Duke Nursing Faculty Honored for Lifetime Achievement in Advancing LGBTQ+ Health

An Outstanding Achievement

Professor Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C, AAHIVS, DFAAPA, has devoted her career of research, teaching, and clinical practice to improving LGBTQ health, with much of her work focused on increasing access to resources and economic support, preventing HIV acquisition, and reducing structural discrimination.

Dr. Poteat, who leads a seminar on health equity and social determinants of health for the School’s PhD program, was recently recognized by GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Health—the world’s oldest and largest association of LGBTQ+ and allied health professionals—with their prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring an individual who has made significant and continued contributions to LGBTQ+ health over the course of their career.

According to GLMA, the Annual Achievement Awards “serve as a beacon of hope for all working toward the advancement of LGBTQ+ health, inspiring others to strive for excellence and innovation in this critical field.”

“I am so incredibly honored to receive this award,” said Dr. Poteat. “Making a positive difference in the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities is at the heart of the work I’ve been doing throughout my career, and it feels wonderful to know that it matters.” 

A Career Dedicated to LGBTQ+ Health

Dr. Poteat has authored more than 200 publications in this field and has been awarded over 15 grants from national health organizations and universities. Last year, she was invited to the highly regarded Ernst Struengmann Forum of the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, later contributing a chapter on transgender health equity research to the book Sex and Gender: Toward Transforming Scientific Practice. She is also an Associate Editor of LGBT Health and serves on the Department of Health and Human Services Adolescent and Adult HIV Treatment Guidelines panel and on the board of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.

In her clinical practice, she is certified as an HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine and as a Gender Specialist by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which she says ensures that her research is clinically relevant and that she continues to provide the highest standards of care.

“My goal is always to advance the science in ways that promote equitable care for all populations,” said Dr. Poteat. “Understanding why health disparities exist and identifying ways to address those disparities is my main priority.”

Dr. Poteat is committed to nurse-led models of care and direct community engagement, especially with regards to caring for LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Nursing is the largest health profession in the world, and the most trusted,” said Dr. Poteat. "When nurse-led models of care attend to the specific needs of the LGBTQ+ community, it moves us closer to health equity for all. Engaging the communities most impacted by health disparities is essential for ensuring that the care we provide meets their needs.”

Dr. Poteat has also served widely across Duke University: she is Associate Director of the Duke Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Developmental Core, Co-Director of the Duke Sexual and Gender Minority Wellness Program, and a Research Professor for the Duke Global Health Institute.

Through sustained advocacy and collaboration, Dr. Poteat is committed to making healthcare more accessible and equitable, despite any roadblocks. 

Her lifetime of work, she indicated, is far from complete. “I plan to continue my work toward a future where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive.”