Clare Madrigal
An emergency room nurse for 13 years, Clare Madrigal currently serves both on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and as the LGBTQ+ Resource Nurse for two Johns Hopkins Medicine hospitals, where she trains hospital staff on LGBTQ+ health, acts as a patient and employee advocate, and organizes community outreach. She’s also the owner of REACH: Rainbow Education And Consulting for Health, LLC, where she assists organizations in creating affirming and inclusive practices. Her passion for the position only grows, and Madrigal’s goal is to make everyone feel welcome and listened to in medical facilities. “Over the years, as I’ve educated myself on LGBTQ health, my passion for providing this important education has grown,” she says. “LGBTQ patients often feel more comfortable sharing more personal details of their health history with someone that they know is LGBTQ or an ally.” As an emergency nurse at Frederick Health Hospital, Madrigal has implemented queer health education and encourages inclusive practices within the organization. She says that while being an out queer woman was not celebrated when she first started working as a nurse almost 14 years ago, it’s now an important part of her career. Both staff and patients alike look to Madrigal for knowledge and support, and she knows that being visible in her role is one step toward helping those she’s treating and working with feel proud of who they are. “I wear rainbow accessories, a pronoun pin, [and] a queer haircut to be visual to patients and co-workers,” says Madrigal. “Sharing my personal experiences as a queer person, and as a fellow healthcare provider, helps form a connection.” Madrigal was recently awarded the Johns Hopkins Achievers Award, meant to “recognize and highlight underrepresented minorities who exemplify excellence and models of the Johns Hopkins Medicine core values.” —GP
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