Moffitt Earns 2024 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader Designation
Just in time for LGBTQ Pride Month, the Human Rights Campaign released its Healthcare Equality Leader list. Moffitt Cancer Center made the list with a perfect score of 100.
“We always say that cancer does not discriminate, and that remains true,” said Cathy Grant, vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Moffitt. “Creating an environment in which everyone is comfortable discussing health care and their best treatment options continues to be instrumental in our mission to prevent and cure cancer.”
A record 1,065 health care organizations took the survey and 384 earned the designation as a 2024 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader. Of those, the Human Rights Campaign reports that 71% have an official plan for reducing health disparities that specifically includes LGBTQ+ patients, in addition to race, ethnicity and linguistic concerns.
At Moffitt there has been ongoing work to ensure that all patients and their families are treated with respect and made comfortable. This includes transgender patients, whose health records indicate their preferred pronouns.
“Moffitt is very focused on inclusion,” Grant said. “The cancer center has policies in place to protect the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression rights of our team members and our patients.”
UNITY leaders coordinated the raising of the Progressive Pride Flag on Moffitt's Magnolia Campus.
The designation also recognizes a commitment to equality in the workplace and applauds Moffitt’s ongoing dedication to providing Family and Medical Leave Act-equivalent benefits to employees in same-sex relationships. The Human Rights Campaign also recognizes institutions with employee resource groups that support the LGBTQ+ community. Moffitt has a collection of team member engagement groups where employees can participate in local events and raise awareness, including UNITY, which represents members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
Laura Bosselman, the manager of patient experience at Moffitt, is one of UNITY’s chairs.
“I’ve always been proud to be a Moffitt team member and the existence of UNITY brings me a sense of joy and fulfillment in my workplace,” Bosselman said. “Leadership gives us a platform by consistently celebrating inclusion.”
Moffitt employs more than 9,500 team members, and they are invited to participate in any and all engagement groups of their choice. Each group is organized and run by team members who volunteer and work closely with leadership to ensure they represent Moffitt’s mission and values.
By participating in UNITY, team members reinforce Moffitt’s value of inclusion.
Moffitt is proud to earn the designation again this year and the importance of being recognized is simple, Grant said.
“Everyone deserves the best cancer treatment and care available, and patients and their families deserve to be comfortable in that treatment environment,” she said. “It’s an honor that Moffitt is recognized as a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community to come and receive the care they need and deserve.”
