Christine Rodriguez, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, MDiv, MA

About

Dr. Rodriguez is a Senior Lecturer in the Graduate Entry Prespecialty Nursing Program and serves as the Director of the Simulation Unit at Yale School of Nursing. She has an expansive clinical background in LGBTQIA+ healthcare, racial equity and social justice, simulation, religion, and spirituality, as well as medical cannabis. Dr. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Applied Professional Studies from Nova Southeastern University, a Certificate in Faith Community Nursing from the University of Southern Indiana, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master of Divinity from Liberty University, a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Connecticut.

Having served as a healthcare chaplain and practitioner, Dr. Rodriguez was placed in the quintessential position to understand her patient’s needs by utilizing a biopsychosociospiritual framework. Such an approach amplified the inequities and disparities that are depicted within the healthcare system and religious/spiritual communities, specifically for folx of color. Through her own lived experiences and the usage of such framework, Dr. Rodriguez relentlessly strives to advocate and dismantle the systemic oppressive ideologies found within our everyday lives. She served as the Co-Chair of the Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion taskforce for the medical services department at the University of Connecticut’s Student Health & Wellness clinic where she developed policies centered around equity, inclusion, and belonging. Through her work, the University of Connecticut’s Student Health and Wellness clinic attained the prestigious designation of “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” marking it 1 of 4 university-based student health centers, at that time, to attain such a title across the nation.

Her doctoral project titled, “The Affirmative Care Program: An Evidence-Based Educational Program for Clinicians to Meet the Healthcare Needs of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Patients” aimed to address the knowledge gaps witnessed within healthcare services for the transgender community and served as the basis for consultative services with hospitals, medical practices, and other clinical partnerships. The program encompassed five facets:

Diversity, health equity, inclusion, and belonging
Microaggressions, implicit biases, and bystander intervention
LGBTQIA+ definitions and terminology, chosen name and pronouns
Gender affirming garments, gender affirming hormone therapy, and gender affirming surgeries
Patient panel discussing their lived experiences both positive and negative within healthcare systems

Research Interests/Clinical Practice

Research Interests

Dr. Rodriguez’s scholarly inquiry encompasses diversity, health equity, inclusion and belonging, racial inequities and disparities, LGBTQIA+ healthcare with a specialization in transgender health, healthcare simulation, cannabis, and cannabinoid receptors, as well as African-Caribbean religions.

Clinical Practice

Dr. Rodriguez’s clinical practice includes working as a clinician for Plume, a digital healthcare service platform that provides customized health plans for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. She also works as a clinician at Compassionate Solutions, a medical practice that aims to educate the public on medical cannabis; thus, mitigating the stigma associated with the use of cannabis. She works together with probation officers, community officials, and clinical partners to help provide education surrounding the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of numerous qualifying conditions as designated by the state of Connecticut. She serves on Tanenbaum’s Health Care Program Advisory Council, whereby she collaborates and assists in identifying new and important trends in interreligious understanding and religio-cultural competency within healthcare settings.

Selected Books/Chapters

Long, T., Snyder, M., Rodriguez, C. & Watson, R. LGBTQ Studies: An Open Introduction. Chapter 8, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Healthcare. Albany: SUNY Press.

Selected Publications/Presentations

Publications

Rodriguez, C. (2019). Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Healthcare: Curriculum Course Development. Philadelphia. Lippincott Professional Development Collection.

Selected Presentations:

Rodriguez, C. (2022). TRANSforming Primary Care: A Medical Provider’s Guide to Gender Affirming Care. American Association of Nurse Practitioner’s National Conference. Orlando, FL.

Rodriguez, C. (2022). Conscientious Care Webinar - Religion vs. LGBTQ Care: A False Narrative. Tannenbaum’s Healthcare Program. New York, NY.

Rodriguez, C. (2021). TRANSforming Nursing: Introducing Gender-Sensitive Care into Simulation. Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing 46th Biennial Convention. Indianapolis, IN.

Rodriguez, C. (2021-future). TRANScending Beyond: Gender-Sensitive Care for Healthcare Simulation. National League of Nursing Education Summit. National Harbor, MD.

Rodriguez, C. (2019). Inclusive and Affirming: LGBTQIA+ Data Collection for Healthcare Professionals. Connecticut Judicial Branch, Office of Victim Services. Wethersfield, CT.

Rodriguez, C. (2019). Development and Implementation of The Affirmative Care Program: An Evidence-Based Educational Program for Clinicians to Meet the Healthcare Needs of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming individuals. Eastern Nursing Research Society 31^st Annual Conference. Providence, RI.

Rodriguez, C. (2019). Faith-Based Healthcare and the LGBT Community: Opportunities for and Barriers to Equitable Care – Invited Expert Roundtable Participant. Tanenbaum. New York, NY.

Rodriguez, C. (2018). Transgender Health: Perspectives on Gender-Sensitive Care. GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality Nursing Summit. Las Vegas, NV.

Kiefer, V., Moriarty, P., & Rodriguez, C. (2018). Development and Implementation of a Sexual Assault Response Team. American College Health Association Annual Conference. Washington, D.C.

Rodriguez, C. (2018). Incorporation of Transgender Care in Healthcare Curriculums. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master’s Education Conference. Anaheim, CA.