Manuel Villegas Roberson, MDAs Pride Month comes to an end, I’m reflecting on the opportunity we’ve had to celebrate the generations of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies who helped create a profession where many of us can live and work more openly than those who came before us. Their efforts expanded opportunities for LGBTQ+ physicians and brought greater attention to the needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ patients.

This past June, I found myself thinking about the relationship between medicine and my own identity and how closely the two have become intertwined. Like many others in our profession, medicine has been a vehicle for service, but it has also been a space of comfort and self-discovery.

Early in my training, I was not always certain how much of myself I should bring into professional spaces. Navigating questions of identity, visibility, and belonging while meeting the demands of medical training and practice can be challenging. Through mentorship and community, I learned that authenticity does not compete with professionalism; it strengthens it.

As an LGBTQ+ physician, some of the most meaningful moments in my career have been when patients felt comfortable sharing parts of their own identity because they sensed they were being cared for in a space free of judgment. These moments are reminders that who we are as providers and who we are as people are not separate—they often strengthen one another.

For me, the LGBTQ+ at CHEST Interest Group is more than a professional home. It is a place where mentorship, inspiration, community, and opportunity come together. It is a space where we learn from one another, draw on our shared experiences, and support each other through the challenges and opportunities that shape our careers and lives. At its core, mentorship is about meeting people where they are, valuing the life experiences they bring, and helping them recognize new possibilities for growth and leadership.

What makes the LGBTQ+ at CHEST Interest Group special is how naturally those values are reflected in the relationships we build, the conversations we have, and the support we provide one another throughout our professional journeys.

During Pride Month, and throughout the year, we celebrate the allies, mentors, patients, and advocates who help create a stronger sense of belonging within our profession.

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