Skip to main content

ADVOCATE Clinical Affiliate Network

The ADVOCATE Center, housed in the Impact Institute, is a clinical and translational research center directed by Dr. Lauren Beach and Dr. Sumanas Jordan. ADVOCATE's model leverages electronic medical records clinical informatics phenotyping and qualitative research with community and health system partners to develop and scale interventions that improve the quality of care and health outcomes of LGBTQIA+ patient populations.  

ADVOCATE’s interdisciplinary core faculty includes all medical directors of Northwestern Medicine’s Gender Pathways Program, Pride Center, and Gay and Bisexual Men’s Urology Program. ADVOCATE’s core research capabilities include clinical informatics, LGBTQIA+ population health expertise, health systems intervention and implementation strategies, quality improvement, and continuing education curriculum development.  

ADVOCATE Center is proud to launch our Clinical Affiliate Network (ADVOCATE CAN) to build a broad network of clinicians dedicated to improving the health and healthcare of LGBTQIA+ patients through education, quality improvement, and research. The CAN strategically connects clinicians with LGBTQIA+ health researchers at Impact Institute to manifest this vision. ADVOCATE CAN members serve as the Center's go-to clinician collaborative network to facilitate our mission of translating LGBTQIA+ health research to practice. CAN members are also invited to attend quarterly networking events, are added to the ADVOCATE CAN website and mailing list, and are provided opportunities to earn continuing education credits.

To join the Clinical Affiliate Network, members must currently provide clinical care, complete the ADVOCATE CAN membership form, share their CV with ADVOCATE Center, and endorse at least one of the following interests: 

  • Leading continuing education curriculum development
  • Serving as a speaker for continuing education curricula presentations
  • Collaborating on medical student, resident, and fellow training
  • Providing clinical review for ADVOCATE’s computable electronic medical records phenotypes
  • Leading quality improvement projects
  • Serving as a clinical expert co-investigator for research projects
  • Serving as a site principal investigator for clinical trials      

To send an inquiry to join ADVOCATE’s Clinical Affiliate Network, please email advocate.sgm@northwestern.edu.

ADVOCATE Clinical Affiliate Network Members

Channa Amarasekera, MD

Channa Amarasekera, MD(he/him)

Assistant Professor, Urology 

  • Clinical, research, and education interests: LGBTQIA+ Healthcare, Men’s Health, Sexual Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery 
  • NUFSM faculty biography
Sumanas Jordan, MD, PhD

Sumanas Jordan, MD, PhD(she/her)

Associate Professor, Surgery (Plastic Surgery) 

  • Clinical, research, and education interests: LGBTQIA+ Healthcare, Gender Affirming Surgery 
  • NUFSM faculty biography
Kaitlyn Kunstman, MD

Kaitlyn Kunstman, MD(she/her)

Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (General Psychiatry)

  • Clinical, research, and education interests: LGBTQIA+ Healthcare, Women’s Health, Medical Education, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Schizophrenia
  • NUFSM faculty biography
Leiszle Lapping-Carr, PhD

Leiszle Lapping-Carr, PhD(she/her)

Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Psychology), Medical Social Sciences (Intervention Science)

  • Clinical, research, and education interests: LGBTQIA+ Healthcare, Mental Health, Psychotherapy, Women’s Health/Reproductive Health, Sexual Dysfunction, Couples Therapy 
  • NUFSM faculty biography