though I am a very masculine male, I still face intimidation, harassment and violence because of my queer identity (how people know is a completely separate conversation). Honestly, if you all do not understand why I am asking for this feedback, then please, keep your mouths shut and do not post your ignorance on this blog. I have sincere interests in asking, and it is a topic of deep concern for me. Once again, if you do not have a productive way to respond on SDN, do not respond at all. You all need to learn some tact. If you genuinely do not understand why I am asking, then you can simply say "in my experience I have not encountered sexual orientation to be an issue, could you explain why you are concerned so that I can better understand?" There is nothing wrong with a response like this, but instead, we see people respond rather harshly and inappropriately...Listening and asking the right questions is a valuable skill...I think you all need to step back and appreciate that a little more.
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I don't think anyone here needs to be lectured on the where's and what's of discrimination. I know it exists, but I also understand why it endures.

Why walk by the frat houses if you're going to get harassed everyday and everynight? Go a different route? I'm not sure why this didn't occur to you as a good idea. We all know frat guys are immature douches.

I have read this whole thread and there have been many productive posts. In fact, you asked for experiences and were given experience feedback by homosexual and heterosexual pre-meds, medical students, and residents. Calling their opinions ignorant is in itself ignorant. Don't agree? That's your prerogative, but to stereotype them as sheltered hetero's or clueless homo's just because they don't share your opinion is a freaking joke and extremely hypocritical. Everyone has a different story to tell. Just because it may not been sexually involved doesn't mean no blood or tears were shed. In other words, man or woman up and grow a thicker skin, you're clearly overly sensitive.

Also, this has nothing to do with questioning skills. It isn't my responsibility to ask you a billion questions. You aren't some patient I'm trying to diagnose. Get in, ask your own damn questions, get the answers you need, and get out.

FYI: this post reeks of productive feedback.
 
guydudcl371 said:
No offense to you all, but I'm kind of worried that you all want to be doctors, and you are painfully unaware of major aspects of people's lives (that directly impact their health).
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One last thing. Saying "no offense" before you bash someone is worse than just bashing them. This implies you think that I'm stupid enough to not take offense. 👎

Just say what you need to say and get on with it. 👍
 
Iswhatis said:
The most appropriate word? Says who? So bizarre to label and segregate a group who has been fighting these exact things for such a long time. 😕
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Different GLBTQ groups have different standards for what they find offensive and what they find completely normal. It's likely a regional thing.
 
I am a DO student at Touro-CA. We have an active LGBTA group on campus and my impression is that everyone feels safe and respected on campus, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identification.

Whatever the scandal was in the past, it has been a non-issue amongst students and faculty (this post was the first I had heard about it). Feel free to message me with any questions.

Also, please read this if you are still in the dark about the word queer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer
 
Iswhatis said:
I don't think anyone here needs to be lectured on the where's and what's of discrimination. I know it exists, but I also understand why it endures.

Why walk by the frat houses if you're going to get harassed everyday and everynight? Go a different route? I'm not sure why this didn't occur to you as a good idea. We all know frat guys are immature douches.

I have read this whole thread and there have been many productive posts. In fact, you asked for experiences and were given experience feedback by homosexual and heterosexual pre-meds, medical students, and residents. Calling their opinions ignorant is in itself ignorant. Don't agree? That's your prerogative, but to stereotype them as sheltered hetero's or clueless homo's just because they don't share your opinion is a freaking joke and extremely hypocritical. Everyone has a different story to tell. Just because it may not been sexually involved doesn't mean no blood or tears were shed. In other words, man or woman up and grow a thicker skin, you're clearly overly sensitive.

Also, this has nothing to do with questioning skills. It isn't my responsibility to ask you a billion questions. You aren't some patient I'm trying to diagnose. Get in, ask your own damn questions, get the answers you need, and get out.

FYI: this post reeks of productive feedback.
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Honestly.. I'd agree with the OP on almost all of his comments. However the OP is way too arrogant and seriously imposing.. It makes sympathizing with him extremely difficult. Especially if he basically continues to act as some lecturer towards everyone.
 
Iswhatis said:
Why walk by the frat houses if you're going to get harassed everyday and everynight? Go a different route? I'm not sure why this didn't occur to you as a good idea. We all know frat guys are immature douches.

.
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Wow talk about a closed view on life. Rather than stereotyping (as you CLEARLY are in this case), maybe you should think about how you feel when people stereo type queer students. I was in a fraternity and I am dam proud. I was surrounded by people who have gone far in life (academically, financially, w.e you consider success). Also at both my med school interviews, I met tons of people who were in various frats or sororities, sorry but this isn't a coincidence, maybe it shows to the type of people these organizations can potentially attract. Yes there is a few bad apples (some frats thrive on attracting the partier type person) but most dont. I know my fraternity certainly would not "harass queer students" as we ourselves have several members who are queer.

Before you talk about immaturity, re-read what you said
 
drctother said:
Wow talk about a closed view on life. Rather than stereotyping (as you CLEARLY are in this case), maybe you should think about how you feel when people stereo type queer students. I was in a fraternity and I am dam proud. I was surrounded by people who have gone far in life (academically, financially, w.e you consider success). Also at both my med school interviews, I met tons of people who were in various frats or sororities, sorry but this isn't a coincidence, maybe it shows to the type of people these organizations can potentially attract. Yes there is a few bad apples (some frats thrive on attracting the partier type person) but most dont. I know my fraternity certainly would not "harass queer students" as we ourselves have several members who are queer.

Before you talk about immaturity, re-read what you said
Click to expand...

Truth👍. Caught me😱. Allow me to rephrase: A strong majority of frat guys are immature douches.
 
kcin said:
You take your common sense and get out. GET OUT.

I don't really understand it either. I don't give a damn what people want to do in the privacy of their own homes, so these clubs just seem like a form of self segregation to me. What's the point? It seems like it does little more than further alienate people that already disapprove. Honestly, making clubs and having tons of random activites (lgbt week, gay pride parade, blah blah) seems a bit like an unhealthy obsession with rubbing everyone's face in your sexuality.

edit: Is it just to convince people to come out or what?
Click to expand...

For some people gender identity/sexual orientation can be a large part of their sense of self. For these people, it IS a big deal, so they likely don't think they're "rubbing it in anyone's face" (kind of an offensive way to put it, btw). It's no different than religious people who regard their religion as a large part of their personal identity. Whether you understand or not, it's a form of self expression for many...not a juvenile attention-seeking stunt.

Iswhatis said:
Truth👍. Caught me😱. Allow me to rephrase: A strong majority of frat guys are immature douches.
Click to expand...

Speaking of ignorance...🙄
 
No, seriously. Nobody in medical school is going to care about your sexual orientation or what aspects of your life/culture/spirit/sexuality define your identity. you have moved beyond this stuff and should be surrounded by people who are more tolerant and accepting; it's implied.

When the **** hits the fan, nobody is going to care that you're gay and want to let other people know about it. Nobody is going to care that you're wasting a Friday afternoon to March down Main Street waving flags. People just want to study, do well, pass, and celebrate the night after an exam; how and with whom you choose to celebrate is your business.

The time of being an adolescent and discovering what defines your identity and self ended in undergrad. Now you're a doctor in training. Shouldn't you focus on that?
 
HooahDOc said:
No, seriously. Nobody in medical school is going to care about your sexual orientation or what aspects of your life/culture/spirit/sexuality define your identity. you have moved beyond this stuff and should be surrounded by people who are more tolerant and accepting; it's implied.

When the **** hits the fan, nobody is going to care that you're gay and want to let other people know about it. Nobody is going to care that you're wasting a Friday afternoon to March down Main Street waving flags. People just want to study, do well, pass, and celebrate the night after an exam; how and with whom you choose to celebrate is your business.

The time of being an adolescent and discovering what defines your identity and self ended in undergrad. Now you're a doctor in training. Shouldn't you focus on that?
Click to expand...
.
 
What's the best DO school for raging breeders?
 
sideways said:
What's the best DO school for raging breeders?
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Yeah really.

DO schools with the sluttiest girls. Please list them. I need this for stress relief.

I'd also like a high percentage of big butts.
 
Holderlin said:
Yeah really.

DO schools with the sluttiest girls. Please list them. I need this for stress relief.

I'd also like a high percentage of big butts.
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Hell yeah. Big opposite-sex butts.
 
sideways said:
Hell yeah. Big opposite-sex butts.
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how big are we talking? Beyonce booties? J-Lo? 'big for a white girl'?

I would direct you to the butts located in proximity to the DO school in *harlem*. The world capitol for women who are damn proud of their booties. :laugh:

I'd comment on the somewhat more serious comments that are going on above my comment... yea. That is the dumbest argument i've ever seen and I'm not getting involved in an argument where I'm either un-PC/insensitive, reactionary, or reductionary. There is no other position being taken (or able to be taken) there. Might i suggest we all discuss ponies now? Much more benign.
 
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HooahDOc said:
No, seriously. Nobody in medical school is going to care about your sexual orientation or what aspects of your life/culture/spirit/sexuality define your identity. you have moved beyond this stuff and should be surrounded by people who are more tolerant and accepting; it's implied.

When the **** hits the fan, nobody is going to care that you're gay and want to let other people know about it. Nobody is going to care that you're wasting a Friday afternoon to March down Main Street waving flags. People just want to study, do well, pass, and celebrate the night after an exam; how and with whom you choose to celebrate is your business.

The time of being an adolescent and discovering what defines your identity and self ended in undergrad. Now you're a doctor in training. Shouldn't you focus on that?
Click to expand...

Obviously I agree strongly. But we should acknowledge that certain area's are more friendly towards LGBTQ members than others. Further more certain schools which draw from the corresponding area may equate to a class which is very homophobic. Obviously I think that to some extent this is an important issue to some extent.. However overall most medical school students and program directors will not care.
 
serenade said:
Obviously I agree strongly. But we should acknowledge that certain area's are more friendly towards LGBTQ members than others. Further more certain schools which draw from the corresponding area may equate to a class which is very homophobic. Obviously I think that to some extent this is an important issue to some extent.. However overall most medical school students and program directors will not care.
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I agree with you. But I want to expand upon it much more.

lets call a spade a spade. There are likely individual exceptions that are unable to be accounted for, but generally all schools with be either moderately LGBT friendly or extremely LGBT friendly. At the medical level of education there is no other option that would be expected or seen except in very rare individual circumstances.

What they want to know is what *areas* are more LGBT friendly since all the schools are effectively the same. Answer: large cities. There is no DO school in provincetown, fire island, san francisco, or any other historically gay communities. So large cities are the next most friendly area. Yes, i'm sure random WV town is very welcoming, just as random arizona town and random kansas town would be. That's not sarcasm. But its hard to compare to NY or Chicago, which are major cities with major gay communities simply by merit of size allowing them to be their own community with its own subculture.

There is your answer. I hopefully dodged all the "contentious" aspects of this question.
 
I find it astonishing that this thread has so many replies.
 
Espana,

Touro Mare Island is essentially San Francisco.
 
Iswhatis said:
Espana,

Touro Mare Island is essentially San Francisco.
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People on here usually say that Touro California is more like in a mediocre location which is under-privileged and populated primarily by working class Latinos than urban SF. Maybe It was bad information or who knows..
 
serenade said:
People on here usually say that Touro California is more like in a mediocre location which is under-privileged and populated primarily by working class Latinos than urban SF. Maybe It was bad information or who knows..
Click to expand...

yea my cousin went there. I was hoping to just dodge someone bringing it up, but touroCA would be the #4 or #5 school in this sense. He felts the way serenade mentioned, that its actually pretty distanced from the part of SF anyone thinks of, and is more of an island with direct access to a poorer latino area in the outskirts of SF.

now, full disclosure, ive never been there. going by his opinion (and, i guess, serenade's)
 
I meant in location rather than socio/economic demographics.
 
it is still 25 or 30 miles from SF. i was sort of alluding to being in a big city changes the entire thing. Even just outside of it is worlds different than being inside the city itself. You're comments not wrong (its still not large distance), i'm just putting up a hard to pass threshold for "city campus" vs not.
 
[YOUTUBE]2ImZTwYwCug[/YOUTUBE]
 
Holderlin said:
Yeah really.

DO schools with the sluttiest girls. Please list them. I need this for stress relief.

I'd also like a high percentage of big butts.
Click to expand...

They all go Carib.
 
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