LGBTQ+ Health Community

Hello Sigma Members!

Welcome to Sigma's LGBTQ+ Health Community-we're so glad you're here! Whether you're seasoned or just beginning to explore this area, your insights and experiences matter.

✨ I'd like to introduce you to the group's newest Community Facilitators✨

@ALEXANDER LEVANTINO @Christina Bricker @Christopher Lloyd Jamola

They'll help spark conversations, share helpful resources, and ensure this space remains an active area for connection and collaboration.

Now we'd love to hear from you! 

🔍 Introduce yourself and share what drives your passion for LGBTQ+ Health.

Whether it's a patient story, a professional calling, or a vision for the future of nursing, share what brought you here and what keeps you inspired.

You can reply to this thread directly from your email or navigate to the thread in the community and select the "reply" button.

Already introduced yourself? Feel free to start a new discussion at any time. Head to the Discussions area and click the "Add" button to get started.

Have more than one interest? Explore other topic-based communities you can join!

🤝If you're interested in volunteering as a Community Facilitator, visit the Sigma Volunteer Opportunities page to see how you can get involved.

Thanks for being an essential part of this community-we can't wait to learn more about you and what fuels your purpose.

------------------------------
Toiya Lister
Constituent Communications and Training Specialist
Indianapolis IN
United States
------------------------------

Thank you, Toiya! 

Hello and welcome!

It's wonderful to meet all of you. By way of introduction, I've been a nurse since 1995 and a family nurse practitioner since 2000 (though I try not to think about how long that's been!).

Currently, I serve as the FNP Track Coordinator and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Florida. In addition to teaching, I continue to practice one day a week at UF Health Archer Family Healthcare, a rural, nurse practitioner led family practice clinic.

Over the years, my nursing experience has included work in the NICU, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as a registered nurse. As a family nurse practitioner, I've had the privilege of working in rural and urban settings, college health, and free clinics serving inner-city communities.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I'm especially passionate about LGBTQ+ health issues and advocating for equitable, inclusive care. This work is deeply personal and professionally meaningful to me, and I'm committed to fostering a healthcare environment that respects and supports all individuals.

I'm excited to engage in meaningful discussions with all of you and look forward to learning from each other!

------------------------------
Christina Bricker, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAHA
Clinical Associate Professor
College of Nursing
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
USA
------------------------------

Hi, everyone!!

It's a pleasure to e-meet you and to discover that this group exists within Sigma! I've been an RN for about seven years and am currently pursuing my DNP-FNP at UCF. One of my strongest motivations in this journey is to create a safe, inclusive space for LGBTQ patients while also educating fellow healthcare professionals, as our training often overlooks the specific needs of these communities. Additionally, as a queer Latina, advocacy and activism for social justice and health equity have always been at the heart of my professional and personal goals and motivation. My DNP project is focused on improving PrEP adherence, so if anyone has any thoughts, experiences, or advice to share, I would greatly appreciate it!

------------------------------
Estephanie Charria RN,CCRC
Orlando FL
United States
------------------------------

Nice to meet you, Estephanie!

------------------------------
Christina M. Bricker, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAHA
Family Nurse Practitioner, Faculty, Researcher
Florida, USA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Tue July 22,2025 11:50 AM
From: Estephanie Charria
Subject: Let's Connect: Your Passion & Path in LGBTQ+ Health

Hi, everyone!!

It's a pleasure to e-meet you and to discover that this group exists within Sigma! I've been an RN for about seven years and am currently pursuing my DNP-FNP at UCF. One of my strongest motivations in this journey is to create a safe, inclusive space for LGBTQ patients while also educating fellow healthcare professionals, as our training often overlooks the specific needs of these communities. Additionally, as a queer Latina, advocacy and activism for social justice and health equity have always been at the heart of my professional and personal goals and motivation. My DNP project is focused on improving PrEP adherence, so if anyone has any thoughts, experiences, or advice to share, I would greatly appreciate it!

------------------------------
Estephanie Charria RN,CCRC
Orlando FL
United States
------------------------------

Hi everyone, my name is Eliahkim Mabute, from Houston, Texas. Currently working at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Leukemia Unit as Clinical RN, and also a clinical education manager of Galen College of Nursing in Houston, Tx. I am currently taking up my DNP at University of Texas -Austin, I am looking for a connection within the circle to elevating and providing healthcare need for our LGBTQIA+ community. 

------------------------------
Eliahkim Mabute
Houston TX
United States
------------------------------

Nice to meet you, Eliahkim! Welcome!

------------------------------
Christina M. Bricker, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAHA
Family Nurse Practitioner, Faculty, Researcher
Florida, USA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Fri September 19,2025 10:01 PM
From: Eliahkim Mabute
Subject: Let's Connect: Your Passion & Path in LGBTQ+ Health

Hi everyone, my name is Eliahkim Mabute, from Houston, Texas. Currently working at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Leukemia Unit as Clinical RN, and also a clinical education manager of Galen College of Nursing in Houston, Tx. I am currently taking up my DNP at University of Texas -Austin, I am looking for a connection within the circle to elevating and providing healthcare need for our LGBTQIA+ community. 

------------------------------
Eliahkim Mabute
Houston TX
United States
------------------------------

Hi everyone - I'm Kyle, and I'm an MSN student at the University of San Francisco. Before starting nursing school last year, I spent 10 years working for the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch, conducting investigations and advocacy all over the world. I've been a GLMA member for the past seven years, and attended a lot of their excellent conferences, and I currently serve on the board of directors at interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth. 

Looking forward to connecting with Sigma folks here!

-Kyle 

------------------------------
Kyle Knight
San Francisco CA
United States
------------------------------

Welcome, Kyle!

------------------------------
Christina M. Bricker, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAHA
Family Nurse Practitioner, Faculty, Researcher
Florida, USA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu October 09,2025 11:51 PM
From: Kyle Knight
Subject: Let's Connect: Your Passion & Path in LGBTQ+ Health

Hi everyone - I'm Kyle, and I'm an MSN student at the University of San Francisco. Before starting nursing school last year, I spent 10 years working for the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch, conducting investigations and advocacy all over the world. I've been a GLMA member for the past seven years, and attended a lot of their excellent conferences, and I currently serve on the board of directors at interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth. 

Looking forward to connecting with Sigma folks here!

-Kyle 

------------------------------
Kyle Knight
San Francisco CA
United States
------------------------------

Hello everyone! My name is Annie and I currently working in transgender surgical care as a care manager/pre-surgical navigator. I have a strong interest in research in this patient population and want to work on approaches to trauma-informed surgical care. I have over a decade of experience in ICU/PACU and enjoyed my time there, the skills honestly did translate to a desk job but there are far fewer tangled vasopressor lines in the ambulatory world!

I very much wanting to connect with other nurses who work in this space. It's been a little lonely being the only nurse at my practice. 

------------------------------
Anne Brady MSN, RN
Care Manager
Baltimore MD
United States
------------------------------

Hi Annie! Welcome! Thank you for your work!

------------------------------
Christina M. Bricker, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAHA
Family Nurse Practitioner, Faculty, Researcher
Florida, USA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu January 15,2026 12:02 PM
From: Anne Brady
Subject: Let's Connect: Your Passion & Path in LGBTQ+ Health

Hello everyone! My name is Annie and I currently working in transgender surgical care as a care manager/pre-surgical navigator. I have a strong interest in research in this patient population and want to work on approaches to trauma-informed surgical care. I have over a decade of experience in ICU/PACU and enjoyed my time there, the skills honestly did translate to a desk job but there are far fewer tangled vasopressor lines in the ambulatory world!

I very much wanting to connect with other nurses who work in this space. It's been a little lonely being the only nurse at my practice. 

------------------------------
Anne Brady MSN, RN
Care Manager
Baltimore MD
United States
------------------------------

During National Nurses Week, let us honor the legacy of Lois Schwarze, a beloved nurse, educator, mentor, and member of the LGBTQ+ community whose life centered on compassion, mental health advocacy, and supporting others by supporting the Lois Schwarze Memorial Scholarship and helping future nursing students pursue their dreams, particularly those dedicated to psychiatric-mental health care and serving LGBTQ+ populations.

https://impact.gsu.edu/project/47745

------------------------------
Lufei Young PhD, PMHNP-BC, ACNP-BC
Professor
UNC Charlotte
School of Nursing
Charlotte, NC, USA
------------------------------