The marginalization of some medical students
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* Verna Yiu

I thank Louie Chan and Shelley Turner for their comments, in response to my recent *CMAJ* piece,1 on a very important issue that faces GLBT medical students. I agree with them that medical schools across Canada need to be more proactive on this subject.

At the University of Alberta we are trying to address GLBT issues in several ways. The first was through an educational session on GLBT issues with our student advisors. We are hoping to integrate diversity modules into our medical curriculum and are developing a support group for staff, residents and medical students who are dealing with GLBT issues within our medical school. In 2004 I attended a conference of the Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition (a national organization that provides a means for people working on GLBT health and wellness issues to network and advocate together) and tried to network that organization with the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada. The Coalition is also developing educational materials that I hope can be used in the medical curriculum.

Although there is a long road ahead to completely change the attitudes of people within the medical field, I am hopeful that continued small advances will eventually lead to a safe and healthy environment for all minority medical student groups.

## Reference

1.  1. Yiu V. Supporting the well-being of medical students [editorial]. CMAJ 2005;172(7):889-90.
    
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