Novant Health doctor working towards better healthcare for LGBTQ+ community

CHARLOTTE — Being seen by a doctor is routine for a lot of us, but being heard by a doctor doesn’t come easily, especially for people in the LGBTQ+ community, according to Novant Health.

Novant says it’s looking to change that by making sure members of that community get the care they need when they need it. It’s one of a handful of hospitals across the country putting an emphasis on LGBTQ+ health.

Tremaine Tillman is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and identifies as queer. He told Channel 9′s Gina Esposito that it was only time in the last 10 years that he found a doctor he was comfortable with.

“Queer people are out there. We need healthcare too,” Tillman told Esposito. “Despite how everyone feels about it, we are out here and deserve equitable healthcare.”

Dr. Cramer McCullen, a family physician and medical director of LGBTQ+ services at Novant Health, told Esposito it’s his mission to make his patients feel welcomed and heard.

“Traditionally, it’s been hard for patients to find access,” McCullen said. “That’s one of our missions this year: to try and improve access to find the doctors they need.”

McCullen has dealt with his own issues in life. He says he came out to his doctor in his 20s, and it didn’t go well.

“It was at the time pre-exposure prophylaxis, or prevention medication for HIV, which is very high in the LGBTQ community, when it first came out. And my doctor didn’t know anything about it,” McCullen said. “And that was uncomfortable trying to educate the person I thought should be taking care of me.”

McCullen is currently one of 42 doctors in the country who say LGBTQ+ health as an area of focus. Together, the doctors have served over 17,000 patients. He is trying to expand that and make sure Novant Health is fully staffed, filling care gaps.

McCullen credits his poor experience with his old doctor for his passion for helping others in the community, like Tillman.

“My doctor at the time just made me comfortable and made me feel like I could talk about anything,” McCullen said. “It was really revolutionary in my life to be able to have a space like that.”

For more information about Novant Health’s LGBTQ+ providers near you, click here.

(WATCH BELOW: Novant and Atrium Health centers welcome first babies of 2023)

Novant and Atrium Health centers welcome first babies of 2023

©2023 Cox Media Group