This Is a Virtual Event
The world of migraine care has been greatly expanding, with many new options available to control symptoms and reduce headache burden. Recent studies show that members of the LGBTQ+ community experience a higher burden of migraine episodes (compared to heterosexual individuals), and face additional barriers to care that make managing migraine more difficult, leading to reduced quality of life.
Understanding migraine, medication options, and how to communicate your preferences around treatment can be the key to unlocking improvements in care. It is important to share your experiences, needs, and concerns with your care team so that together you can develop a management plan that fits your unique journey with migraine.
Join us for this patient town hall on migraine where you can ask questions and learn more about overcoming barriers to care, selecting treatment options with your care team, and advocating for yourself.
Topics of discussion include:
- Understanding the impact of migraine in your own life and in the LGBTQ+ community
- How to overcome stigma and seek appropriate care
- Strategies for tracking symptoms and selecting migraine treatments
- Ways to communicate effectively and become an active participant in your migraine care
Presenters
Sponsored by
Agenda
- Dismantling Disparities in LGBTQ+ Migraine Care
- Overcoming Stigma: It's Not Just a Headache
- Understanding Treatment Options and Making Therapy Selections
- Effective Communication Strategies: A Shared Decision-Making Guide
Summary: Achieving Empowered Migraine Care and Living Your Best Life
- Introduction and Focus:
The webinar addressed the impact of migraine, especially in the LGBTQIA+ community, emphasizing stigma, barriers to care, and strategies for empowered management. It featured Dr. Anna Pace and Joseph Co as key speakers. - Migraine Overview:
Migraine is a chronic neurological condition affecting over 4 million people in the U.S. It causes significant disability, with LGBTQIA+ individuals disproportionately affected, experiencing higher prevalence and barriers to care. - Disparities in Care:
LGBTQIA+ individuals face increased stigma, discrimination, and trauma, contributing to higher migraine disability. They are less likely to receive timely diagnoses and appropriate treatment due to systemic and personal barriers. - Barriers to Treatment:
Challenges include financial constraints, insurance issues, and lack of access to quality care. Discrimination and lack of affirming care, such as assumptions about hormone therapy causing migraines, also hinder effective treatment. - Patient Experiences and Stigma:
Many patients feel judged or misunderstood, leading to delayed treatment or inadequate care. Internalized stigma and societal assumptions ("just a headache") compound these challenges. - Survey Insights:
Respondents highlighted the impact of migraines, including canceled plans, missed work, and guilt. Top barriers included financial challenges, lack of access to quality care, and difficulty finding effective treatments. - Shared Decision-Making:
Effective migraine management requires collaboration between providers and patients, respecting medical expertise and lived experiences. Tailored plans should address individual needs, treatment preferences, and holistic care goals. - Medication and Insurance Issues:
Prior authorizations and "fail-first" insurance policies impede access to effective treatments. Advocacy efforts, like the Safe Step Act, aim to reduce these barriers. - Communication Challenges:
Patients often struggle to identify which symptoms to report or feel hesitant to share concerns for fear of seeming needy. Providers emphasized the importance of open communication and comprehensive care planning. - Empowerment and Advocacy:
The discussion emphasized the importance of affirming care, self-advocacy, and systemic change to ensure equitable, effective migraine treatment for all, especially marginalized communities.
Jessica Ailani, MD
Director, MedStar Georgetown Headache Center
Vice Co-Chair, Strategic Planning
Professor of Clinical Neurology
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, DC
Jessica Ailani, MD, is board certified in neurology with added certifications in neurology and headache. Dr Ailani is a Professor of Clinical Neurology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Director of the MedStar Georgetown Headache Center. The conditions she treats include migraines, cluster headaches, tension headaches, post-traumatic headaches, occipital neuralgia, headache related to neck strain and concussion-related headaches. Dr Ailani's research involves clinical trials in migraine and cluster treatment. She often gives national and international talks focused on treatments in migraine.
Sarah R. Shaw
Associate Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Community Outreach
Global Healthy Living Foundation
Shirley Kessel, Miles for Migraine Executive Director
Shirley is the mom of three daughters, two of whom live with migraine. When her youngest daughter Sydney became diagnosed at an early age, they both decided that it was time to take action to bring awareness and raise money for migraine research. They contacted Eileen Jones, who founded the Miles for Migraine race in San Francisco, and brought the race to the Philadelphia community in 2013. She became the Executive Director in 2017 when it became apparent that Miles for Migraine should take the race series around the USA.
Shirley has worked in healthcare since 1983 and has served on various non-profit boards since 1991. She won’t retire until a cure is found for this disabling disease.