This talk will describe the challenges LGBTQ people face when navigating healthcare as they age or approach end-of-life, and opportunities for creating an experience where more people can thrive. The talk will focus on the role of communication and its ability to help more people receive the care they want when they need it the most.
Carey Candrian, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Director of the Science and Communication Lab at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She was a 2025 Health and Aging Policy Fellow with the U.S. House of Representatives, working on the Minority Staff of the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health. Dr. Candrian holds an MA in Organizational Communication and a PhD in Health Communication, both from the University of Colorado. Her work bridges research, policy, and storytelling to advance health equity, particularly for LGBTQ communities.
She is the creator of Eye to Eye: Portraits of Pride, Strength and Beauty, a powerful photo exhibit celebrating older LGBTQ women, and the director of the documentary Just Us: The Longing and Hope of LGBTQ People, which explores the lived experiences and resilience of LGBTQ individuals. She has spent her career advocating for older adults, often those who are most vulnerable. Her goal is to use her experience as a researcher and educator with her healthcare policy experience on Capitol Hill, and expertise in communication, to build a health care system where more people care thrive.
Register for this event virtually here.