RHO in Action: A Nurse Educator’s Story
Ashley Jackson, RN, MScN, a nursing educator at Loyalist College in Belleville, is on a mission to close learning gaps in nursing education. As both an educator and a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, she’s passionate about equipping nurses with the tools to support gender-diverse patients, starting in the classroom.
When I started taking courses, I saw how this could be integrated into my work seamlessly,” Jackson said, reflecting on her experience with RHO’s courses.
What stood out most? The courses’ accessibility, community-led facilitation and interdisciplinary approach.
“I met people from across Ontario in different disciplines,” she said. “It’s not just for nursing or medicine. It’s interprofessional—and that’s important, because gender-affirming care requires teamwork.
A key moment came during RHO’s surgical assessment training.
“Before taking the course, I thought only doctors, NPs or psychotherapists were involved,” she recalled. “But I learned nurses can be assessors too.
At Loyalist College, Jackson introduced meaningful curriculum changes. She has added gender-affirming medications to pharmacology courses and emphasized teaching trauma-informed care and gender-affirming care early on.
“I take my role seriously. I’m training the next generation of nurses,” she added. “Many faculty and students still have gaps because this wasn’t taught in nursing school, even recently.
With gender-affirming care facing mounting challenges, Jackson offers a clear call to action: “Gender-affirming care saves lives. We need to provide the best care possible for gender-diverse individuals facing hardship. If you want to do something actionable, start learning.
To explore RHO’s professional development offerings, visit rainbowhealthontario.ca/education.
Our Podcast Gets a Fresh Look
We’re excited to unveil the new look of 2SLGBTQ+ Health in Focus! While we’ve refreshed our cover art and webpage, we’re still bringing you the same thought-provoking discussions with leading experts and advocates. Episodes feature conversations with leading voices including Fae Johnstone, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Dr. Aisha Lofters, and other experts discussing pressing health issues facing 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major platforms. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
Resource Spotlight: Supporting Trans Student Athletes
We are pleased to spotlight this resource for educators, developed in consultation with RHO. Created by the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH), it highlights the unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQ+ student athletes, with a focus on trans athletes in post-secondary sports. Trans student athletes often navigate transphobia and scrutiny from fellow athletes, media and the broader society. This fact sheet provides information to help post-secondary institutions inform policies, understand service gaps and create psychologically and culturally safe environments for all students.