Major
Public Health
Anticipated Graduation Year
2026
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals face significant obstacles accessing gender-affirming care, particularly within religious healthcare organizations. This mixed-methods study (n=59) found that 94% of participants reported barriers and 86% experienced misgendering. Key impediments include financial and insurance constraints, limited regional availability, and restrictive policies. The primary barrier remains provider knowledge gaps, with 98% of respondents citing a critical need for specialized education and training. Socioeconomic and geographic factors also influence access, alongside a noted avoidance of faith-based systems. These systemic issues highlight the urgent need for provider training, better care navigation, and policy reform.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Dr. Nicholas Soulakis
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Pathways to Compassion: Mapping Gender-Affirming Healthcare Experiences
Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals face significant obstacles accessing gender-affirming care, particularly within religious healthcare organizations. This mixed-methods study (n=59) found that 94% of participants reported barriers and 86% experienced misgendering. Key impediments include financial and insurance constraints, limited regional availability, and restrictive policies. The primary barrier remains provider knowledge gaps, with 98% of respondents citing a critical need for specialized education and training. Socioeconomic and geographic factors also influence access, alongside a noted avoidance of faith-based systems. These systemic issues highlight the urgent need for provider training, better care navigation, and policy reform.