Wayne State University School of Medicine Professor of Internal Medicine Diane Levine, M.D. '82 will receive the LGBTQ Health Heroes Award in recognition of her leadership and dedicated efforts to improve the health of LGBTQ communities.
Health Emergency Lifeline Programs selected Dr. Levine for the award, which will be presented at the organization's ninth annual "Cheers to HELP" Spring Wine Tasting Fundraiser, taking place from 7 to 10 p.m. May 18 at the Detroit Historical Museum. Proceeds from the event will support Corktown Health Center, HELP's newest program specializing in improving the health of Michigan's LGBTQ community.
Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased by calling 313-832-3300.
Dr. Levine is vice chair for Education in the Department of Internal Medicine at the WSU School of Medicine. She will be presented with the award for her role in helping to establish an LGBTQ curriculum within WSU's Department of Internal Medicine residency program and within the medical school.
She was honored as one of two Clinician Educators of the Year at the Midwest Society of General Internal Medicine in 2016.
The collaboration between the WSU School of Medicine and Corktown Health Center includes the following shared goals, which Dr. Levine has spearheaded:
• Design and deliver medical services that address the health needs of LGBTQ persons in the Detroit area, including students, trainees, faculty and staff
• Pioneer treatments and care for transgender persons
• Develop and implement programming designed to mitigate health disparities in the LGBTQ community
• Establish education and clinical training for medical students, residents and other health care providers to deliver equitable, effective and patient-centered care for LGBTQ patients
"We are extremely honored to have Dr. Levine on our team to reach more LGBTQ in our community and train other students to understand how to care for this community," said Anthony Williams, chief executive officer of HELP. "Under her leadership, we look forward to seeing more practicing physicians with her same compassion and dedication for quality care geared toward the LGBTQ community right here in metropolitan Detroit and across the country. This award is truly deserved for all of her achievements."
HELP was founded in 1986 as an AIDS service organization focused on meeting end-of-life needs at a time when treatment for HIV/AIDS was extremely limited. In the three decades since, HELP has evolved to address broader health issues while still responding to the unique challenges of HIV. Today it offers a wide range of services for those living with HIV and works to engage populations at risk for HIV infection. The agency provides care to more than 1,600 people annually.
Corktown Health Center is the first nonprofit medical center in Michigan to focus on the needs of the LGBTQ communities. It has continually increased services since it opened its doors in 2017. It provides primary care, HIV care and treatment, breast/cervical cancer screening, insurance navigation, mental health services, hormone treatment, tobacco use reduction services and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for the prevention of HIV. For more information, visit www.corktownhealthcenter.org.