Pride In Our Health
LGBTQIA+ folks: Are you taking pride in your health? Not sure how to start? Join Fenway Health as we explore a different LGBTQIA+ health topic each episode. We'll discuss the latest care options, learn about lifesaving medical breakthroughs, and gather expert advice on how to be a happier, healthier you. Pride in Our Health is a project of Fenway Health in Boston, MA. The mission of Fenway Health is to enhance the wellbeing of the LGBTQIA+ community and all people in our neighborhoods and beyond through access to the highest quality health care, education, research and advocacy. Learn more at fenwayhealth.org. Intro/outro music is "Teamwork" by Scott Holmes. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes
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2024 Era Finale: Celebrating Pride Month with Adrianna Boulin
06/28/2024
2024 Era Finale: Celebrating Pride Month with Adrianna Boulin
Join us for a powerful and inspiring season finale of "Pride in Our Health Podcast," coinciding with Pride Month! In this special episode, we feature the incredible Adrianna Boulin, a visionary leader dedicated to helping people reach their full potential. As the Director of Racial Equity, Social Justice, and Community Engagement at Fenway Health, Adrianna spearheads initiatives that address racial disparities and champion inclusivity and equality. Her commitment to creating spaces where communities can authentically connect and heal is unmatched. Adrianna will share her journey and mission, offering profound insights on authenticity, healing, empathy, racial justice, health equity, and community engagement. We’ll also delve into her transformative work at Fenway Health and her impactful role as President of Boston Pride for the People. Discover how she amplifies the beauty, diversity, and intersectionality of the LGBTQIA+ community through empowerment, education, commemoration, and celebration. In this episode, Adrianna discusses planning the annual Pride for the People parade and festival in Boston. She highlights the collaborative efforts that bring together community members, organizations, and leaders to build partnerships and drive positive change. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation as we explore the importance of fostering a culture of diversity and equity, and learn how we can all contribute to a more inclusive and unified world. Tune in and be inspired by Adrianna’s vision and dedication during this vibrant Pride Month celebration! Pride Month Blog Post with event list: Social Media: Getting to Zero MA IG: Fenway Health Website: IG : Facebook: LinkedIn:
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2024 Era Episode 3: HIV and Stigma in Black Communities
04/26/2024
2024 Era Episode 3: HIV and Stigma in Black Communities
Join us for a powerful and enlightening episode as Fenway Health delves into the crucial topic of Black HIV/AIDS Awareness. With a focus on the theme "Engage, Educate, Empower: Uniting to End HIV/AIDS in Black Communities," a panel of Black staff members at Fenway Health with experience in HIV prevention and treatment come together to lead an insightful discussion. Our guests, including Tarik Spriggs, Optical Sales Associate; Kelvin Powell, Laboratory Research Assistant; Adrianna Boulin, Director of Racial Equity, Social Justice, and Community Engagement; Kimella Dixon, Nurse Manager; and Amika Brewster, AVP of Health Center Operations, bring their expertise and passion to the table as they explore various aspects of HIV prevention and care within Black communities. Throughout the episode, we tackle important topics such as the impact of HIV-related stigma, access to healthcare, mental health considerations, and the prevalent health disparities in the Black community. Together, we strive to destigmatize conversations surrounding HIV/AIDS and empower our communities with knowledge and resources. Tune in to gain valuable insights, learn about innovative approaches to healthcare, and join us in our mission to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
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2024 Era Episode 2.5: TDOV Guest Matt Palmer
03/31/2024
2024 Era Episode 2.5: TDOV Guest Matt Palmer
March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility! In our second TDOV episode, we interview Matt Palmer, Fenway Health's Special Events Coordinator. Matt is a proud trans man who loves coffee, the outdoors, books, movies, and animals. He started his career at Fenway as the Community Educator and Recruiter for The Fenway Institute and now he works as the Development Special Events Coordinator. Matt shares his story as a trans man and talks about the important role of trans representation.
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2024 Era Episode 2: TDOV Guest Steph DeNormand
03/28/2024
2024 Era Episode 2: TDOV Guest Steph DeNormand
March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), which commemorates the achievements and resilience of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people around the world, including our own staff, patients, and supporters. For Fenway Health and our , it is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to providing comprehensive, compassionate healthcare and services to all members of the TGD community. In honor of TDOV, we will be posting two new episodes. In the first one, we interview Steph DeNormand (They/Them), the Manager of the Trans Health Program at Fenway Health and a chapter author for Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Care: The Fenway Guide. Steph’s focus throughout their education and academic work has been on queer and trans theory and intersections with feminist pedagogy and medical ethics. They have been working with trans and gender diverse communities their entire professional career, and continue their community and academic work through writing, conferences, and community-driven events. In their position at Fenway Health, Steph has had the privilege of working directly with hundreds of trans and gender-diverse community members in navigating healthcare systems, while simultaneously engaging in the creation and management of educational and support structures for care teams working in the field. The overarching goal of this work is improving the health and wellbeing of all trans and gender diverse people. Tune in for our second Transgender Day of Visibility episode on Sunday, March 31.
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2024 Era Episode 1: Community Advocate Kelvin Powell
02/07/2024
2024 Era Episode 1: Community Advocate Kelvin Powell
The Pride in our Health Podcast is BACK! February 7, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day–a day dedicated to raising awareness of the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black Americans and the importance of increasing access to HIV education, testing, treatment, and prevention services. Today’s guest is Kelvin Powell, Laboratory Research Assistant at the Fenway Institute. Kelvin Powell is excited to be back at the Fenway Institute, where he is currently working with the Biomedical Research team aiding with Laboratory and Recruitment support on several NIH study grants and COVID-19 Vaccine Trials. Kelvin has experience with educating the community on research by informing the community of latest practices within prevention and biomedical research by breaking down myths about research within the communities of color. Intro and Outro music: Fenway Health Board of Director Application: The Pryde Housing Lottery Application:
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Gyn & Tonic: Everyone's Got HPV
09/12/2023
Gyn & Tonic: Everyone's Got HPV
We have a special treat for you this week. Fenway Health Obstetrician and Gynecologist Supraja Rajagopalan is one half of Gyn & Tonic, a podcast featuring intimate convos with your Gynecologist besties. Every Thursday, Supraja and her best friend Sara address the questions you wish you could ask your OB/GYN over drinks. Have a question you’d like them to address? DM @gynandtonicpodcast or email (no personal medical advice but lots of bestie advice). Co-hosted by Sara and Supraja Music: Floating Abstract by ComaStudio. Find them anywhere you listen to your podcasts
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Episode 27: Boston Pride For The People
03/13/2023
Episode 27: Boston Pride For The People
On June 10, 2023, Boston will celebrate Pride Month with a citywide parade for the first time since 2019. It’s been four years after the COVID-19 pandemic first shuttered Pride celebrations and two years since Boston Pride leadership chose to dissolve the organization amid community criticism over a lack of BIPOC and transgender inclusion. Now, Pride is back with a new name – Boston Pride For The People – and a new mission: To make a Pride celebration that is truly for the entire community. Let’s find out more about what’s in store for this June. Today’s guest is Adrianna Boulin, Director of Community Impact & Engagement at Fenway Health and the newly appointed president of Boston Pride For The People.
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Episode 26: Addressing Inequities in Vaccine Trials
02/16/2023
Episode 26: Addressing Inequities in Vaccine Trials
From the long search for an HIV cure to the recent breakthroughs in COVID-19 vaccines, clinical trials have always been a critical part of the response to any public health crisis. People who volunteer for groundbreaking vaccine trials are helping make the future healthier for all of us. But what happens when the communities who need these vaccines the most are left out of their development? How we do address the racial and socioeconomic barriers that create inequities in medical research trials? Let’s find out. Today’s guest is Dr. Kathryn Stephenson, Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
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Episode 25: Antibodies and the Search for Two Cures
12/20/2022
Episode 25: Antibodies and the Search for Two Cures
In recent years, the use of antibodies in vaccines has expanded beyond medical journals and scientific papers to become a topic of mainstream news. The COVID-19 pandemic created intense public interest in the power of antibodies. But long before COVID became a household name, researchers began exploring the potential for highly potent proteins known as broadly neutralizing antibodies to help end a much older epidemic: HIV. Today’s guest is Dr. Boris Juelg, Principal Investigator at the BIDMC Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Physician at the MGH Division of Infectious Diseases, and Associate Member of the Ragon Institute.
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Episode 24: Breast Cancer and the LGBTQIA+ Community
10/11/2022
Episode 24: Breast Cancer and the LGBTQIA+ Community
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise public awareness about the impact of breast cancer, show support for those affected by the disease, and encourage regular preventative screenings, such as mammograms. Breast cancer can affect anyone, regardless of sex assigned at birth or gender identity. Studies have shown that LGBTQIA+ people have disproportionately high rates of breast cancer. Many people in the queer and trans community avoid regular medical care, including cancer screenings, due to fears and experiences of discrimination or misgendering in health care settings. This can lead to missed diagnoses and poorer health outcomes. In today’s episode, we’ll look at ways providers and LGBTQIA+ patients can work together to fight breast cancer. Today’s guest is Nandini Choudhury, Reproductive Health Equity Specialist at Fenway Health.
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Episode 23: Monkeypox: Just the Facts
07/29/2022
Episode 23: Monkeypox: Just the Facts
In recent weeks, media reports on monkeypox - a rare pox virus typically carried by rodents in Central and Western Africa - have skyrocketed as unusual outbreaks have occurred in Europe, North America, Israel, and Australia. With monkeypox now declared to be a global health emergency, public concern is high. This is particularly true in the LGBTQ community, due to the majority of cases being reported around gay and bisexual men. While raising public awareness around monkeypox is important, there has also been a lot of misinformation being put out around how this disease is spread and who is at risk. On today’s episode, we’ll be sharing with you the facts about monkeypox. Today’s guest is Dr. Sean Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research at The Fenway Institute.
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Episode 22: The Fenway Gala
05/17/2022
Episode 22: The Fenway Gala
Since the early 1990s, Fenway Health’s annual fundraising galas have been cornerstones of the greater Boston LGBTQIA+ community’s social calendar. The Dinner Party, created in 1992, was a formal and fun evening to raise vital funding for Fenway, to shine a spotlight on women’s health, and to throw a fabulous celebration of LBTQIA+ women and honor their many contributions to health care for all. Two years later, Fenway Men’s Event was launched. This celebration of philanthropy and community soon became one of the hottest nights out for Boston’s LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. Tens of thousands have danced, dined, laughed, and enjoyed our signature events over the years, and we couldn’t be more thankful to you all. After two years of virtual events due to COVID-19, the Men’s Event and Dinner Party have been reborn as one spectacular evening of celebration and community. The inaugural Fenway Health Gala will be held May 24 at historic Fenway Park. The Dinner Party and the Men’s Event are cherished parts of Fenway Health history, and we are excited to see their legacies live on through the Gala. Today’s guests are Taylor Brown and Mary Beth McInerney. Taylor and Mary Beth are Co-Chairs of this year’s Fenway Health Gala. Taylor is also a former Men’s Event Co-Chair, and Mary Beth is a former Dinner Party Co-Chair.
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Episode 21: The 2022 US Trans Survey
04/14/2022
Episode 21: The 2022 US Trans Survey
In 2015, nearly 28,000 people took the US Trans Survey, the largest survey of trans folks ever in the US. It was a major milestone in the collection of data on the lived experiences of a community that has been historically been both under and misrepresented in this country. Much has happened since then. There have been some incredible victories in the fight for transgender and gender diverse rights. Unfortunately, there have also been many attacks on this community, from physical violence against individuals to legislative discrimination targeting the daily lives of trans folks, particularly youth. Now more than ever, it's important to ensure that the voices of transgender and gender diverse people are heard and counted. The 2022 US Trans Survey aims to do just that. Let’s learn more. Today’s guest is Alex del Rosario, Outreach Manager for the US Trans Survey at the National Center for Transgender Equality. To take the US Trans Survey, please visit ustranssurvey.org.
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Episode 20: Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Care: The Fenway Guide
03/08/2022
Episode 20: Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Care: The Fenway Guide
Right now, the United States is seeing an unprecedented number of anti-transgender legislation being introduced and signed into law. These hateful bills use disinformation and scare tactics to paint a wildly inaccurate picture of trans and gender diverse people, and directly attack the life-saving care that these populations need. Part of the reason why they’re being successful is that much of America – and far too much of the medical community – is still woefully uninformed when it comes to gender-affirming care. In response to the growing need for more comprehensive and compassionate care models, The Fenway Institute has published the first case-based textbook to address the comprehensive health care needs of transgender and gender diverse adults. Today’s guests are Dr. Jennifer Potter and Dr. Alex Keuroghlian.
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Episode 19: Racial Equity Action Plan
01/11/2022
Episode 19: Racial Equity Action Plan
In June of 2021, Fenway Health made a bold announcement: As part of its new Strategic Plan, the 50-year-old community health center is making a commitment to being an anti-racist organization. But what does it mean to not just denounce racism, but to really commit to the work of anti-racism every day?
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Episode 18: The 40 Year War: Taking the Battle Against AIDS to the Streets
11/30/2021
Episode 18: The 40 Year War: Taking the Battle Against AIDS to the Streets
December 1 marks World AIDS Day, a time to honor those we have lost to the epidemic. Even now, 40 years after the first diagnosis, marginalized people continue to be most at risk. People who use injection drugs and people who are unstably housed are among the most vulnerable. The team at Fenway Health's AIDS Action Green Street location in Cambridge, MA is working to change this, one person at a time.
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Episode 17: Transgender Health Care Today
11/09/2021
Episode 17: Transgender Health Care Today
Last episode, we learned about the founding and early years of our Trans Health Program and the incredible people who made it happen. Now, let’s take a look at where the Trans Health Program is today, how it’s continued to grow, and how its staff and patients rose to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Episode 16: Building a Transgender Health Program
10/27/2021
Episode 16: Building a Transgender Health Program
November is almost here, and with it comes the annual Transgender Awareness Month. This month honors our vibrant transgender and gender diverse community, celebrates the progress made for transgender rights, and shines a light on the discrimination and violence still faced by transgender people. Across the country, health care services for the trans community have improved greatly in recent years, but there is still much to be done.
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Episode 15: Creating Community for LGBTQ+ People of Color
09/30/2021
Episode 15: Creating Community for LGBTQ+ People of Color
This year marks 50 years since Fenway Health was founded by activists and nursing students who shared a common belief: that health care is a right, not a privilege. Fenway’s history isn’t just about the building of a health center, however – it’s about the building of a community. We are forever in debt to the folks who have done – and continue to do - the hard work of community building over these five decades. Today, let’s hear one of their stories.
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Episode 14: Leading a Growing Health Center
09/13/2021
Episode 14: Leading a Growing Health Center
It has been said that great things come from small beginnings. Here at Fenway Health, our small beginning was in a humble basement clinic, dreamed up by neighborhood activists and staffed by volunteer nursing students. The folks who founded Fenway Health in 1971 had a belief: that health care is a right, not a privilege. As we celebrate 50 years of Fenway Health this year, this is the perfect time to take a look back at some Fenway Health history.
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Episode 13: The Audre Lorde Cancer Awareness Brunch
09/03/2021
Episode 13: The Audre Lorde Cancer Awareness Brunch
If the past year and a half has taught us anything, it’s that community – finding it, building it, and celebrating it – is essential for all of us. It is in that spirit that Fenway Health’s Women’s Health Team will host the 23rd Annual Audre Lorde Cancer Awareness Brunch virtually on October 16, 2021.
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Episode 12: Social Transition and Mental Health Outcomes for Trans Youth
08/18/2021
Episode 12: Social Transition and Mental Health Outcomes for Trans Youth
All too often, however, trans youth are being used as pawns in the latest culture wars. Conservative politicians around the country have unleashed a wave of harmful legislation targeting trans youth in sports, in schools, and in health care. Now more than ever, trans young people need our support – and that support begins with understanding their daily lives. A groundbreaking study shines a light on how social transition and school environments affect the mental health outcomes of trans people.
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Episode 11: Reflecting on 40 Years of AIDS
06/04/2021
Episode 11: Reflecting on 40 Years of AIDS
On June 5, 1981, the CDC published a note in their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that five gay men in Los Angeles had been treated for a rare fungal infection of the lungs caused by a severely weakened immune system. What nobody knew at that time was that this would be the first officially reported case of AIDS in the US. 40 years later, the search for an HIV cure continues.
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Episode 10: A Look at Fenway Health History
05/03/2021
Episode 10: A Look at Fenway Health History
It has been said that great things come from small beginnings. Here at Fenway Health, our small beginning was in a humble basement clinic, dreamed up by neighborhood activists and staffed by volunteer nursing students. The folks who founded Fenway Health in 1971 had a belief: that health care is a right, not a privilege. As we celebrate 50 years of Fenway Health this year, let’s take a look back at some Fenway history.
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Episode 10: The AstraZeneca Vaccine Trial
01/20/2021
Episode 10: The AstraZeneca Vaccine Trial
A year after the COVID-19 virus was first identified, the world is finally seeing its first vaccinations – and with them, signs of hope – that this devastating pandemic could finally come to an end. This is the result of tireless work by researchers around the world. We are proud to say that some of these public health heroes are right here at Fenway Health. Today, we’ll be speaking with one of them about her experiences during our COVID-19 vaccine trials.
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Episode 9: Fighting COVID-19 With Antibodies
10/07/2020
Episode 9: Fighting COVID-19 With Antibodies
Fenway Health has recently been activated as a trial site for CoVPN 3502, a new COVID-19 antibody study. How can antibodies be used to potentially stop the spread of COVID-19? Let’s take a look.
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Episode 8: Introducing CEO Ellen LaPointe
02/13/2020
Episode 8: Introducing CEO Ellen LaPointe
On this special episode, we’re excited to introduce you to Ellen LaPointe, incoming CEO of Fenway Health. Ellen will be joining us in Boston next month and we look forward to her leadership.
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Episode 7: Self-Care for the Holidays
12/11/2019
Episode 7: Self-Care for the Holidays
The holiday season is often as stressful as it is festive. For LGBTQ people, the holidays can be especially difficult. Many are estranged from their families or are subject to abuse from homophobic or transphobic relatives. And those traveling back to unsupportive environments may find themselves forced to spend their holidays in the closet. In times of stress, self-care is essential – but what does self-care look like for LGBTQ folks?
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Episode 6: HIV Vaccine Trials
10/04/2019
Episode 6: HIV Vaccine Trials
30 years ago, the idea of successfully treating HIV/AIDS seemed like an impossible dream. Today, however, we have life-saving medical advancements like anti-retroviral therapy for HIV treatment and PrEP for HIV prevention, and many positive people are living full, healthy lives. But what if we took it a step further? Is a true HIV vaccine possible – and are we actually closer to finding one than you might think?
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Episode 5: HIV Prevention in Latinx Communities
08/14/2019
Episode 5: HIV Prevention in Latinx Communities
There is no doubt that we’ve made incredible progress in the battle against HIV and AIDS. Yet research shows that for many, these life-saving advancements have not been accessible. In the Latinx community, as in other communities of color, infection rates remain high and fewer people are getting the care they need to thrive. Why do these disparities exist, and how can we work to improve HIV prevention resources for Latinx people?
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