It’s July 23, 2022, and I am arriving in Downtown Reno to walk in my first-ever Pride Parade. Even more amazing, I am going to be walking with a group of my coworkers, announcing to our entire community that our employer supports us being our full and truest selves.
I arrived alone, but in the staging area I met new people who worked in other departments of Renown, coworkers I might never have met if not for Pride. I even took a selfie with one of these new friends. Someone passed around flags for us to hand out to the audience as we marched by. I took a rainbow-striped temporary tattoo in the shape of the Renown “R” and used my water bottle to apply it. There was an overwhelming atmosphere of excitement and joy that can only come from gathering with other human beings who are overflowing with love.
We started the Parade waving handfuls of Pride flags high and gave those flags out to the audience as we passed. By the time we were done walking, our hands were empty, but our hearts were full. I couldn’t have stopped smiling if I’d tried. I’d joined the parade as a single person, but as we walked, I became part of a community. Not only the Renown community, but a community of Proud queer people across northern Nevada. And by extension, the LGBTQIA+ community all around the world – past, present and future.
With the multiple recent state laws proposing to strip away the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, many of us have felt a noticeable decline in our mental health and feelings of personal safety.
As a member of the queer community, I have felt these mental health effects too. I am fortunate and privileged enough to not have experienced workplace discrimination in my current position. But before Renown, I – like so many others in the LGBTQIA+ community – had a negative experience at a previous job, and afterwards I was hesitant to share my full self while at work. To be able to walk in a Pride Parade with my current employer, healed a little bit of that past pain inflicted by my former employer.
When our liberties are under attack, Pride is more important than ever. We must remind ourselves, especially when others cannot seem to remember, that we are loved and worthy of love. I am grateful to work for an organization that is willing and able to fight this good fight with us.
I will certainly be back to walk in this year’s Pride Parade, and I sincerely hope to see you there too! Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses and of course keep your skin safe with sunscreen. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community, or just an ally, you are welcome.
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As we take a trip through the human body, we eventually reach the mind, holding the keys to our thoughts, memories and behaviors. And although the mind is resilient, it might not always feel that way, especially amidst the obstacles many face day-by-day.
That’s where the importance of mental healthcare comes in – and northern Nevada needs it more than ever. In Washoe County alone, nearly one in five community members reported two or more straight weeks of poor mental health. With feelings of distress, depression, anxiety and stress on the rise, not to mention how addiction disproportionately affects Nevadans, we need a team of professionals devoted to helping the mind heal.
Enter the Behavioral Health department at Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), where healing always remains top of mind (pun intended). From the providers on the frontlines to the administrative staff handling everything behind-the-scenes, every member of this team has one commitment in mind: standing beside people as they find their way forward.
Degrees of Dedication: Laci's Story of Career Growth at Renown
When Laci Castleman joined Renown Health in 2014 as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), she could have never imagined how far her career journey would take her. Through Renown’s education benefits, Laci took advantage of tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment to advance her skills, not just by one degree, but three degrees—leading to a unique hybrid role she enjoys today.
Department Spotlight: Core Laboratory at Renown South Meadows Medical Center
Those of us who live in the Reno area have seen firsthand how much our region has grown since the pandemic. Our population has boomed – increasing by 6.25% since the 2020 census – and that number is only expected to increase, especially on the south end of town. As South Reno continues to grow, so do the healthcare needs of its residents. When it comes to unlocking the secrets of your health, the lab is one of the best places to start. And in south Reno, we are fortunate to have a department that is skilled at doing exactly that.
The Renown South Meadows Core Lab team is flourishing in their revamped space within the new Specialty Care Center. From advocating for preventive care to being a key player in the diagnostic process, these medical lab scientists and clinical lab assistants (CLAs) are ready to jump in to help at a moment’s notice.
