CV

Educator, Writer, Researcher, and Consultant — Self-employed & Freelance

April 2009 – Current

• Founded and manage Chronic Sex, an award-winning website and podcast promoting disability rights and inclusion of health equity in sex education and healthcare advocacy.
  • Designed and executed a social media strategy that grew the platform’s reach to 11K+ followers, focusing on community-building and disability justice issues.
  • Designed and facilitated multiple workshops focused on disability justice, advocacy, and health equity for community organizations, healthcare providers, and the general public.
  • Coordinated educational programs, workshops, and training sessions for nonprofits, advocacy groups, and academic institutions.
  • Led research initiatives, including securing a $2,500 grant from The Effing Foundation for research on patient-provider communication, disability justice, and LGBTQ+ health.
• Write and edited content for educational publications, blogs, and media platforms. Clients have included Prosper Health, the U.S. Pain Foundation's INvisible Magazine, Healthline, and pharmaceutical companies. Subjects include conference coverage, health information, and individual profiles/interviews.
• Provide consultation on disability rights, accessibility policies, and inclusive advocacy strategies.
• Serve as a sensitivity reader and editor for projects focused on disability, health education, and sexuality.
• Play-testing video & computer games for accessibility, playability, and quality.
• Projects
  • MD Collab/Carbon Health (Nov 2017 - April 2018): Served as a content management intern for MD Collab, creating social media and written pieces around Carbon Health’s start-up EHR system.
  • American College of Rheumatology (Nov 2022 – Feb 2024): Partnered with rheumatologists to develop CME materials for pediatricians to recognize juvenile arthritis. Created educational resources for families.
  • G-W Goodheart-Willcox Publishing (Jun 2024 – Sept 2024): Sensitivity reader and editor for a comprehensive health education curriculum used in middle and high schools, ensuring accurate LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion.
  • Play Safe (Nov 2023 – March 2025): Playing & reviewing content for multiple video games in order to report out possibly triggering content.

Health Equity Strategist (contract) — Elevate Advocacy

September 2023 – Current

• Manage client relationships and provide strategic input on deliverables, including advocacy campaigns and capacity-building efforts aimed at improving health equity within marginalized communities.
• Build and maintain relationships with advocates, nonprofit leaders, and marginalized communities to ensure messaging aligns with lived experiences.
• Develop and execute digital marketing strategies to expand Elevate’s digital presence, focusing on community engagement.
• Create branded templates, academic posters, graphics, and thought leadership content.
• Track engagement metrics, recommend SEO strategies, and expand Elevate’s digital presence.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings, webinars, and community engagement efforts to support stakeholder education.
• Develop materials and reports on accessibility policies, disability justice, and health equity initiatives.
• Maintain and update internal databases and project management tools for tracking program deliverables.
• Support proposal development, event planning, and stakeholder mapping.
• Maintain internal resources, including website updates and podcast uploads.
• Provide support for onboarding staff and colleagues.

DEIB Content Writer - PowerToFly

Dec 2022 – Jul 2023

• Wrote video scripts and lesson text for PowerToFly’s DEIB Membership product PowerUp, geared towards Fortune500 companies. Created 30+ video scripts in six months covering DEIB, social justice, LGBTQ+ issues, disability, neurodiversity, and BIPOC perspectives.
• Created SHRM-certified Disability in the Workplace course, educating corporate teams on disability justice, accessibility, and inclusion within the workplace.
• Led LMS content development using Open EdX.

Communications Specialist - The Trans Counseling Advocacy Research and Education (CARE) Collaborative

Aug 2021 – Dec 2022

• Created a social media presence and non-academic website for the Trans CARE Collaborative, including writing all web copy.
• Grew followers to multiple thousands in over a year by regular posting, sharing others' posts, and following a social media strategy I developed.
• Recruited new members interested in joining the transgender-affirming psychology group.
• Raised awareness of the issues facing transgender and nonbinary people of color, especially related to mental health access and care.

Provider Directory Coordinator, Communities - Included Health

Sept 2022 – Dec 2022

• Managed and updated an internal 2,000+ directory via Salesforce of health care providers administering culturally competent care. Improved data collection and sharing.
• Collaborated with 40+ Care Coordinators to support LGBTQ+ and Black health initiatives.
• Developed and delivered equity-focused education for healthcare providers, improving competency by 35%.
• Provided case management and advocacy services for LGBTQ+ members navigating issues surrounding health, healthcare, and insurance. This involved working with insurance plans, provider offices, clinic systems, and beyond.

LGBTQ+ Care Coordinator - Included Health

Nov 2021 – Aug 2022

• Interacted regularly with members, providing guidance around healthcare and insurance as well as case management services.
• Connected members with resources, providers, and education.
• Searched for and vetted culturally competent health care providers for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Educated parents of LGBTQ+ youth on the importance of competent care.
• Advocated on behalf of members with insurance plans, provider offices, providers, and others as needed.

Chronic Disease Prevention Communication Specialist - Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Apr 2020 – Nov 2021

• Developed and implemented communications strategies for Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes Prevention, Nutrition, and Physical Activity programs.
• Managed website content in Drupal, coordinated email outreach, and maintained stakeholder engagement. Worked on an internal LMS system to develop trainings and disseminate information.
• Event planning and management, including virtual meetings, trainings, and webinars.
• Created public health-focused social media content, reports, presentations, and meeting materials centering marginalized communities.
• Assisted with grant management, edited and developed deliverables, and provided technical assistance to grantees.
• Served on multiple internal and external workgroups, including the Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group, Wisconsin Heart Health Community of Practice, DHS DEI Culture Team, and Health Equity Advisory Team (HEAT).

Learn more on LinkedIn.

Certificate – Clinical Care for Autistic Adults
Harvard Medical School
October 2024

Certificate – Clinical Trial Diversity Training
Trial Equity
September 2024

Certificate – Gaming Accessibility Fundamentals
Microsoft
November 2023

Certificate – Patient Leadership
Health Union
August 2023

Certificate – Human Rights Education Training
US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights
August 2023

Certificate – Patient Advocacy & Storytelling
National Patient Advocate Foundation
July 2023

Certificate – Translational Science Specialization
University of Michigan & Coursera
July 2023

Certificate – Foundations of Health Equity Research
Johns Hopkins University & Coursera
July 2023

Certificate – Wilderness First Aid Specialization
University of Colorado System & Coursera
July 2023

Certificate – Medical Terminology Specialization
Rice University & Coursera
July 2023

Certificate – Leading Diverse Teams
University of California, Irvine & Coursera
May 2023

Certificate – Leading Diverse Teams & Organizations
University of Michigan & Coursera
March 2023

Utica College
MS in Health Care Administration, 2017
Capstone: "Effectively Measuring Patient Engagement: An Investigation Into Patient Engagement And The Patient Activation Measure"

Carroll College
BA in Religious Studies, 2010
Double minor in History & Politics

Grants Received

The Effing Foundation

$2500

To help patients receive the best care, especially when it comes to sexual and genital health, we need to create tools to improve how we all talk about sex in the exam room.

Grants Previously Worked On

CDC

• CDC-RFA-20-2004: Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, Public Law 115-406, for Public Health Programs to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
• DP18-1815: Improving the Health of Americans Through Prevention and Management of Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke
• DP18-1817: Innovative State and Local Public Health Strategies to Prevent and Manage Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke
• DP21-2102: Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program

• Shea B., Pardo J.P., Grosskleg S., Beaton D.E., Conaghan P., Goettsch W., Hofstetter C., Maxwell L., Musaus J., Ollendorf D., Schultz G., et al. Increasing uptake through collaboration in the development of core outcome sets: Lessons learned at OMERACT 2023. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024 Mar 16;66:152438. doi: 1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152438. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38555726.
• Maxwell, L.J., Wright, G.C., Schultz, G., et al. Embracing unity at OMERACT: Valuing equity, promoting diversity, fostering inclusivity. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, Volume 66, 2024, 152422, ISSN 0049-0172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152422.
• Bass, A.R., Chakravarty, E., Akl, E.A., et al. 2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for Vaccinations in Patients With Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases. Arthritis Care Res. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25045

• Kalloo, A., Johnson, W., Kileen, S., and Schultz, G. (2024) Patient Perspectives: Progressing Health Equity and Empowering Underserved Communities. Presented at the 2^nd Health Equity in Clinical Trials Congress.
• Wright, G., Simon, L., Guillemin, F., Tugwell, P., Maxwell, L., Hofstetter, C., and Schultz, G. (2023). Embracing Unity: Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Presented at OMERACT 2023.
• Tunis, S., Pardo Pardo, J., Musaeus, J., Strand, V., Ollendorf, D., Stevens, R., Goettsch, W., and Schultz, G. (2023). Championing Core Outcome Sets for Impactful Results. Presented at OMERACT 2023.
• Schultz, G. (2023). Navigating Disability in the Workplace. Presented virtually to for TransTech Summit.
• Schultz, G., and additional panel representatives. (2023). Is Disability Part of Your DEI Planning and Engagement in Rare Disease? Presented virtually for X-Talks and ICON.
• Schultz, G., and additional panel representatives. (2023). Great Health Debates, S3E1: Disability Culture and Visibility. Presented virtually for Boston Congress of Public Health.
• Schultz, G., and additional panel representatives. (2023). QueerCME Sexual Health panel. Presented virtually.
• Grabert, R., and Schultz, G. (2022). SOGI 101: Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to Improve Patient Care. Presented virtually on behalf of MATEC-WI.
• Andert, B., and Schultz, G. (2022). LGBTQ+ Health Disparities. Presented for the Wisconsin DHS Chronic Disease Prevention monthly partner call virtually.

Additional presentations

• Sharma AE, Mann Z, Cherian R, Del Rosario JB, Yang J, Sarkar U. Recommendations From the Twitter Hashtag #DoctorsAreDickheads: Qualitative Analysis [published correction appears in J Med Internet Res. 2020 Nov 9;22(11):e25511]. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(10):e17595. Published 2020 Oct 28. doi:10.2196/17595
• “Real People. Real Stories.”: Self-Advocacy and Collective/Connective Action on the Digital Platform, The Mighty by Sarah M. Parsloe, PhD
• Young, Disabled and LGBT+ Voices, Identities and Intersections edited by Alex Toft & Anita Franklin
• Becoming Disabled: Forging a Disability View of the World by Jan Doolittle Wilson
• Nothing for Us Without Us: Building Inclusive Clinical Trials for the LGBTQ Community
• Marriage Institutions Aren’t Just Sexist — They’re Ableist And Disrespectful To People With Disabilities
• Having a Chronic Illness Doesn’t Mean Giving Up Sex
• Righting misrepresentation: Folx with disabilities can be romantic, sexual partners

Additional citations and interviews

Additional appearances

• Advocating for Your Health: Tips from Four Experts
• Plastic Straw Bans Are Not Fair to People with Disabilities, and Here’s What We Can Do About It
• How Some Transgender Folks Are Grappling With Gender Dysphoria During the Pandemic
• Dating With a Disability is Dangerous
• 11 Health Care Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making (and how to avoid them)
• Are Childhood Trauma and Chronic Illness Connected?
• The Mysterious 'Little Hill' and 11 Other Sex Topics School Didn’t Cover

Additional bylines

• 2017  – Healthline’s Best Podcasts - Invisible Illness
• 2017  – Healthline Invisible Illness Champion
• 2013  – Silver Arthritis Ambassador, Arthritis Foundation

Additional awards

• Breakthrough Crew
• Chronic Illness Bloggers Network
• Cochrane
• DCI Network
• Disability Leadership Institute
• GLMA
• Out in Tech
• Out Professionals
• Pleasureable
• Savvy Cooperative
• The Society for Participatory Medicine (SP4M)
• Trans Journalists Association
• Trans Writers Union
• Transgender Professional Association for Transgender Health (TPATH)
• TransTech Social

Past memberships, associations, and service

• 2024–Present – Member, OpenNotes Lab Insight Panel
• 2024–Present – Patient Representative, JIA Guideline Team, American College of Rheumatology
• 2024–Present – Co-Chair, EDI Working Group, OMERACT
• 08/2023–Present – Volunteer, Play Safe (formerly the Game Content Triggers Database - learn about the name change)
• 08/2023–Present – Steering Committee Member, Shape+
• 07/2023–Present – Volunteer, Equality Ohio
• 07/2022–Present – Member At Large and Speaker, TransOhio
• 05/2023–Present – Member, Strategic Advisory Group, OMERACT
• 12/2022–Present – Member of the Stakeholder and Advisory Group, Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs)
• 4/2020–Present – Patient Research Partner, OMERACT
• 2014–Present – Volunteer, Creaky Joints/Global Healthy Living Foundation

Past memberships, associations, and service

Content Creation & Strategy

• Content Writing & Editing: Writing and editing content for websites, blogs, educational materials, social media, newsletters, and marketing materials.
• Storytelling: Crafting compelling and engaging stories that reflect patient experiences, health equity issues, and diversity.
• Social Media Strategy & Management: Developing and implementing social media strategies, managing multiple platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads), and growing audience engagement.
• SEO & Digital Marketing: Utilizing SEO strategies to optimize web content, increase visibility, and track performance metrics.
• Content Development & Creation: Designing original content related to thought leadership, educational resources, and community engagement.

Health Equity & Advocacy

• Health Equity Strategy & Implementation: Applying health equity principles to content, communications, and outreach efforts, with a focus on marginalized communities.
• Patient Advocacy & Engagement: Engaging patients and caregivers, synthesizing their feedback into actionable insights, and ensuring their voices are represented.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB): Designing and delivering content on DEIB topics, particularly disability, neurodivergence, LGBTQ+ issues, and BIPOC communities.
• Patient Experience & Empowerment: Advocating for patient needs, improving the quality of care, and ensuring a patient-centered approach in all communications.

Public Speaking & Community Engagement

• Public Speaking & Presentations: Leading workshops, webinars, and presentations on health equity, DEIB, disability advocacy, and patient experience.
• Workshop Design & Execution: Creating and facilitating workshops tailored to diverse audiences, including healthcare professionals, educators, and community groups.
• Community Outreach & Engagement: Building relationships with community organizations, patients, and healthcare providers to foster collaboration and advocacy.

Research & Analysis

• Data Collection & Analysis: Conducting research, surveys, and interviews, and translating findings into actionable content and reports.
• Needs Assessment & Strategic Planning: Identifying gaps in services or knowledge, and developing strategies to address them effectively.
• Grant Writing & Management: Securing and managing grants, ensuring compliance with financial and project guidelines.
• Policy Research & Analysis: Conducting research on federal policies, health regulations, and social determinants of health to support advocacy and thought leadership.

Project Management & Collaboration

• Client & Stakeholder Management: Managing relationships with clients and stakeholders, ensuring alignment on goals and deliverables.
• Event Planning & Coordination: Organizing and managing logistics for events, workshops, webinars, and conferences.
• Meeting Facilitation: Leading and facilitating virtual and in-person meetings, ensuring clear communication and follow-up.
• Multitasking & Time Management: Managing multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality results.

Technical Skills

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Proficiency in platforms like Drupal for website content management and updates.
• Learning Management Systems (LMS): Experience in developing and uploading educational content via Open EdX or other LMS platforms.
• Microsoft Office Suite & Collaboration Tools: Expertise in MS365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and collaborative tools including Slack, Asana, and Discord.
• Social Networking & Online Community Building: Building and nurturing online communities, developing social media strategies, and engaging with audiences across platforms.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Effective Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on clarity, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.
• Advocacy & Lobbying: Advocating for policies or changes that benefit underserved or marginalized populations.
• Sensitivity Reading & Editing: Reviewing and providing feedback on content to ensure it is inclusive, culturally sensitive, and accurate.
• Technical Assistance & Support: Providing guidance, support, and training on technical tools, content development, or program implementation.

Additional Specialized Skills

• Sexuality Education: Designing educational content focused on sexual health and disability, and providing sexuality education to diverse audiences.
• Newsletters & Engagement Materials: Creating newsletters and communication materials that inform, educate, and engage stakeholders.

• Addressing Implicit Bias in Organizational Structures
• Advancing Health Equity in Rare Disease
• Advancing Racial and Social Justice
• Applying a Racial Justice Lens to Social Marketing
• Beyond the Binary: Health Resources for Sexual and Gender Minorities
• Black Communication: Supporting Health Black Families
• Breaking Down Barriers Through Storytelling
• Building Access-Centered Cultures
• Building Communication Access: Language and Cultural Considerations
• Bystander Intervention 2.0: Conflict De-escalation
• Dismantling Settler Colonialism and Ableism: Disability Justice
• From Beyond Our Borders: Providing Multilingual and Multicultural Health Information
• Health Equity and Environmental Justice 101
• Land Acknowledgement 101
• Language Matters: How to Talk about Native Nations
• Leading Diverse Teams and Organizations (Coursera Certificate)
• Moving at the Speed of Trust: Disability Justice and Transformative Justice
• Providing Cultural Competency and Effective Communication for the Hmong Population
• Redlining and Chronic Disease: The Legacy of Racism on the Built Environment and on Health
• Reducing Inequalities Between LGBTQ Adolescents and Cisgender, Heterosexual Adolescents
• Sex Educator Sessions: Practicing Disability Inclusiveness with Ducky Doolittle and Robin Mandell
• Social Determinants of Health: From Barriers to Opportunities
• Solidarity is a Practice: Anti-Racist Work for MMIND (Mad, Mentally Ill, Neurodivergent, Disabled) Folks
• The Emotional Toll of Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Latino Rhetoric
• The Racial Wealth Gap: Historical Roots and Systemic Barriers
• Trans Visibility Is A Repro Health & Justice Issue: Not a Cissue
• Transforming Public Health Through Leadership, Justice, and Racial Healing
• Trauma-Informed Care, ACEs, and the Life Course
• Unconscious Bias at Work: Creating a Culture Where Everyone Belongs
• Yes, All Genders: How to Normalize and Include Trans Bodies and Pleasure in Adult Sex Ed

Full list, including conferences attended

• Ableism
• BDSM & Chronic Illness/Pain/Trauma
• Decentering the Kyriarchy in Medicine
• Disability Rights
• Doctor-Patient Relationship
• Equity, Social Justice, and DEI
• Fandoms/Pop Culture & Illness
• Health Literacy
• Intersectionality
• LGBTQIA+ Health
• Medical Innovation
• Mental & Physical Illness Interactions
• Organizational Change
• Patient Activation Measure
• Patient Engagement
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Quality of Life with Chronic Illness
• Relationships & Illness/Pain/Disability
• Rheumatology
• Self-Care & Self-Love
• Sex & Chronic Illness/Disability
• Trauma
• Writing

Personal Projects

• Not Standing Still's Disease: The musings & wit of a chronic illness fighter on the world, medicine, and ways to improve our lives for the better.
• Chronic Sex: A sexuality education site focused on providing information and resources around sex, self-esteem, relationships, and disability.
• More Questions Podcast: The podcast where more questions are always welcome. [Hoping to start in fall 2023]
• Spooky Sconnie: A podcast that covers everything about Wisconsin, from true crime & the paranormal to cryptids and wonderfully weird history. [Now ended]

Projects I've Participated In

• The INTEGRATE-pain Delphi process (2023)
• Contributed to the 2021 JIA Guidelines by the American College of Rheumatology (link)