About
Regional AMWA Conference: Presented research on LGBTQIA+ healthcare professionals
My Medical Journey
Athena Reich is currently a second-year medical student at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she is blending her passion for advocacy, research, and storytelling into her future as a physician. A solo mother of two, Athena brings her lived experiences—as a queer woman, infertility advocate, and artist—into every patient encounter and academic pursuit.
Athena leads national research on LGBTQIA+ healthcare professional experiences, which she is presenting at the 2025 Women in Medicine (WIM) and GLMA conferences. She also received the AMWA/Studio AMWA Ko Iki Alpha Centurion Prize to develop this research into a musical that amplifies the voices of queer and female-identified physicians.
As the founder of her medical school’s first LGBTQIA+ organization, the Medical School Pride Alliance chapter at OCOM, Athena launched Safe Place partnerships with local law enforcement, opened a volunteer pipeline to support HRT and HIV care at Crew Health, and advocated for inclusive training campus-wide.
Athena’s work is informed by over a decade of experience as a writer, performer, and educator. Her advocacy began through storytelling—whether it was publishing in HuffPost about her journey through IVF as a solo mom by choice, or being featured in the Emmy-nominated documentary Vegas Baby. She continues to use creativity and public scholarship to make healthcare more human, inclusive, and just.
This page chronicles Athena’s evolving journey into medicine—blending her artistic past with her clinical future.
Medical Milestones
2024 – August. Began medical studies at OCOM as part of the inaugural class.
2025 – Jan. Founded Medical School Pride Alliance student chapter at OCOM. Serves as treasurer of the student OB/Gyn club.
2025 – February. Presented osteopathic case study at Florida Academy of Osteopathy.
2025 – April. Published in Cureus on LGBTQIA+ healthcare workforce equity
2025 - July. Published article on NIH (PubMed): Alan L. Hart: An Innovative Pioneer in Medicine and Transgender Identity
2025 – June. Awarded AMWA Ko Iki Alpha Centurion Prize to develop research into a musical.
2025 - August. Awarded student scholar grant from ScholarX to create educational brick.
2025 - August - Began second year of medical school at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine.
2025 – August. Presented at Women in Medicine conference and awarded Women in Medicine scholarship
2025 - October. Presented CME accredited workshop based on her research on LGBTQIA+ healthcare professionals at the annual GLMA conference in Minneapolis
RECENT PRESS
Orange Observer. Lady Gaga impersonator studying medicine at OCOM.
Heritage Florida Jewish News. Jews in the Land of Disney Athena Reich: From Lady Gaga to Dr. Gaga
J Life Magazine. Chaim Society Feature
For a complete list of presentations, publications, and academic credentials, please download my CV below.