Conference explores transgender care in the heartland

UNMC's Jean Amoura, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, will be one of the speakers at the GenderWorks conference.

UNMC's Jean Amoura, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, will be one of the speakers at the GenderWorks conference.

On Sept. 11, UNMC faculty will be participating in GenderWorks: Advancement of Transgender Care in the Heartland, a regional conference for professionals and students interested in transgender medicine, mental health, and education and policies.

Registration information

Registration for professionals is $50, including CEUs for licensed mental health practitioners. Registration for students is free thanks to sponsorship from the Weitz Family Foundation. A continental breakfast and lunch will be included in the all-day conference, which runs from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center on the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s campus. To learn more and to register click here. The registration deadline is August 28th and space is limited.

If you have questions about this event, please email Dr. Amoura.

GenderWorks has been created to assist professionals who want to improve their knowledge and competency around serving transgender students, clients and patients. It is also designed to inspire and motivate university and professional students who desire to learn more about the community and how best to serve their needs.

The conference is organized by Professional Transgender Resource Network (PTRN), a local collaboration of community professionals, including faculty members from UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, whose goal is to provide education for other professionals and to advocate for the advancement of care of the transgender community in Nebraska.

The two keynote speakers for this conference are Jennifer Hastings, M.D., and Jonathan Skurnik.

Dr. Hastings has been practicing transgender medicine since 2005 in California, and has broadened her practice to transgender youth and adults. Skurnik, also from California, is a documentary filmmaker, educator and advocate who has created the Youth and Gender Media Project, a series of short films and accompanying curricula about these modern-day heroes.

Another national speaker featured at GenderWorks is Alex Iantaffi, Ph.D., a licensed marriage and family therapist, writer, researcher, editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy and adjunct assistant professor, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota.

Along with the speakers from outside Nebraska, members of PTRN will also be sharing their knowledge and expertise in breakout sessions throughout the day. From UNMC, Jean Amoura, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics/gynecology, will be presenting on medical options and fertility issues for transgender youth, and Perry Johnson, M.D., professor of surgery-plastic and reconstructive, will present on gender-affirming surgical treatments.