Rotation Description

This 2-week ambulatory elective is an opportunity for residents to learn more about primary care for transgender and gender diverse patients. Residents will be paired with a gender-affirming primary care provider for a total of 6-8 half-day clinic sessions over the 2-week rotation. This elective is available to residents who are on their ambulatory block.

There will be a stepwise approach to patient care. Learners will begin by seeing patients together with the clinician and move gradually towards independent practice over the course of the rotation. Appointments with transgender patients are integrated into the overall clinic schedule, so not every primary care patient seen during the course of the rotation will be transgender. At the discretion of the course director, the learner may be assigned other tasks related to gender-affirming primary care instead of seeing cisgender patients - for example, reviewing hormone test results and adjusting hormone regimens with supervision.

Goals & Objectives

Goal: To familiarize residents with the primary care of transgender patients, including gender-affirming hormone prescribing

Objectives: By the end of the rotation, residents will be able to:

1. Recognize and diagnose patients with gender dysphoria according to the DSM-5 criteria
2. Demonstrate the ability to respectfully elicit gender identity and goals of gender-affirming care in a patient or mock-patient interaction
3. Describe the expected effects of masculinizing and feminizing hormones
4. Name the components of a typical masculinizing and feminizing hormone regimen
5. Name 3 complications of masculinizing hormones and of feminizing hormones

Learner expectations

Learners will receive access to highly recommended online trainings in transgender health.

Who is eligible?

This elective is available for residents in the Osler Medical Residency at Johns Hopkins. 

For more information, contact the rotation director: Helene F. Hedian