Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month

Amy Vinson, M.D., FAAP

“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community I have been lucky to live and work in a state that has been at the forefront of protecting my rights and the stability of my family.”

I am a pediatrician and pediatric anesthesiologist living in Massachusetts and working at Boston Children’s Hospital. I have been board-certified in anesthesiology since 2012 and pediatric anesthesiology since 2013.  As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have been lucky to live and work in a state that has been at the forefront of protecting my rights and the stability of my family. In fact, state laws are a major determining factor in where our family would consider living and working – I have a wife, a 9-year-old son, and a 2-year-old Boxer, and we love what Massachusetts has to offer us!

I came to anesthesiology through a bit of a crooked path, having trained in pediatrics first and then only dipping my toe in the anesthesia waters to complement a critical care skillset. That is when I fell in love with the specialty, and I haven’t looked back. I love my job and love the amazing people I have the honor of working alongside. Board certification means that you meet a standard and maintain it. It conveys that to colleagues and patients in a way really nothing else can.

K. Elliott Higgins III, M.D.

“The more our field can continue to lead by example and embolden our safe spaces, project inclusivity and demonstrate appreciation for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, the better—not just for us but for our communities and patients.”

I’m an academic anesthesiologist who specializes clinically in regional anesthesia and acute pain. My research and nonclinical work is in healthcare professional well-being, an area I’m very passionate about. I work at UCLA (go Bruins!), and I’ve been board certified since 2018.

What would you like to share with us about your personal journey and experience?
In my work with various efforts and organizations, I have had attending anesthesiologists, residents and medical students come to me seeking guidance—asking questions such as “Will I be accepted?” or “Can I be out in medicine?” My hope is that our field will pave the way not just for the patient experience but also for the provider experience. Determinants of well-being include strong perceptions of belonging, social support and psychological safety. Especially in the high-acuity work we do, psychological safety is critical. The more our field can continue to lead by example and embolden our safe spaces, project inclusivity and demonstrate appreciation for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, the better—not just for us but for our communities and patients.

Why do you value board certification?
I think it’s important for us to meet a certain standard of excellence and to have that maintained. We do critical work, and board certification, in my mind, is an essential component of ensuring expert care for our patients.

Why did you choose to pursue anesthesiology?
A few things initially drew me to anesthesia. I loved the idea of focusing my attention exclusively on one or a small handful of patients at any given time. Also, as a jazz musician, I was enthralled with the idea of a field that relied on a core foundation of basic principles that, once mastered, facilitated a degree of adaptability that, to me, is akin to improvisation. Almost a decade after beginning my training, I still am so happy and in no small part because of those very things that drew me to anesthesia in the first place.

Antonio Hernandez Conte, M.D., MBA, FASA

“Despite the various obstacles and barriers, being an ‘Out & Proud’ anesthesiologist allows me to represent my genuine self, advocate for my patients and ensure that LGBTQ+ patients receive equitable access to health care.”

I am a Yale-trained anesthesiologist and practice at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center as a cardiac anesthesiologist. I obtained my ABA certification in 1997.

What would you like to share with us about your personal journey and experience?
I have been openly gay since I started medical school at Boston University in 1987, long before it was socially acceptable. Despite the various obstacles and barriers,  being an “Out & Proud” anesthesiologist allows me to represent my genuine self, advocate for my patients and ensure that LGBTQ+ patients receive equitable access to health care. At Kaiser Permanente SoCal, I am the Regional Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Care Committee, and I am part of a physician team that strives to ensure that disparities impacting LGBTQ patients are addressed.

Why do you value board certification?
When my patients sometimes ask me about my credentials, I am very proud of the fact that I am a ABA board-certified anesthesiologist and that demonstrates my commitment to lifelong learning in my specialty.

Why did you choose to pursue anesthesiology?
I love being a perioperative physician and managing the surgical journey of patients in what is often a complex and challenging system. As anesthesiologists, we have a gigantic platform to create change that will continue to improve patient outcomes and anesthesia quality.