April 6 Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm -

For mental, medical, social, and other health care professionals, educators, and other service providers

 

 

Speakers include:

Aydin Olson-Kennedy

Jo Olson-Kennedy

Heidi Wittenberg

Mang Chen

Thomas Satterwhite

KC Covington

 

Working with Trans* GNC People: Legal, Medical, Social, and Clinical Considerations - will focus on: the social context of privilege, heteronormativity, and heterosexism, and their subsequent impact on gender and sexual minority people; obstacles to accessing competent healthcare; hormone treatments, medical protocols and informed consent; the mental health role in transitioning; writing letters; legal and social support; and resources.

 

7:45      Registration and breakfast

 

K Hall:

8:30 to 9:00      Javi Pinedo - Trans GNC Competency Basics for Health Care Providers - an introductory lecture for medical providers that focuses on important cultural concepts to be knowledgeable about when providing care to transgender and GNC patients.

 

9:10 to 12:10 Gender Confirming Surgeries

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     Heidi Wittenberg - Vaginoplasty- the ins and outs

Discussing the procedure, preoperative requirements and postoperative recovery.

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Thomas Satterwhite - Surgical Options for Transgender Women: Vaginoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Facial Feminization, Body Contouring. “Top Surgery” for Transgender men.

 

   Mang Chen - Metoidioplasty and Phalloplasty

 

12:10 to 12:50   Lunch – on site

12:20 to 12:50   During Lunch: Trans* GNC Panel presentation

 

1: to 1:50          Aydin Olson-Kennedy – Clinical Complexities of Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is often described as the psychological and emotional discomfort in relationship to one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics or physical features. However, often the less obvious way gender dysphoria can present is overlooked or misdiagnosed by professionals, family members and sometimes clients themselves. In this workshop the more nuanced symptoms of gender dysphoria will be discussed as well as the potential impact it has on the psychosocial well-being and development trajectories for clients and patients.

Informed Consent: A More Collaborative Approach to Mental Health Care

Historical models of medical and surgical care for transgender individuals have been based upon the premise that transgender experience is one of mental illness. The result of this belief system is that transgender individuals are continually required to prove their gender to a professional prior to receiving necessary medical and surgical care. This workshop will present a newer approach to care, the informed consent model, rooted in the foundation that transgender individuals should have autonomy in decision-making. The informed consent model is timely, appropriate and patient centered.

 

2:00 to 5:15      Jo Olson-Kennedy – Dr. Olson-Kennedy will be discussing the different presentations of gender non-conforming/transgender children, adolescents and young adults, touching on the differences in developmental trajectories of transmasculine, transfeminine and non-binary identified individuals. Participants will learn about some of the elements of physical gender transition including social transition, puberty blockers and gender affirming hormones available for TGNC youth and young adults. This discussion will also include strategies for timing of such interventions, side effects and expected changes resulting from the use of medications.

 

5:15 to 5:30      Social time

 

Room #6:

       

 9:40 to 10:40     Counselor roundtable – A discussion on competent mental health counseling. Emma Shutz Fort, Kathy Smith, and Lana McKnight will share their experience working with Trans* GNC clients and their families, and answer questions.

 

1:00 to 1:50      KC Covington - Trans* Healthcare Legal Rights 201.  The session will aim to give attendees an overview of legal protections for trans/gnc health consumers in a variety of different health coverage contexts, from Medi-Cal to private employer sponsored insurance

 

2:00 to 3:00      Alex Volzer – In this workshop, learn about the different alternative and complementary health practices that can be incorporated into the transition plan and the different types of kind of clinical indications for acupuncture, chiropractic, yoga, massage, mindfulness and guided imagery.  These and other holistic and wellness practices can provide a critical source of support, as well as an avenue for coping with the extreme stress of transition, and promoting self-growth and body acceptance.  

 

Room #6:

 

9:40 to 10:40     Counselor roundtable – A discussion on competent mental health counseling. Emma Shutz Fort, Kathy Smith, and Lana McKnight will share their experience working with Trans* GNC clients and their families, and answer questions.

 

11:00 to 12:00      KC Covington - Trans* Healthcare Legal Rights 201.  The session will aim to give attendees an overview of legal protections for trans/gnc health consumers in a variety of different health coverage contexts, from Medi-Cal to private employer sponsored insurance

 

2:00 to 3:00      Alex Volzer – In this workshop, learn about the different alternative and complementary health practices that can be incorporated into the transition plan and the different types of kind of clinical indications for acupuncture, chiropractic, yoga, massage, mindfulness and guided imagery.  These and other holistic and wellness practices can provide a critical source of support, as well as an avenue for coping with the extreme stress of transition, and promoting self-growth and body acceptance.  

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Chapel:  Spirituality, Faith and Trans GNC Week

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11 to 12:30   Rev. Dr. Katy Valentine - Join us for a conversation on creating rituals to honor and celebrate transitions!  Rituals help people make meaning and mark significant moments in their lives. Some rituals for Transgender GNC individuals may include name changing ceremonies, blessings before or after surgery, or simply a service that celebrates transition!  Join Rabbi Sara Abrams from Congregation Beth Israel in Chico and Reverend Bryan Plude from Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Chico, in exploring the potential for creating dynamic rituals. A community member, Sam Allen, will share about their ceremony that celebrated their name change. This workshop is for both Transgender GNC people and professionals (clergy, counselors, medical professionals) who want to think about marking transitions in new ways.

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Speakers

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Aydin Olson-Kennedy, MSW, ACSW is the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Gender Center where
he provides psychotherapy for gender non-conforming and transgender youth, adults and their families.
As a transgender man and mental health provider, Aydin brings a dual perspective into his work. He has
spoken around the country for the past two decades about the importance of rights for gender nonconforming
and transgender and individuals, with emphasis on identifying and acknowledging domains of
privilege.

Jo Olson-Kennedy, MD has been providing medical intervention for gender non-conforming and
transgender youth and young adults including puberty suppression and cross sex hormones for the past
ten years, and is considered a national expert in this area. Double Board certified in Pediatrics and
Adolescent Medicine, as well as spearheading a robust research program with transgender youth, she
brings cutting edge knowledge to the field. Dr. Olson-Kennedy is the Medical Director of The Center for
Transyouth Health and Development at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, the largest transgender youth
clinic in the United States. Dr. Olson-Kennedy has appeared frequently on national television, and spoken
all over the country to educate the public about the needs of transgender youth.

Heidi Wittenberg, MD obtained her Bachelors in Genetics at the University of California, Berkeley. Fascinated by the effects of genes, the effects of their alterations, as well as, interactions of chemical and electrical messengers, she pursued a Masters Degree in Applied Physiology from the Chicago Medical School and remained there for her Medical Degree. Starting her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbus-Cabrini Northwestern Affiliate, she studied and was inspired by one of the early experts in pelvic reconstructive surgery Dr. Peter Sands. Her residency was completed at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. There she trained under another expert in urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery, Dr. Geoffrey Cundiff who became her mentor. In 1999, Dr. Wittenberg moved to her dream city of San Francisco, and continued to pursue urogynecologic advances. In 2000, she developed and directed the Comprehensive Pelvic Medicine and Continence Center for the California Pacific Medical Center. She went on to develop and direct the pelvic medicine center at Urogynecology Center of San Francisco, and chairs the Multispecialty Pelvic Physiology Conference at California Pacific Medical Center. She is one of the few San Francisco experts in neurourology. As a result, she received special dispensation from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology to perform bladder/bowel neuromodulation on male patients, as well as female. She is one of the most experienced advanced laparoscopic and benign gynecological robot surgeons in Northern California. In 2013, she was in the vanguard of the first board certified specialists in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery specialists. Dr. Wittenberg was recruited by Dr. Curtis Crane to train and perform sexual reassignment surgeries such as vaginoplasties and metoidioplasties in order to help the transgender community. 2018, Dr Wittenberg, helped start a gender confirming surgical group with Dr Mang Chen called MoZaic Care. San Francisco has been home to Dr. Wittenberg, her husband and their beloved rescue dogs. Dr. Wittenberg travels on surgical missions to Guatemala and does surgical missions in San Francisco for the underserved. For this latter work, she received the Congressional Operations Access Unsung Hero Award in 2011. She also donated one of her kidneys to her husband, a surgical mission that can only be done once.

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Mang Chen, MD is a urologic surgeon who specializes in genitourinary reconstruction. He graduated magna cum laude and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society at UC San Diego. He then attended the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, where he was recognized with the Dr. Behan Prize in surgery. He remained in Pittsburgh for surgical residency and as Assistant Professor of Reconstructive Urology after completing his trauma and reconstructive urology fellowship in Detroit. He returned home to California to perform gender confirming genitourinary surgeries, be closer to family, and raise his son. 

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Thomas Satterwhite, MD, a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, obtained his Bachelor’s Degree (Human Biology with Honors) and Medical Degree at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. He remained at Stanford Hospital to complete his residency in Plastic Surgery, a highly regarded training program. His expertise in facial surgery was further refined with the completion of a craniofacial fellowship in Miami, FL under the tutelage of Dr. S. Anthony Wolfe.  Dr. Satterwhite’s expertise is in all aspects of gender confirmation surgery for transwomen:  facial feminizing surgery, body feminization, vaginoplasty, and breast augmentation.  For transmen, he performs top surgery and body masculinization procedures.  For all patients, he is well versed in providing the full spectrum of cosmetic procedures (surgical and non-surgical) for the face and body.
Dr. Satterwhite has extensively published and presented nationally and internationally in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery. He has won multiple awards (including the highly competitive Plastic Surgery Foundation award through the American Society of Plastic Surgeons) for his research in plastic surgery and for his oral presentations at regional and national conferences.

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Rev. Dr. Katy E. Valentine is a cisgender woman who works on trans* gnc positive interpretations of the Bible.  She holds a PhD in New Testament from the Graduate Theological Union.  She is the former Associate Minister at First Christian Church of Chico and is the founder and director of the spiritual coaching business, Creative Christian Spirituality, LLC.  Katy's mission in life is to help connect people to their spirituality in dynamic ways, especially in light of the journeys of sexuality and gender.

 

Alex Volzer is a Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Coach, and transman, working with underserved communities in a "Community Massage" model to provide affordable, accessible, and high quality therapeutic bodywork.  He received his training at the renowned Mueller College, specializing in massage for acute medical and psychiatric care.  Since graduating, he has been developing an international trauma-informed medical massage network, which has included working in Africa in war-torn communities, and has developed a novel delivery model for massage therapy to increase access and therapeutic results, which he has been practicing in Chico, CA.  Currently, he is continuing his education in Health Administration and Social Entrepreneurship to develop an integrative, preventative healthcare approach to primary care in the United States.

 

KC Covington is a Legal Graduate for the Health office at Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC). They began their legal career at LSNC's Redding office after graduating from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to working at LSNC, KC dedicated their time to serving marginalized communities facing homelessness, domestic violence, and trouble with accessing civil rights. KC continues this work by now providing direct legal services to provide access to healthcare for all and to educate the community on their healthcare rights. KC takes pride in being a member of the LGBTQ community and invites anyone to reach out to them for information, support, and resources. 

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Javi Pinedo (They/Them/Theirs) is a queer chicanx organizer from Oakland, CA. They have been implementing youth development since they were 17 years old. They have worked for local, state, and national LGBTQI+ organizations, in incorporating racial and economic justice within their mission. They bring their passion for youth development for Trans* and Queer youth of color up to Butte County in hopes of helping guide new community leaders to advocate and make change for themselves. They brings this passion to their position as Advocacy Coordinator at Stonewall Alliance of Chico, in hopes of increasing the presence and resources available to the Trans* and Queer people of color in the northern north valley. 

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Continuing Education Credit

 

This course meets the qualifications for 7 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Chico Regional Chapter of CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs, Provider #62274. Chico Regional Chapter of CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

Participants must be present for the entire course to receive CE credit. Certificates are handed out at the end of the course when evaluations are received.  Grievances should be communicated to Stonewall Alliance - 530.893.3336 - trans@stonewallchico.org. All grievances will be responded to within 2 weeks of receipt.

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PENDING: Continuing Medical Education (CME) units for physicians, psychologists, RNs, PAs and NPs as follows:

Enloe Medical Center designates this educational activity for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This credit also may be applied to the CMA Certification in Continuing Medical Education.

Enloe Medical Center is accredited by the Institute for Medical Quality/California Medical Association (IMQ/CMA) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Enloe Medical Center takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

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Grievances should be communicated to the contact information below. All grievances will be responded to within 2 weeks of receipt. No Refunds after 11:59 pm Wednesday April 4..

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