UMass Memorial Health Earns Top National Recognition for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Care
UMass Memorial Health is recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2026 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2026
Contact: Kristy Lee
kristy.lee@umassmemorial.org
Worcester, MA - UMass Memorial Health is proud to announce it has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2026 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), the highest national distinction for LGBTQ+ inclusion in healthcare.
The HEI is released biennially by the HRC Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. The index serves as the industry’s leading benchmarking tool for evaluating LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity practices in healthcare.
“Recognition as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader reflects our deep and ongoing commitment to delivering equitable care for every patient we serve,” said Dr. Eric Dickson, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health. “We are proud to create an environment where individuals feel respected and supported at every point in their care journey.”
In the HEI evaluation, health systems are assessed on policies and practices across four key areas: inclusive patient care and support, employee benefits and workplace inclusion, education and training and community engagement and outreach.
UMass Memorial Health’s approach includes respectful communication practices such as honoring patients’ names and pronouns, improving the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data and ensuring access to LGBTQ+-affirming services and coordinated care. The system also prioritizes inclusive workplace policies and benefits, systemwide nondiscrimination protections and ongoing education to support caregivers in providing compassionate, inclusive care.
To learn more about UMass Memorial Health’s LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts, visit UMass Memorial Health's LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader page. To learn more about the Healthcare Equality Index or view the full report, visit Human Rights Campaign's Healthcare Equality Index 2026.
About UMass Memorial Health
UMass Memorial Health is the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Central Massachusetts with more than 20,000 caregivers and 2,400 physicians. Our comprehensive system includes UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Memorial Health – Harrington, UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Milford Regional, UMass Memorial Health – Community HealthLink and UMass Memorial Medical Group. We are the clinical partner of UMass Chan Medical School. For more information, visit www.ummhealth.org.