Transgender Gender Diverse Overview

9.5 Contact Hours

This 9.5-hour course is appropriate for any physical rehabilitation professional, regardless of their specialty area, who has an interest in better serving all people. There will be education regarding gender-affirming face and chest surgeries as well as a discussion of medical interventions that people in the TGD community might choose. Often times therapists think of genital surgeries and sexual function when contemplating work with transgender people.  Therapists have far more to offer transgender patients. For providing optimal care, knowledge of the intricacies of gender medicine is essential. We provide that overview in this course.

Topics covered include:  

• Societal influence on gender transition including interactions with healthcare providers;
• Recognizing the difference between sex, sexuality, and gender; 
• Recognize the complexities of the legal system for the person transitioning gender;
• Health effects of hormones for gender affirmation as related to differential diagnosis in rehabilitation; Supporting healing after surgery;
• Operative procedures for face and chest Fertility and pregnancy in gender diverse people. 

Objectives:

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Define sex, gender, and sexuality 

2. Understand societal and legal aspects of gender 

3. Describe hormone-related issues for people during affirmation

4. Provide safe effective care for people undergoing gender affirmation top surgeries

Sandra Gallagher, PT, DPT, Board-Certified Women's Health Clinical Specialist  

Sandi is a pelvic health physical therapist in Portland OR. Her practice includes providing evaluation and treatment of pelvic health conditions in adults and children of all gender identities. Dr. Gallagher received her primary physical therapy training in 1986 with a BS in Physical therapy from the University of Lowell in Massachusetts. She has pursued varied continuing education from manual therapy, Feldenkrais, biophysical agents, pelvic health, pregnancy. She completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in June 2020. She has served on varied committees and boards at the state and national level, including as the chair of the CAPP-OB Committee for the Academy of Pelvic Health of the APTA.  She has presented on the role of PT in gender-affirming vaginoplasty at UCSF Transgender Health Summit, APTA Combined Sections Meeting, and at the 2018 international meeting of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).  She is the recipient of the 2020 Elizabeth Noble Award from the Academy of Pelvic Health.

Caitlin Smigelski, PT, DPT 

Caitlin is a pelvic floor physical therapist in Portland, OR. She focuses on the treatment of bowel and bladder dysfunction and complex pelvic pain. Caitlin specializes in transgender health and treatment of patients who are pregnant or postpartum. Caitlin values active treatment approaches and teaching individuals ways to manage and improve their symptoms. Caitlin is active with the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and serves on the CAPP-OB committee. She is also a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Caitlin and Sandi traveled to Argentina to present at the 2018 WPATH Symposium on Physical Therapy in People Undergoing Vaginoplasty. In Caitlin’s spare time, she enjoys climbing, mountaineering, and gardening.

Disclaimer: This information is based on the clinical opinion, research, and clinical work of Sandi Gallagher and Caitlin Smeligeski unless otherwise cited

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