On this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Dr. Michael Kauth, Executive Director of LGBTQ+ Health, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, about the support available for LGBTQ+ Veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

 

Dr. Kauth was sworn in as the first Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Health Program on August 29, 2022.  He leads the development and implementation of health care policy and best practices for Veterans who have lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and similar identities (LGBTQ+) – a population who have historically experienced stigmatization, discrimination, and barriers to culturally responsive health care. Dr. Kauth has worked to develop routine data collection processes for sexual orientation and gender identity in VHA and the use of these data to understand and address health inequities experienced by LGBTQ+ Veterans. His goal is to incorporate attention to the needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans in every clinical service and benefit provided by VA so that an LGBTQ+ Health Program becomes obsolete.

Prior to accepting this position, Dr. Kauth served as Co-Director of the VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for 18 years. The VA South Central MIRECC worked to develop new knowledge about mental health treatments and implement this new knowledge and innovative health care delivery for rural and other underserved Veterans.

In 2021, Dr. Kauth was named the Top Five Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champions at Baylor College of Medicine. In 2018, he received a Special Achievement Award from the Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality and the James Besyner Lifetime Achievement Award from Division 18 (Public Service) of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Kauth has published numerous scientific journal articles, book chapters, and books on LGBTQ+ health, sexual health, sexual attraction, and evolutionary psychology.

This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor podcast episodes number 20 with Jennifer Dane and number 99 with Crystal Ellington. On episode 20, we feature a conversation with US Air Force Veteran Jenn Dane to talk about the Modern Military Association of America, the nation’s largest non-profit organization working to advance fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community. And on episode 99, we feature a conversation with Army Veteran Crystal Ellington, a passionate advocate for those who historically been disenfranchised, systemically excluded, and institutionally oppressed. We have an important conversation about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the military and Veteran community, as well as the need for awareness and advocacy around sexual assault prevention.

 

You can see find these episodes here: 

 

 

 

This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor, the premier education and learning ecosystem specializing in military culture content. PsychArmor offers an online e-learning laboratory with custom training options for organizations.

 

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.