Healthcare leaders, nursing faculty, researchers and students from across the country gathered at the University of Nevada, Reno, at Lake Tahoe Campus April 29–May 1, 2026, for the 3rd LGBTQ+ Nursing Summit, an invitational working meeting focused on advancing LGBTQ+ health and healthcare.

Hosted by the Orvis School of Nursing, the summit brought together leaders and emerging leaders in nursing and healthcare to collaborate on actionable strategies across four key areas: research, education, practice and policy, with support from the Dena Kruse Nursing Excellence and Opportunity Fund. The opening ceremonies featured remarks from University President Brian Sandoval and Dean Charles Yingling.

Left to right: Brian Sandoval and Dean Charles Yingling with Phoenix Matthews and Tonda Hughes from Columbia University.

After attending prior LGBTQ+ Nursing Summits, Yingling pitched the idea of holding the summit at the University’s Lake Tahoe campus, which will launch a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in spring 2027 focused on serving rural and mountain communities.

Rather than a traditional conference, the summit centered on collaborative agenda-setting and strategic planning designed to continue beyond the three-day event. Participants worked to develop research priorities, create practical guidance for integrating LGBTQ+ health content into nursing curricula and identify policy challenges impacting LGBTQ+ healthcare and nursing education.

Summit attendees broke into small groups for strategic planning.

“At this moment in time, it’s important for people working with marginalized communities to come together to sustain one another and support one another, especially because many participants are coming from states where work like this is at high risk,” said Yingling. “It is our job as nurses to advocate not just for patients, but for communities we work with, and this is a form of collective advocacy.”

The summit also emphasized nursing’s role in creating inclusive and affirming healthcare environments for patients and healthcare professionals.

Jasen Brooks, director of identity and cultural engagement and lecturer at the Orvis School of Nursing, as well as the keynote speaker for the University’s Spring 2026 Lavender Affinity Celebration, remarked, “Education is the root of everything we do in healthcare. Our job is not just to transmit information to nurses, but also to patients — often when they’re sick. Our community, along with other marginalized ones, is massively underserved and in a challenging political and social climate, it is our job to make sustainable changes to improve healthcare for all people.”

Brooks also mentored and taught two undergraduate students who attended the summit.

“They are the representation of what the future can be and an amazing beacon of what can happen,” Brooks said.

Brayson Gomez and Hope Crockell said they were excited to participate in a summit focused on supporting LGBTQ+ communities and advancing healthcare equity. The two students previously presented on LGBTQ+ healthcare in behavioral health and HIV care and plan to work in the Reno area after graduating this spring.

“When Professor Brooks and Dean Yingling approached us with this opportunity, I was very excited to take part,” Gomez said. “I feel like we don’t talk about LGBTQ+ individuals in healthcare a lot, and they are one of the vulnerable populations we need to be supporting. I wanted to learn how to better support LGBTQ+ individuals as a soon-to-be nurse and contribute to the positive and supportive environment they deserve.”

Gomez added that, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, he also hoped to build a support system and connect with mentors as he enters the nursing field.

Crockell said she was drawn to the summit because of her interest in improving healthcare experiences and outcomes for LGBTQ+ patients and providers.

“I was really interested in the opportunity to learn more about how healthcare systems can better support LGBTQ+ patients and nurses,” Crockell said. “As a queer individual, this is also something that matters to me on a personal level, which made me even more motivated to be part of conversations that aim to improve care and create more inclusive environments.”

As an undergraduate student participating alongside national healthcare leaders, Crockell said the experience quickly became empowering.

“At first, it was a little intimidating, but it quickly became inspiring,” Crockell said. “I felt like my perspective as a student was genuinely valued, which made me more confident in contributing to discussions.”

She also said the summit reinforced the broader role nurses play in shaping healthcare systems.

“I learned that nurses play a huge role, not just at the bedside, but also in shaping the systems patients interact with,” Crockell said. “We are responsible for helping move healthcare toward being more inclusive and equitable.”

Gomez said he also initially felt overwhelmed but quickly felt welcomed as Brooks and Yingling introduced students to participants from across the country.

“Everyone was so kind and welcoming and had a genuine interest in getting to know more about us and why we wanted to be there,” Gomez said. “I really felt like they wanted to see our success and help us pave the way in our future careers.”

He said the experience also showed him the many opportunities for advocacy within nursing.

“It was exciting to see all the wonderful opportunities and possibilities available to me in the future as a nurse, and to see that advocacy, something I strive for in my own life, is already well established and actively taking place,” Gomez said.

The summit concluded with collaborative action planning intended to sustain partnerships and initiatives throughout the coming year. Organizers said collaborative projects and policy discussions will continue through ongoing partnerships among participants.

“One of the most meaningful parts of the summit was knowing that the work doesn’t just stop after those two days,” Crockell said. “The conversations and ideas we developed will continue over the next year, which makes the experience feel lasting and impactful.”

Gomez said the summit reinforced the importance of advocacy in nursing care.

“Advocacy is the number one thing I learned nurses can do to support LGBTQ+ individuals. As a nurse, I might be the first person a patient comes out to, or someone they confide in, and that is something so special to me. I want to make sure LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe, seen and supported.”