INTERVIEW
Providing Leadership in Sexual and Gender Health Eli Coleman, PhD
Please tell us about the goals and guiding
Institutes and Centers, and everyone understood that we met that criteria. There was not much question; it was more a matter of running it through the bureaucratic challenges.
principals that led to the foundation of the Institute for Sexual and Gender Health, which until last year was known as the Program in Human Sexuality and Center for
Please tell us about the range of services
Sexual Health.
Last year you celebrated your 50th Anniversary, what were some of the biggest challenges in reaching that milestone?
Funding has always been a big challenge. Research grant opportunities and priorities have waxed and waned over these many years. Sexuality research has not always been seen as a public health priority. It really gained some credibility as we faced the HIV pandemic. Now we see it relevant to addressing many health conditions and a greater appreciation sexual health is critical to overall health, well-being and quality of life.
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JUNE 2022 MINNESOTA PHYSICIAN
you offer.
“...” Sexual health is critical to overall health, well-being and quality of life. “...”
The Program in Human Sexuality (the Program), now the Institute for Sexual and Gender Health (ISGH), was founded in 1970, and its goals and guiding principles have essentially remained the same for over 50 years. The Institute was created out of a recognition there was a profound misunderstanding of human sexuality and educating health care professionals and the public was key to everyone’s health and well-being. It was also apparent that many of the sexual problems that people were facing were perpetuated by a culture that was uncomfortable talking about sex, did not value the importance of sexuality education and that laws and social policies were not always formulated based upon the best available science. For 50 years, the Institute for Sexual and Gender Health has been educating allied health professionals and the public, conducting research to advance our knowledge, providing clinical care to hundreds of individuals, couples and families each year and advocating for a science-based approach to public policy and laws. We have been changing the cultural climate and providing leadership in the field of sexual and gender health education, research and clinical care.
We have had to adapt to those highs and lows by shifting some of our research priorities and finding other mechanisms for revenue to support our research. We have been able to build a steady stream of clinical revenue, but reimbursement and insurance coverage has always been a challenge in covering costs. While we have had support for our educational activities from the Medical School, it does not quite cover all of the expenses for faculty time in developing curriculum and delivering content. Our flexibility and the tremendous support we receive from our Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, as well as philanthropic support, has helped us to weather the highs and lows of funding. What are some of the issues that were involved with attaining the Institute status?
A number of years ago, we recognized that the Program had grown so much in breadth and stature that it had outgrown its status as a “Program.” The University has criteria for
We offer a wide variety of both clinical and educational services. In terms of clinical care, we provide psychological, medical and psychiatric services related to sexual and gender health concerns. We like to treat the whole person from a biopsychosocial perspective. We not only help individuals, but also work with couples and families as appropriate. This ranges from relationship and sexual problems, such as low sexual desire, orgasmic difficulties, sexual pain and compulsive sexual behavior to gender and sexual orientation identity issues across the lifespan. Our educational services include our internationally renowned human sexuality curriculum for University of Minnesota medical students, as well as clinical rotations for medical students and family medicine residents. In the last few years, we have expanded our educational services by offering a graduate level certificate in human sexuality and now a master’s degree in sexual health. In addition, we lecture and present at professional meetings, host community education events such as our Sex Science Happy Hour series and provide educational workshops around the world. What are some of the things a primary care physician might look for in their patients that would indicate a referral to your programs could be helpful?
First, they should recognize most of their patients have sexual concerns certainly at different developmental periods, but also as they experience acute or chronic medical conditions. Not only do the conditions themselves impact their patient’s sexuality, but the treatments they receive also have an effect. Ask, “How is this… affecting your sexuality or sexual function? Do you have any concerns about your sexual or gender
