BIDMC Celebrates 25 Years of Pride

BIDMC Employees Kasen and Ayoub Recognized for Efforts to Support the LGBTQ Community

BOSTON – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) celebrated two employees for their ongoing dedication to supporting LGBTQ patients, family and staff during the hospital’s 25th annual Pride Week earlier this month. Nancy Kasen, Director of Community Benefits, and Jo Ayoub, Senior Director of Organizational Effectiveness in the Department of Human Resources, were recognized by Pete Healy, President of BIDMC, and BIDMC’s LGBTQ advisory committee.

“We have a really proud history of supporting Pride at BIDMC,” said Healy. “Nancy and Jo have each been an instrumental part of advancing our inclusion efforts to make sure that everyone at BIDMC is treated with respect.”

Kasen was commended for championing numerous efforts to make BIDMC a welcoming place for all, including leading two taskforces to make patient facing materials more LGBTQ sensitive and beginning to incorporate gender identity and sexual orientation into electronic health records. With this work, BIDMC has again been recognized as a leader in “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the 8th consecutive year.

“I work each day to ensure that all continue to have a place here at BIDMC,” said Kasen. “Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, all patients need to be seen, heard and treated with respect and dignity. To be seen, our LGBTQ patients must be counted.”

Ayoub was honored for 30 years of service that has entailed continuous support and dedication to the LGBTQ community. She has been involved in every Pride celebration at BIDMC since the LGBTQ advisory committee’s inception in 1993 and has collaborated on many diversity efforts, including helping others become more inclusive leaders.

“The word ‘pride’ takes on new meaning as I look back on these 25 years,” said Ayoub. “Both pride in how far we’ve come and pride in this remarkable BIDMC community for such a warm embrace of the diversity that we all bring—every one of us.”  

BIDMC continued its Pride celebrations throughout the week, including a panel discussion with OB/GYN providers Yvonne Gomez-Carrion, MD, of BIDMC, Marybeth Meservey, NP, of BIDMC, and Rebekah Viloria, MD, of Fenway Health, on their experiences providing care for transgender patients. Staff also participated in a toiletry drive to benefit The Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center, and culminated the week with more than 60 BIDMC community members walking in the 2018 Boston Pride Parade.