PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2026
Contact: Eli Duffy
Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships
eduffy@glma.org
WASHINGTON, DC – GLMA proudly recognizes the inclusion of Executive Director Alex Sheldon and longtime GLMA leader Shail Maingi, MD, on the 2026 Curve Power List, an annual national honor recognizing LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary changemakers across North America.
Presented by The Curve Foundation as part of Lesbian Visibility Week, the 2026 Curve Power List highlights leaders advancing equity, visibility, and systemic change across sectors. The list recognizes individuals selected through a community-driven nomination and peer review process, reflecting the breadth and impact of LGBTQ+ leadership at a time when access to care and fundamental rights are under coordinated attack nationwide.
Advancing LGBTQ+ Health Equity Through Leadership
Alex Sheldon, MA, Executive Director of GLMA, was recognized in the Advocacy and Activism category for their national leadership in advancing LGBTQ+ health equity and protecting access to gender-affirming care. With more than 15 years of experience across policy, research, and advocacy, Sheldon has led efforts to strengthen inclusive healthcare systems and expand protections for LGBTQ+ communities nationwide.
Shail Maingi, MD, a Lifetime Member of GLMA, medical oncologist, and palliative care physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, was honored in the STEM, Education and Research category for her leadership in advancing equitable cancer and palliative care. Her work focuses on dismantling barriers affecting LGBTQ+ patients across the cancer care continuum and building coalitions that center dignity, access, and intersectional patient needs.
I am deeply honored to be named to the Curve Power List, especially alongside leaders like Shail Maingi, whose work has helped shape more equitable and affirming systems of care,” said Alex Sheldon, Executive Director of GLMA. “Dr. Maingi has been a longtime leader within GLMA and a true trailblazer in health care. At a moment when LGBTQ+ communities are under attack, this recognition underscores the importance of visibility across every field. I am grateful to Curve Foundation for lifting up leaders and helping ensure our communities are seen, heard, and valued.”
Recognition in a Critical Moment
The Curve Power List underscores the importance of visibility and representation at a time of escalating legislative hostility and systemic inequities impacting LGBTQ+ communities. By elevating leaders across disciplines, the list serves as both recognition and resistance, amplifying those working to transform systems and expand access to care.
“This recognition reflects not only the leadership of Alex Sheldon and Shail Maingi but the collective impact of GLMA’s members across clinical care, research, education, and advocacy,” said Jona Tanguay, MS, PA-C, AAHIVS, CAQ-Psych, President of GLMA. “Every day, the GLMA community is advancing LGBTQ+ health equity in meaningful and measurable ways. At a time of escalating attacks on access to care and evidence-based medicine, this recognition underscores the critical role GLMA leaders play in protecting patients, advancing inclusive systems, and driving sustained, systemic change through collective action.”
Read the full 2026 Curve Power List
Additional Recognition
In 2025, Alex Sheldon, MA, Executive Director of GLMA, was named to the TIME100 Next list in recognition of their national leadership advancing LGBTQ+ health equity and protecting access to gender-affirming care. Read GLMA’s full announcement here.
About GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality
GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities and equality for LGBTQ+ health professionals in their work and learning environments. To achieve this mission, GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education, and research. glma.org