History
The Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH) was founded in 2015 and is the first university-wide institute in the country focused exclusively on research to improve the health of the sexual and gender minority (SGM) community. ISGMH grew from director Dr. Brian Mustanski’s IMPACT LGBT Health and Development Program, which has been conducting state-of-the art translational research with SGM youth populations since 2008. It was founded with the support of the Office of the Provost, the Office of Research, and the Feinberg School of Medicine. Research administration is coordinated with the Department of Medical Social Sciences.
Vision
We are a leader in research that fosters understanding of the development and experiences of SGM individuals and improves the health and wellbeing of the SGM community. Sexual and gender minorities include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people – anyone whose sexual or gender identity does not conform to social majority categories of sexual orientation or gender.
Mission
As a university-wide institute, our mission is to connect scholars from numerous disciplines with the SGM community to forge collaborations and stimulate innovative research to improve SGM health and wellbeing. The institute provides unique opportunities for high-level research and training for the next generation of SGM scholars. The institute utilizes innovative modalities to disseminate knowledge widely to the SGM community, the public at large, scholars, service providers, educators, and policymakers.