Creating an Oasis: Comprehensive Emergency Care for Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Patients (ADIEM- and AWAEM-Sponsored)

This session will address the urgent need for improved care of transgender and gender-nonconforming (GNC) patients in emergency medicine. While 88% of emergency physicians care for gender-diverse patients, only 17.5% have received formal training. This knowledge gap, coupled with historical healthcare discrimination, often leads to avoidance of emergency care by GNC individuals, compounding existing healthcare inequities. Attendees will learn to incorporate gender-affirming care into emergency practice, including legal and medical considerations, and how to combat biases within their departments. Further resources will be provided to help physicians advocate for patients and promote meaningful changes in care.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
  • Define the following terms: gender-nonconforming, transgender, nonbinary, gender identity, gender-minority, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
  • Recognize the prevalence of patients with gender-diverse identities and articulate the importance of this population in the emergency department and understand relevant medical considerations.
  • Introduce the idea of gender-affirming care and discuss how it can be incorporated into emergency medical care.
  • Formulate specific strategies to create a welcoming and affirming environment in the emergency department.

Presenters:

  • Dustin Blake Williams, MD, FACEP
  • Khiem Hoang, MD, MPH
  • Rachel Boxer, MD
  • Eileen S. Williams, MD
  • Eliot H. Blum, MD
Authors

  • Dustin B. Williams, MD, FACEP

    UT-Southwestern

    I am an Associate Professor and the EM Residency Program Director at UT-Southwestern, with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and LGBTQIA+ advocacy. I previously served as the chair of the LGBTQIA+ committee as part of ADIEM and was honored with the 2024 ADIEM Outstanding Academician Award for my contributions in these areas.

    I completed my undergraduate studies in Biomedical Science at Texas A&M University, followed by medical school at UT-Health Science Center San Antonio, and then EM residency at Indiana University. My clinical interests focus on medical education, DEI, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, faculty development, and emergent ocular complaints.

  • Khiem Hoang, MD, MPH

    Emory University School of Medicine

    Khiem Hoang (they/them), MD, MPH is a current PGY-3 Emergency Medicine resident at Emory.

  • Rachel Boxer, MD

    Emory University School of Medicine

    Rachel Boxer is a current Emory Emergency Medicine PGY-2.

  • Eileen S. Williams, MD

    University of Texas Southwestern

    Eileen is a currently second-year emergency medicine resident at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and completed her undergraduate education at Stanford University. After working as a medical scribe and high school tutor, Eileen attained her medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Now living in Dallas, she plans to apply for fellowship in medical education and pursue a career in academic emergency medicine. In addition to teaching, she is passionate about advocacy for marginalized populations, particularly incarcerated persons. In her free time, she loves to read psychological thrillers and write crossword puzzles.

  • Eliot H. Blum, MD

    Emory University School of Medicine

    Eliot Blum is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory. He serves as the chair of the LGBTQ+ Subcommittee of ADIEM, the LGBTQIA+ Subcommittee Chair in his department’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is also the faculty advisor for the Emory GME Pride Committee. Eliot works extensively in the community and serves as the medical director for Atlanta Pride and the AIDS Vaccine 200 bicycle race. Additionally, Eliot works on the Transgender Task Force for Healthcare Reform through the Medical Associate of Georgia. He currently works at Grady Memorial Hospital and lectures nationally and within the school of medicine on LGBTQIA+ health, mentoring and allyship. In 2023, Eliot helped start a GME-wide mentoring program for LGBTQIA+ medical students and residents and was awarded "Faculty Mentor of the Year" by his department. Lastly, Eliot prides himself on being a professional listener of music, an amateur cyclist, rock climber and runner, lover of the outdoors and, most importantly, his wife and three children.

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