Cultural Competence and Caring for Transgender Patients

Studies show that transgender and gender-nonconforming patients are highly likely to experience discrimination in a healthcare setting – up to 70%, according to one study from Lambda Legal. Dr. Cara King is trying to fix that.

Dr. King is developing a curriculum to develop cultural competence in medical students and residents training in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Comprehensive physician education, she says, is the first step in becoming skilled providers of care for transgender and gender-nonconforming patients.

Dr. King is a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also a featured provider in the UW Health Gender Services Program.

Additional reading: World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care