Andrew Lent joins Equality Florida as Healthcare Equity Trainer
Andrew Lent joins Equality Florida as Healthcare Equity Trainer
TAMPA, FL - Equality Florida is proud to announce that Andrew Lent has joined the team as our lead Healthcare Equity Trainer. In this role, Lent will help build partnerships with health care organizations and increase LGBTQ cultural competence and inclusion in health care systems. Lent has previously worked with several nonprofit organizations, focusing on improving the health of vulnerable communities. He uses his public health background and advocacy experience to help lessen health disparities among LGBTQ Floridians.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the major inequities in health care access and quality for the LGBTQ community, especially transgender people of color,” said Lent. “I’m excited to join the Equality Florida team and help improve LGBTQ cultural competence among healthcare providers so that LGBTQ patients get the care that they deserve.”
“Anti-LGBTQ discrimination in health care has a long and documented history,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Executive Director. “This new effort, being undertaken alongside critical partners in the health care space, will provide medical professionals with the necessary tools to support LGBTQ patients and create welcoming healthcare environments. We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to the team and look forward to the impact he will have on health care for LGBTQ Floridians.”
Andrew holds a Master of Public Health degree, with a concentration in health policies and programs, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of South Florida. His studies focused on the mental health of LGBTQ youth and older adults.
Most recently, Andrew was an Advocacy Intern at AARP Florida, assisting during the Florida legislative session and conducting outreach to help create a more age-friendly Florida. Before that, he did street outreach with those experiencing homelessness in the Tampa Bay area, providing resources, health referrals, and support for those in need.
