When Drew Burchell takes to the virtual stage at the 2025 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Conference to present Pronouns 101, the goal isn’t just to educate, but to inspire action to make healthcare more inclusive.
Drew is a research coordinator at IWK Health, working closely with clinicians, researchers and professors involved in projects focused on health equity, patient safety, and improving healthcare implementation. They are also an advocate for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, particularly for trans and non-binary people navigating the healthcare system.
Drew’s passion for inclusive healthcare began in school. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Environmental Science at Dalhousie University, they pursued a Master’s in Community Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario. Their thesis focused on non-binary people’s experience in healthcare, an important topic that continues to guide their work.
“I moved back to Nova Scotia when the pandemic hit,” says Drew. “I was able to get my foot in the door at the IWK on a project about trans folks’ experiences with surgery in the perioperative context. It was really cool, and I eventually landed my current role and have loved all the projects I’ve had the chance to work on since.”
Drew is currently working on a project which explores expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists to include more sexual health services, which could benefit everyone, but especially the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Drew’s advocacy extends beyond their role at the IWK. They have been involved with projects like Trans Pulse, a research project based in Ontario aimed at improving the health of trans communities. They are also mentoring a student at Dalhousie University who is working on a research project about legislation for pronouns and gender identity in schools.
Another major part of Drew’s advocacy has been the development of Pronouns 101, which will be featured at the 2025 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Conference this month. They have given this presentation previously to an audience of over a hundred attendees, and they’re excited to deliver it again.
“I start with the basics of trans identities,” says Drew. “I will talk about healthcare erasure and how to combat it; why pronouns are important and how to use them in a sentence; how to ask someone for their pronouns; how to use gender neutral language; and the importance of not assuming someone’s gender based on their physical appearance.”
This year Drew will be adding discussion about names to their presentation. Overall, Drew’s presentation is designed to help healthcare providers and leaders foster a more inclusive environment for trans and non-binary patients.
“Healthcare is a vulnerable place to be, especially for people who are trans and non-binary” says Drew. “I think healthcare providers care about their patients and want to give the best care possible. This conference gives providers and staff the tools and knowledge they need to do that.”
The driving force for Drew is their passion for improving the lives and wellbeing of trans youth.
“A study from The Trevor Project found that trans and non-binary youth whose pronouns and chosen names were respected were less likely to attempt suicide and self-harm,” says Drew. “And I think that's really what it comes down to for me. All of the work I do around trans youth is in hopes they will feel like they have more of a place in the world.”
The 2025 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Conference will be an important event for anyone looking to provide more compassionate, informed, and inclusive care for the community. Drew is one of many presenters during this three-day conference whose efforts contribute to better care for Nova Scotians.
Learn more here: 2025 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Conference
