Trans Bodies, Trans Selves

Let me tell you a thing or two about my dear friend Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth ... and her brilliance, her passion, and her incredible project, Trans Bodies, Trans Selves.

Currently a resident in psychiatry at New York University, I had the great fortune of working with Laura last year at the American Medical Student Association.  After long days as AMSA's Director of Student Programming, she spent many evenings and weekends drafting plans for her upcoming book that will serve as a resource guide for the transgender population, spanning legal issues, health, social, and cultural topics, history, and theory.  She is the book's editor and has amassed an impressive team of fellow authors and advisors.  She was even featured in the New York Times' City Room section in April where she responded to readers' questions about transgender people over an entire week.  (And I am thrilled to report that I, too, was 'published' in the NYT --- for her headshot was one that I had photographed!)  Read all the details on her website, http://transbodies.com/home.php.  Please stop by, stay a while, and learn ... and share the link with others you know.  Through her scholarly work, Laura is filling a niche in trans health that has not existed before, and I could not be prouder of her or her important initiative.   

But even more remarkable than the forthcoming book is the woman, the doctor, and the advocate behind it all.  Laura is one of those colleagues that I am grateful to have in my circle, someone who is genuine in her approach, comfortable with her perspectives and her experiences, and willing to ask critical questions in a non-judgmental, matter-of-fact sort of way.

As doctors, it's pretty incredible the access we have, by necessity and role, to the most intimate and crucial details of our patients' lives.  Beyond history of the present illness, past medical history, and medications, we ask about drug and alcohol use, safety in relationships, state of mental well being, sexual practices, hopes, fears, and dreams.  As you can imagine, these types of conversations could grow uncomfortable fairly quickly if not approached in a frank, sincere, and positive manner.  I have seen these discussions go poorly, and I have seen them go well.  I work hard to achieve the latter, but it's not always easy. 

I credit Laura, however, with teaching me a great deal about how to do just that --- how to address what often are sensitive subjects, particularly those relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health, in a normalized, open-minded fashion.  Honest questions, patience, humility, and a willingness to learn go a long way toward achieving mutual understanding between doctor and patient, toward creating a safe dynamic in which to care for the intricately and wonderfully complex person sitting before you in the exam room, someone who is so much more than simply a patient.  I thank Laura for demonstrating this to me on numerous occasions, and through Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, she has the opportunity to shed light on these issues for so many more.  I hope you enjoy her website, and I know she would love to hear from you.  

And, as for you, Dr. Laura, I simply cannot wait to receive my very own, autographed copy!  Thank you for teaching us all.