Schall Receives Public Service Endowment Grant
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Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management Theo Schall has been awarded a Public Service Endowment Grant to support a project aimed at enhancing shared decision-making with transgender and gender-diverse patients. Administered by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement, these one-year grants support efforts that build mutually beneficial collaborations between UMass and off-campus community organizations.
“Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people in the United States face pervasive health disparities,” writes Schall in his project abstract. “While gender-affirming care can mitigate these disparities, poor communication and inadequate information are common barriers to care.”
Schall will use his $15,000 PSEG grant to partner with Transhealth, a health and community center located in Northampton, and develop a shared decision-making tool designed with input from staff and providers, local TGD advocacy groups and Transhealth patients. This shared decision-making tool’s goal is to improve patient understanding and patient-provider communication. It is an interactive survey that allows patients to indicate what kinds of care they might be interested in while also providing additional educational resources. Once completed, the tool, including integrated referral to educational resources, will be available at Transhealth and other clinics that offer gender-affirming care.
Learn more about all the projects awarded 2024 Public Service Endowment Grants here.