Ivonne Betancourt: Faithful Care in Complex Situations: Serving LGBTQ+ Patients with Compassion

Healthcare professionals increasingly encounter patients whose experiences of identity, sexuality, family, faith, and belonging create complex challenges in the clinical setting. This presentation explores how the example of Jesus provides a framework for approaching LGBTQ+ patients with dignity, compassion, humility, and truth while developing practical communication skills that strengthen trust and support whole-person care.Objectives:1. Identify biblical principles demonstrated by Jesus in caring for people from complex cultural, social, and religious backgrounds.2. Describe psychological, relational, developmental, and social factors that may influence identity development and contribute to identity-related distress.3. Apply practical, compassionate communication skills when caring for LGBTQ+ patients while respecting their dignity, autonomy, and individual experiences.4. Recognize opportunities to build trust and provide whole-person care that addresses physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual dime