Skip to main content

About the Center

ADVOCATE CENTERThe Advancing Opportunities in Clinical and Translational Equity in SGM Health (ADVOCATE) Center is led by Director Lauren Beach, PhD, JD, and Co-Director Sumanas Jordan, MD, PhD. The ADVOCATE Center accelerates the research to practice to policy pipeline to improve healthcare and health equity for LGBTQIA+ people and people with HIV.

Prior to Center launch in 2025, ADVOCATE led a two-year process to co-design the Center's inaugural strategic plan with community and health system partners. ADVOCATE's strategic plan centers the power of partnerships to drive community and public health impact.

Mission and Vision

Mission: The ADVOCATE Center’s mission is to translate sexual and gender minority (SGM) health research to practice and policy for maximum health equity impact.

Vision: ADVOCATE envisions a future where healthcare systems are transformed to deliver equitable, affirming, and high-quality care for LGBTQIA+ individuals and people living with HIV, ensuring every patient experiences dignity, respect, and optimal health outcomes.

ADVOCATE’s Four Pillars

Research

We employ community-centered approaches grounded in data, lived experience, and theoretical frameworks to advance health equity for the social drivers of health, chronic conditions, and aging.

Education

We equip individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills to improve LGBTQIA+ health equity.

Practice

We cultivate action-oriented community and health systems partnerships to improve healthcare access, patient experience, and health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ people and people with HIV.

Policy

We partner with  multisectoral coalitions to drive and implement systems change in health law and policy to promote intersectional LGBTQIA+ health equity.

Center Organization

The ADVOCATE Center houses four teams that span the public health model to translate research to practice to policy.

  • The Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Team
  • The SGM Intervention Team
  • The SGM Learning Health System Team
  • The SGM Policy Team