Hi there. For those who don’t know me, I’m Edgardo Medina, a master level social worker who started working in healthcare since 2017 as case manager for HIV patients, and who is currently working as a psychotherapist supporting and/or treating LGBTQ+ patients with different life challenges and psychosocial stressors and disorders. I ended here by choice since I am product of being supported in my medical and mental health needs by LGBTQ+ providers, social workers, counselors, health educators, and peer supporters.

From my coming out and overcoming abusive relationships, to my change of status and making peace and integrating my Puerto Rican identity and Spirituality with my Gay orientation, this healing has helped me learn and embrace behaviors that are healthy and life affirming with a sense of belonging. This also led me to want to be part of that team of healthcare workers so I can also address changes that are still in need in our own communities and in society at large, such systemic racism, health disparities, transphobia, among others.

These values of healing, human connection and change in our society have moved me to start my education to become a Doctor of Behavioral Health. As a DBH I will be able to increase my capacity to facilitate healing to patients by providing effective brief therapy and interventions in medical settings, especially in primary care, with much more precision and readily available to see patients before or after seeing their medical providers. In these sessions I may address life transition stressors, psychosocial aspects of medical conditions or referrals to specialty mental health care.

As a DBH I will also be able to better work and connect with medical providers by learning the medical culture, psychopharmacology and the BH issues that certain medical problems come with and how to best address them, and teach them to the care team. This allows a sense of treating the whole person which in turn facilitates the work for all involved since that patient will receive a greater quality of care and promotes collaboration and teamwork.

Additionally, as a DBH I will be able assess and analyze systematically where are some of the gaps in clinics where patients with BH needs that are falling through the cracks, looking as well at variables such as race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, immigration status, etc. Then I will be able to provide solutions, program development, and trainings for providers and their care teams to better close these gaps to serve all our communities truly and effectively. For further infromation about the DBH degree please visit the following website: https://cgi.edu/faq/dbh/.

To end I would like to quote the inspiring conclusion of my last week self-letter assignment:

“Your leadership will not be ignored, and you will inspire many LGBTQ+ and people of color to join the task of uplifting and healing our communities and fostering allyship among ourselves and those who support us. You are and will continue to be an innovator for healing and human connection. I am extremely proud of you papá. Pa’lante siempre!”

By Edgardo Medina in his assigment Medina_9901_Letter.