USC Hospitals Keck Medicine and USC Student Health, part of Keck Medicine, have been named an LGBTQ+ Health Equity Leader in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2026 Health Equity Index (HEI).
The HEI is the industry-standard benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity practices in healthcare and evaluates hospitals on five criteria:
To receive the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation, a healthcare facility must achieve the highest score on each criterion and an overall score of 100.
All patients deserve safe and respectful care, and Keck Medicine is proud to serve the diverse needs of the LGBTQ+ community. This recognition reflects our commitment to providing personalized and compassionate care and fostering an inclusive environment that welcomes all. ”
Rod Hanners, CEO, Keck Medicine
Keck Medicine’s hospitals include USC Keck Hospital, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH), and USC Arcadia Hospital (USC-AH). This is the eighth time Keck Hospital, USC Norris and USC-VHH have received the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader honor, and the second time USC-AH has received this recognition since joining Keck Medicine in 2022.
USC Student Health, which provides comprehensive health care to students at the University of Southern California, participated in the survey for the third time, joining a select group of university health care providers to be named a Leader.
Commitment to inclusion and equity
Keck Medicine demonstrates its commitment to inclusion and equity by leading multiple initiatives and programs supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
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The USC Gender Affirming Care Program provides comprehensive, evidence-based health care tailored to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse patients. The program’s dedicated patient navigators help meet patients’ individual needs throughout their healthcare journey.
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The health system sponsors the Latino Equality Alliance LGBTQ+ Youth College Scholarship Program, which also includes the Keck Medicine Scholarship, which supports LGBTQ+ students pursuing medical careers.
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The health system works with several local LGBTQ+ nonprofits, including The TransLatin@ Coalition, a transgender-led nonprofit that advocates for the needs of transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex immigrants. Bienestar is a community-based social service organization that addresses emerging health issues facing Latinx and LGBTQ+ people.
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Since 2015, the Keck Pride Employee Resource Group has been a pillar of creating a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ patients, families, and staff and is the driving force behind many of the health system’s initiatives.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the education arm of the Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights organization working to achieve equality for LGBTQ+ people.
