For this issue I wanted to profile the life and work of Al (Williams) Asante-Facey (he/they), whose efforts caught my eye through our class Instagram page, @dartmouth2007s. Al is a tireless advocate for LGBT+ opportunities and dignity in New York City, and it was an honor to get to know them better and hear their reflections on how Dartmouth shaped their adult life and career.

Al reflects, “I have been working as a physician assistant in New York City for the past 15 years, where I live with my partner and two children. I care for patients with gynecologic cancers as well as provide LGBT+ inclusive general gynecologic care.

“Although I have been out in the LGBT+ community for two decades, my experiences changed dramatically when I came out as transmasculine and genderqueer. The most notable for me was the change in my treatment in healthcare, both as a provider and as a patient. Suddenly, people were uncomfortable with how to address me and my medical care. Spaces in which I had once felt welcome became unsafe. This motivated me to get more involved in advancing LGBT+ health equity to help others and empower myself.

“The healthcare system must change to explicitly include transgender and gender-nonconforming people. To this end I teach LGBT+ cultural humility as part of orientation at my hospital. I am part of the leadership team of our 700-plus member LGBT+ employee resource group for the health system I work for, and I teach LGBT+ inclusivity to physician assistant students. I also help with changes in healthcare operations, such as ensuring that someone’s chosen name is displayed instead of their legal name. A career highlight for me was the development of Welcoming Spaces, a webinar created in collaboration with the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and LGBT Cancer Network to teach LGBT+ cultural humility to those practicing in gynecology and gynecologic oncology.

“When I look back on the beginnings of my advocacy for the transgender community, Dartmouth is ever-present. Being involved in the Directing through Recreation, Education, Adventure, and Mentoring (DREAM) program taught me how rewarding volunteering can be. The first LGBT+ event I ever spoke at was at Dartmouth; I learned the value of sharing my personal experiences to create change. My life has been shaped by the lifelong friendships I made at Dartmouth. Victor Glazer ’06 showed me the joy that comes after transition. Susie Fox taught me that people can only tell you ‘no’ if you let them. Amanda Rosenblum always knows the mix of laughter and introspection needed to solve a problem. Laura Erickson-Schroth, DMS ’09, lent their clinical expertise in transgender health and introduced me to folks who made my gynecology practice possible.

“Advocating within healthcare for change can be as draining as it is rewarding, so I balance it with direct community work. I am proud to be on the board of directors for New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG, @nytransadvocacygroup). NYTAG advocates for inclusive gender-based policies in New York by working with politicians and supporting the transgender and gender-nonconforming community by nurturing local leaders.One of my favorite programs at NYTAG is its youth advocacy fellowship, a six-month training program to develop personal and advocacy skills, including interning for community organizations. Please check them out and consider supporting the mission!”

Thank you, Al, for representing our class so well! We are grateful to be part of a community of such energy, inclusion, vision, and love. Check out our Instagram page for some further photos of Al’s life and work.

—Sam Routhier, 543 W 122nd St., Apt. 25B, New York, NY 10027; samrouthier@gmail.com