Learn more about LGBTQIA+ Health Forum Presenters
Lexi Adsit Scholar/Activist/Organizer/Visionary Bio | @sistahmamaqueen
Lexi Adsit is a fierce and femme TransLatina woman, trouble maker, and ground-breaker. Lexi has been a part of many groundbreaking projects including but not limited to: Founding the Queer Yo Mind Conference at San Francisco State University, Producing Brouhaha: Trans Women of Color Comedy-Based Storytelling, and Co-Founding and Co-Coordinating the International Trans Women of Color Network Gathering. Lexi has also been featured on Autostraddle for her article "24 Things You NEED To Do To Help Trans Women of Color Survive" and Salon for her article "Stonewall is in Our Blood".
Lexi Adsit is a fierce and femme TransLatina woman, trouble maker, and ground-breaker. Lexi has been a part of many groundbreaking projects including but not limited to: Founding the Queer Yo Mind Conference at San Francisco State University, Producing Brouhaha: Trans Women of Color Comedy-Based Storytelling, and Co-Founding and Co-Coordinating the International Trans Women of Color Network Gathering. Lexi has also been featured on Autostraddle for her article "24 Things You NEED To Do To Help Trans Women of Color Survive" and Salon for her article "Stonewall is in Our Blood".
Hana Afra, MA Sexual Health Educator Bio | @Hannoussa
Hana Afra has been a part of the Planned Parenthood Northern California education team for two years and a classroom sex educator since 2010. She also has experience working in a teen clinic as a health counselor referring clients to medical and mental health services. Hana's degrees include an MA in Sexuality Studies and a BA in Psychology with a Human Sexuality minor. She is a youth ally and strives for transformative learning through inclusive education that is responsive to each group she works with.
Hana Afra has been a part of the Planned Parenthood Northern California education team for two years and a classroom sex educator since 2010. She also has experience working in a teen clinic as a health counselor referring clients to medical and mental health services. Hana's degrees include an MA in Sexuality Studies and a BA in Psychology with a Human Sexuality minor. She is a youth ally and strives for transformative learning through inclusive education that is responsive to each group she works with.
Dante Alencastre Documentary filmmaker and LGBT community activist Bio | @dalencas
Dante Alencastre is a award winning documentary filmmaker and LGBT community activist, based in West Hollywood. His filmmaking and work on the boards of Los Angeles LGBT arts organizations, political and community groups, is focused particularly on the overlapping Latino/a, Transgender and Gender non-conforming sub-tribes within the community. Dante found his personal calling documenting the lives of LGBT individuals and communities during a trip back to his native Peru, resulting in the 2007 award-winning film "En El Fuego (In the Fire)" (LA Outfest Audience Award). Updating the successes of this Peruvian group of trans activists 5 years later, resulted in the film "El Fuego Dentro (The Fire Inside)". Focusing on the personal and professional life of a transgender activist and leader, Dante's documentary "Transvisible: Bamby Salcedo's Story" premiered at 2013's Outfest and toured college around the country.
Dante Alencastre is a award winning documentary filmmaker and LGBT community activist, based in West Hollywood. His filmmaking and work on the boards of Los Angeles LGBT arts organizations, political and community groups, is focused particularly on the overlapping Latino/a, Transgender and Gender non-conforming sub-tribes within the community. Dante found his personal calling documenting the lives of LGBT individuals and communities during a trip back to his native Peru, resulting in the 2007 award-winning film "En El Fuego (In the Fire)" (LA Outfest Audience Award). Updating the successes of this Peruvian group of trans activists 5 years later, resulted in the film "El Fuego Dentro (The Fire Inside)". Focusing on the personal and professional life of a transgender activist and leader, Dante's documentary "Transvisible: Bamby Salcedo's Story" premiered at 2013's Outfest and toured college around the country.
Gustavo Bañuelos Program Manager, LYRIC Bio | Email
Gustavo Bañuelos is a Chicano Queer born in Los Angeles, California to Mexican/Salvadoran immigrant parents. His past experience is non-profit work in housing services for people with HIV/AIDS of San Francisco. Most work dealt with homeless individuals and individuals at-risk of homelessness. He oversees LYRIC's Youth Advocacy Services, HIV Prevention Work, and Violence Prevention Services. As the Program Manager, Gustavo is dedicated to develop programming that supports youth holistically, support the development of spaces for youth to build community, and provide opportunities for youth to step into leadership.
Gustavo Bañuelos is a Chicano Queer born in Los Angeles, California to Mexican/Salvadoran immigrant parents. His past experience is non-profit work in housing services for people with HIV/AIDS of San Francisco. Most work dealt with homeless individuals and individuals at-risk of homelessness. He oversees LYRIC's Youth Advocacy Services, HIV Prevention Work, and Violence Prevention Services. As the Program Manager, Gustavo is dedicated to develop programming that supports youth holistically, support the development of spaces for youth to build community, and provide opportunities for youth to step into leadership.
Ofelia Barba Staunch advocate for her daughters' rights! Bio | @strugglin2bfree
Ofelia Dafné Barba is a hardworking single mother of three children, Leticia, Javier and Zoey. She is a modest woman but an exemplary mother to Zoey, her transgender daughter. She has become a staunch advocate for her daughters' rights by demanding that school authorities treat her with human dignity. With the ACLU of Southern California, she fought the intimidation tactics these authorities used such as describing Zoey's words as sexual harassment and disruptive behavior when she merely disclosed to peers that she was going to transition. She refused to let the school transfer her out to another school district and into a new school. She filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Civil Liberties and won, making her the second Latino family in California to do this. She has committed herself to becoming a visible advocate and ally to her community, with the desire to empower other parents to do the same. She believes that every person has the right to live life as who they are authentically, with dignity and freedom from discrimination. Her unconditional love inspires of us all.
Ofelia Dafné Barba is a hardworking single mother of three children, Leticia, Javier and Zoey. She is a modest woman but an exemplary mother to Zoey, her transgender daughter. She has become a staunch advocate for her daughters' rights by demanding that school authorities treat her with human dignity. With the ACLU of Southern California, she fought the intimidation tactics these authorities used such as describing Zoey's words as sexual harassment and disruptive behavior when she merely disclosed to peers that she was going to transition. She refused to let the school transfer her out to another school district and into a new school. She filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Civil Liberties and won, making her the second Latino family in California to do this. She has committed herself to becoming a visible advocate and ally to her community, with the desire to empower other parents to do the same. She believes that every person has the right to live life as who they are authentically, with dignity and freedom from discrimination. Her unconditional love inspires of us all.
Allie Cannington Disability Diversity & Integration Consultant Bio | @AllieCannington
Allie Cannington is a local Queer, multiply Disabled community advocate, youth development specialist and Disability Access & Integration consultant. For over eight years, Allie has led and organized youth with disabilities on local, state and national levels, always prioritizing Queer & Trans youth, low and no income youth, and youth of color with disabilities. In 2014, Allie was a featured speaker at the first-ever White House Forum on LGBTQ & Disability issues, as well as a co-creator of "Real Talk: Improving Quality of Sexual Health Care for Patients with Disabilities" - a project by the National Council on Independent Living and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Currently, Allie also serves as a Project Facilitator at LYRIC, San Francisco's Center for LGBTQ youth. Allie's work is dedicated to unveiling everyone's proximity to disability and the imperative of incorporating intersectional disability rights and justice practices to all social, medical and political arenas.
Allie Cannington is a local Queer, multiply Disabled community advocate, youth development specialist and Disability Access & Integration consultant. For over eight years, Allie has led and organized youth with disabilities on local, state and national levels, always prioritizing Queer & Trans youth, low and no income youth, and youth of color with disabilities. In 2014, Allie was a featured speaker at the first-ever White House Forum on LGBTQ & Disability issues, as well as a co-creator of "Real Talk: Improving Quality of Sexual Health Care for Patients with Disabilities" - a project by the National Council on Independent Living and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Currently, Allie also serves as a Project Facilitator at LYRIC, San Francisco's Center for LGBTQ youth. Allie's work is dedicated to unveiling everyone's proximity to disability and the imperative of incorporating intersectional disability rights and justice practices to all social, medical and political arenas.
Cecilia Chung Senior Director of Strategic Projects for Transgender Law Center Bio | Email
Cecilia Chung, Senior Director of Strategic Projects for Transgender Law Center, is nationally recognized as an advocate for human rights, social justice, health equity, and LGBT equality. She was the former Chair of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and is currently serving on the Health Commission. Cecilia has been working tirelessly on the local, national and international levels to improve access to treatment for transgender people and people living with HIV, and to erase stigma and discrimination through education, policy, advocacy, and visibility.
Cecilia Chung, Senior Director of Strategic Projects for Transgender Law Center, is nationally recognized as an advocate for human rights, social justice, health equity, and LGBT equality. She was the former Chair of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and is currently serving on the Health Commission. Cecilia has been working tirelessly on the local, national and international levels to improve access to treatment for transgender people and people living with HIV, and to erase stigma and discrimination through education, policy, advocacy, and visibility.
Madeline Deutsch, MD Senior Director of Strategic Projects for Transgender Law Center Bio | Email
Maddie Deutsch, MD is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of Family and Community Medicine and the Clinical Lead for the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health. She chairs the Medical Advisory Board which develops evidence-based expert consensus guidelines for the UCSF Primary Care Protocols for Transgender Care, and serves on the Transgender Evaluation and Technical Assistance Team, part of a HRSA-funded SPNS initiative exploring linkage and retention in care of HIV-positive transgender women of color. Areas of research include effects of hormones on lipids and metabolism, cervical cancer risk in transgender men, issues impacting primary care access for transgender people, and the use of electronic medical records in the care of transgender people. Dr. Deutsch sits on the editorial boards for the International Journal of Transgenderism and the Journal of LGBT Health. Dr. Deutsch provides transgender-inclusive primary care as well as hormone therapy at UCSF-Mount Zion Women's Health Primary Care and maintains a transgender consultation clinic at UC-Berkeley Student Health Services. Prior to coming to UCSF Dr. Deutsch was the founder and director of the Transgender Health Program at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center and Ryan White Grantee which provides care to over 600 transgender patients, both HIV-positive and HIV-negative.
Maddie Deutsch, MD is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of Family and Community Medicine and the Clinical Lead for the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health. She chairs the Medical Advisory Board which develops evidence-based expert consensus guidelines for the UCSF Primary Care Protocols for Transgender Care, and serves on the Transgender Evaluation and Technical Assistance Team, part of a HRSA-funded SPNS initiative exploring linkage and retention in care of HIV-positive transgender women of color. Areas of research include effects of hormones on lipids and metabolism, cervical cancer risk in transgender men, issues impacting primary care access for transgender people, and the use of electronic medical records in the care of transgender people. Dr. Deutsch sits on the editorial boards for the International Journal of Transgenderism and the Journal of LGBT Health. Dr. Deutsch provides transgender-inclusive primary care as well as hormone therapy at UCSF-Mount Zion Women's Health Primary Care and maintains a transgender consultation clinic at UC-Berkeley Student Health Services. Prior to coming to UCSF Dr. Deutsch was the founder and director of the Transgender Health Program at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center and Ryan White Grantee which provides care to over 600 transgender patients, both HIV-positive and HIV-negative.
Gwen Essex, RDH, MS, EdD Professor, UCSF School of Dentistry, Activist/Advocate/Ally; diversity champion Bio | Email
Dr. Essex has been with the School of Dentistry faculty since 1996. Social equity and inclusion have been longtime passions. Dr. Essex was a founding member of the School of Dentistry's GSDDA, which has greatly improved the culture at the school for the LGBTQQI community.
Dr. Essex has been with the School of Dentistry faculty since 1996. Social equity and inclusion have been longtime passions. Dr. Essex was a founding member of the School of Dentistry's GSDDA, which has greatly improved the culture at the school for the LGBTQQI community.
Dulce Garcia Rape Crisis Counselor, Sexual Health Educator, Film Maker Bio
Dulce is a queer Chicana Femme born in Mexico City and raised in East Los Angeles, she graduated from UC Irvine with two Bachelor degrees and received her Master's degree in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University. Her passion and commitment to serve underrepresented and underserved communities is rooted in an anti-oppression framework and is evident throughout her work. As a state certified Rape Crisis Counselor, she provides holistic modes of healing, as well as interactive educational trainings while integrating rape crisis services, bystander intervention, and community education. As a consultant with over sixteen years of leadership experience, she has provided direct services to LGBTQ youth, as well as professional development and technical assistance to State agencies, community-based organizations, and universities throughout the United States. Her favorite thing as a sexual health educator is advocating for self-empowerment though education that is fun, non-judgmental, and accessible to her audiences. Her film "With Conviction" won the first ever Audience Choice Award at the Queer Women of Color Film Festival in 2011 and also screened in Paris, France at the International Lesbian and Feminist Film Festival.
Dulce is a queer Chicana Femme born in Mexico City and raised in East Los Angeles, she graduated from UC Irvine with two Bachelor degrees and received her Master's degree in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University. Her passion and commitment to serve underrepresented and underserved communities is rooted in an anti-oppression framework and is evident throughout her work. As a state certified Rape Crisis Counselor, she provides holistic modes of healing, as well as interactive educational trainings while integrating rape crisis services, bystander intervention, and community education. As a consultant with over sixteen years of leadership experience, she has provided direct services to LGBTQ youth, as well as professional development and technical assistance to State agencies, community-based organizations, and universities throughout the United States. Her favorite thing as a sexual health educator is advocating for self-empowerment though education that is fun, non-judgmental, and accessible to her audiences. Her film "With Conviction" won the first ever Audience Choice Award at the Queer Women of Color Film Festival in 2011 and also screened in Paris, France at the International Lesbian and Feminist Film Festival.
Luis Gutierrez-Mock, MPH, MA Project Director, TRIUMPH, Center of Excellence for Transgender Health Bio | Email
Luis Gutierrez-Mock is the Project Director for the TRIUMPH Project, a community-led PrEP demonstration project at the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health at UCSF. Prior to his role on TRIUMPH, Luis worked as the Project Coordinator for the Transgender Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (TETAC), part of the HRSA Special Projects of National Significance initiative Enhancing Engagement and Retention in Quality HIV Care for Transgender Women of Color. Luis also worked for five years on a CDC-funded project at the CoE, through which he provided free trainings, capacity building, and technical assistance throughout the U.S. to promote knowledgeable, sensitive, and effective HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention services for trans communities. Luis holds an MA in Sexuality Studies, a second MA in Ethnic Studies, and an MPH with an emphasis in community health education. He is currently enrolled in the medical sociology doctoral program at UCSF.
Luis Gutierrez-Mock is the Project Director for the TRIUMPH Project, a community-led PrEP demonstration project at the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health at UCSF. Prior to his role on TRIUMPH, Luis worked as the Project Coordinator for the Transgender Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (TETAC), part of the HRSA Special Projects of National Significance initiative Enhancing Engagement and Retention in Quality HIV Care for Transgender Women of Color. Luis also worked for five years on a CDC-funded project at the CoE, through which he provided free trainings, capacity building, and technical assistance throughout the U.S. to promote knowledgeable, sensitive, and effective HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention services for trans communities. Luis holds an MA in Sexuality Studies, a second MA in Ethnic Studies, and an MPH with an emphasis in community health education. He is currently enrolled in the medical sociology doctoral program at UCSF.
Mark Jacques (Sister Flora Goodthyme) Make-up artist, event producer, karaoke host, and Sister of Perpetual Indulgence Bio | @sisterflora
Sister Flora Goodthyme (Mark Jacques) is an internationally celebrated make-up artist, event producer & karaoke host, and Sister of Perpetual Indulgence. Dedicating themselves to public service and social activism, Sister Flora has traveled the world spreading universal joy and expiating stigmatic guilt. This Bay Area native thrives in educating, collaborating, and creating new experiences for all members of the community.
Sister Flora Goodthyme (Mark Jacques) is an internationally celebrated make-up artist, event producer & karaoke host, and Sister of Perpetual Indulgence. Dedicating themselves to public service and social activism, Sister Flora has traveled the world spreading universal joy and expiating stigmatic guilt. This Bay Area native thrives in educating, collaborating, and creating new experiences for all members of the community.
Kaela Joseph, PhD Staff Psychologist and the Women Veterans Program Manager for the San Francisco VA Health Care System Bio | Women Veterans
Dr. Kaela Joseph is a Staff Psychologist and the Women Veterans Program Manager for the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Dr. Joseph obtained a PhD in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University, with an emphasis in LGBTQ psychology. Since October 2017, Dr. Joseph has been acting as the coordinator for the SFVA Trans Health Clinic, which houses primary care, endocrine, mental health, and social work services for transgender and non-binary Veterans. Outside of the VA, Dr. Joseph also serves as a member of the Transgender Law Center's Medical Expert Network and is the Committee Chair of the American Association of Sexuality Educators Counselors and Therapists' Mentor Committee. Dr. Joseph teaches as an adjunct lecturer on sexuality and substance abuse at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and is a full member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
Dr. Kaela Joseph is a Staff Psychologist and the Women Veterans Program Manager for the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Dr. Joseph obtained a PhD in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University, with an emphasis in LGBTQ psychology. Since October 2017, Dr. Joseph has been acting as the coordinator for the SFVA Trans Health Clinic, which houses primary care, endocrine, mental health, and social work services for transgender and non-binary Veterans. Outside of the VA, Dr. Joseph also serves as a member of the Transgender Law Center's Medical Expert Network and is the Committee Chair of the American Association of Sexuality Educators Counselors and Therapists' Mentor Committee. Dr. Joseph teaches as an adjunct lecturer on sexuality and substance abuse at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and is a full member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
Anthony Lucas Second-year doctoral student in clinical psychology Bio
Anthony Lucas has worked in HIV/AIDS care for the last 10 years. After graduating from Berkeley, he served first as an intervention specialist for the youth branch of the East Bay AIDS Center, focused on the implementation of short-term interventions for newly HIV diagnosed teens, and later as a linkage and outreach coordinator for the CRUSH Project, a PrEP demonstration study. Currently, Anthony is a second-year doctoral student in clinical psychology. His research centers on the romantic lives of LGBTQ+ people, specifically the "heartbreak experience" and dissolution of LGBTQ+ romantic relationships.
Anthony Lucas has worked in HIV/AIDS care for the last 10 years. After graduating from Berkeley, he served first as an intervention specialist for the youth branch of the East Bay AIDS Center, focused on the implementation of short-term interventions for newly HIV diagnosed teens, and later as a linkage and outreach coordinator for the CRUSH Project, a PrEP demonstration study. Currently, Anthony is a second-year doctoral student in clinical psychology. His research centers on the romantic lives of LGBTQ+ people, specifically the "heartbreak experience" and dissolution of LGBTQ+ romantic relationships.
Marion Pellegrini Study coordinator, I-BrEATHe Bio
Marion is the study coordinator for the I-BrEATHe study, a pharmacokinetic trial looking interactions between gender affirming hormone therapy and Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis lead by UCSF and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Prior to that, he was a registered nurse for the last 6 years at St. James infirmary, a peer-based health clinic for sex workers, in the STRIDE transgender health care program. He is on the national committee policy board for the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
Marion is the study coordinator for the I-BrEATHe study, a pharmacokinetic trial looking interactions between gender affirming hormone therapy and Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis lead by UCSF and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Prior to that, he was a registered nurse for the last 6 years at St. James infirmary, a peer-based health clinic for sex workers, in the STRIDE transgender health care program. He is on the national committee policy board for the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
Jenna Rapues, MPH Interim Director, UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health Bio | Email
Jenna Rapues is a Filipina American woman of trans lived experience. Jenna was born in the Philippines and grew up in San Francisco where she received her Master of Public Health degree from San Francisco State University. Prior to joining the UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, Jenna directed both provider and community-based transgender HIV and health promotion efforts within SFDPH. In this capacity, Jenna organized and coordinated SFDPH provider and community-led health initiatives, provided programmatic oversight on SFDPH HIV prevention contracts among trans populations, and conducted several transgender research studies on HIV and health for SFDPH. Jenna's work is also published in several journal articles highlighting the impact of HIV and health disparities among San Francisco's transgender communities.
Jenna Rapues is a Filipina American woman of trans lived experience. Jenna was born in the Philippines and grew up in San Francisco where she received her Master of Public Health degree from San Francisco State University. Prior to joining the UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, Jenna directed both provider and community-based transgender HIV and health promotion efforts within SFDPH. In this capacity, Jenna organized and coordinated SFDPH provider and community-led health initiatives, provided programmatic oversight on SFDPH HIV prevention contracts among trans populations, and conducted several transgender research studies on HIV and health for SFDPH. Jenna's work is also published in several journal articles highlighting the impact of HIV and health disparities among San Francisco's transgender communities.
Roman Rimer Interim Director, UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health Bio | @romanrimer
Roman Rimer is an actor, writer and performer who has been involved in theater for over a decade. Highlights include performing solo storytelling shows at the Kansas City, Chicago and Indianapolis Fringe Festivals in 2011 and at the Magnet and Under St. Marks Theaters in NYC. In addition to teaching longform improv in NYC and SF, Roman has spoken to university and college classes on gender identity. Since 2013, Roman has been hosting the current events podcast The Weekly Review on Mutiny Radio. Roman interviews organizers, activists and artists. Roman is also a proud union member of SEIU and SAG-AFTRA.
Roman Rimer is an actor, writer and performer who has been involved in theater for over a decade. Highlights include performing solo storytelling shows at the Kansas City, Chicago and Indianapolis Fringe Festivals in 2011 and at the Magnet and Under St. Marks Theaters in NYC. In addition to teaching longform improv in NYC and SF, Roman has spoken to university and college classes on gender identity. Since 2013, Roman has been hosting the current events podcast The Weekly Review on Mutiny Radio. Roman interviews organizers, activists and artists. Roman is also a proud union member of SEIU and SAG-AFTRA.
Stephen Rosenthal, MD Director of pediatric endocrinology, Director of the Child and Adolescent Gender Center Bio | Email
Stephen M. Rosenthal, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF, has served as Program Director for Pediatric Endocrinology and Director of the Pediatric Endocrine Clinics, and currently serves as co-founder and Medical Director of the UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center. Dr. Rosenthal earned a bachelor's degree at Yale University and a medical degree at Columbia University, where he also completed a residency in pediatrics. He completed a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at UCSF. Dr. Rosenthal was appointed as the official representative of the Pediatric Endocrine Society to the Endocrine Society's Clinical Practice Guidelines Revision Task Force for the Care of Transgender Individuals, and is a co-author of the recently published guidelines (September, 2017). He has authored multiple manuscripts on transgender youth, including a recent "State-of-the-art" invited review in Pediatrics and an invited review in the "Approach to the Patient" series for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He has had significant experience conducting multi-center trials, and is currently Principal Investigator (PI) (multiple PI format) for NIH/NICHD "The Impact of Early Medical Treatment in Transgender Youth" (1R01HD082554-01A1). Dr. Rosenthal has served on multiple committees of the Endocrine Society and the Pediatric Endocrine Society, and has just completed his term as President of the Pediatric Endocrine Society. He continues to serve on the Pediatric Endocrine Society Board of Directors as Immediate Past President and as Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee. Dr. Rosenthal was recently elected as Endocrine Society Vice President, Clinical Scientist Position. Dr. Rosenthal's principal non-work passion is figure skating. He has competed in various adult national and international competitions, and is currently training for the Gay Games 10 in August, 2018.
Stephen M. Rosenthal, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF, has served as Program Director for Pediatric Endocrinology and Director of the Pediatric Endocrine Clinics, and currently serves as co-founder and Medical Director of the UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center. Dr. Rosenthal earned a bachelor's degree at Yale University and a medical degree at Columbia University, where he also completed a residency in pediatrics. He completed a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at UCSF. Dr. Rosenthal was appointed as the official representative of the Pediatric Endocrine Society to the Endocrine Society's Clinical Practice Guidelines Revision Task Force for the Care of Transgender Individuals, and is a co-author of the recently published guidelines (September, 2017). He has authored multiple manuscripts on transgender youth, including a recent "State-of-the-art" invited review in Pediatrics and an invited review in the "Approach to the Patient" series for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He has had significant experience conducting multi-center trials, and is currently Principal Investigator (PI) (multiple PI format) for NIH/NICHD "The Impact of Early Medical Treatment in Transgender Youth" (1R01HD082554-01A1). Dr. Rosenthal has served on multiple committees of the Endocrine Society and the Pediatric Endocrine Society, and has just completed his term as President of the Pediatric Endocrine Society. He continues to serve on the Pediatric Endocrine Society Board of Directors as Immediate Past President and as Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee. Dr. Rosenthal was recently elected as Endocrine Society Vice President, Clinical Scientist Position. Dr. Rosenthal's principal non-work passion is figure skating. He has competed in various adult national and international competitions, and is currently training for the Gay Games 10 in August, 2018.
Zoe Samudzi, MSc Graduate Assistant of the LGBT Resource Center Bio | Email
Zoe Samudzi is a queer Black woman and first generation American of Zimbabwean descent. She received her MSc in Health, Community, and Development from the London School of Economics, and her BA in Political Science (with a focus in International Relations and certificates in African Studies and Global Health) from the University of Pittsburgh. Her academic work engages intersecting & mutually reinforcing structures of race, gender, and class (within broader systems of racial hegemony & coloniality) as they construct identity and influence health outcomes and disparities. She is particularly interested in the biomedical and scientific constructions of race, namely Blackness, and the logics of those constructions as they are applied to understandings of racialized identity as understood through genetics and genomics. Zoe is also a freelance writer, a 2017-2018 fellow at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and a member of The Black Aesthetic, an Oakland-based collective and film series exploring Black cultural production & literary-visual culture.
Zoe Samudzi is a queer Black woman and first generation American of Zimbabwean descent. She received her MSc in Health, Community, and Development from the London School of Economics, and her BA in Political Science (with a focus in International Relations and certificates in African Studies and Global Health) from the University of Pittsburgh. Her academic work engages intersecting & mutually reinforcing structures of race, gender, and class (within broader systems of racial hegemony & coloniality) as they construct identity and influence health outcomes and disparities. She is particularly interested in the biomedical and scientific constructions of race, namely Blackness, and the logics of those constructions as they are applied to understandings of racialized identity as understood through genetics and genomics. Zoe is also a freelance writer, a 2017-2018 fellow at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and a member of The Black Aesthetic, an Oakland-based collective and film series exploring Black cultural production & literary-visual culture.
Richard Sprott, PhD Research Director, Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance Bio | Email
Richard Sprott received his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from UC Berkeley in 1994. He is currently the Research Director of TASHRA – The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance. TASHRA is a community-based research organization, with a focus on the health of kink-identified and BDSM-involved people. In 2016, TASHRA implemented the first National Kink Health Survey, which resulted in the first snapshot of the health status and experiences in the healthcare system of kink-identified communities in the United States, including injury rates, impact of stigma, and issues around mental health.
Richard Sprott received his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from UC Berkeley in 1994. He is currently the Research Director of TASHRA – The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance. TASHRA is a community-based research organization, with a focus on the health of kink-identified and BDSM-involved people. In 2016, TASHRA implemented the first National Kink Health Survey, which resulted in the first snapshot of the health status and experiences in the healthcare system of kink-identified communities in the United States, including injury rates, impact of stigma, and issues around mental health.
Michaela Taylor 4th Year Pharmacy student, Forum co-chair Bio | OUTList 2017
Michaela Taylor is a 4th year pharmacy student at UCSF. She is one of the co-chairs for the forum and has worked on the planning committee for the Forum in the previous two years. She is also involved with the UCSF Committee on LGBT Affairs and was featured in the LGBT Resource Center's OUTList. She hopes to one day do research into LGBTQIA+ Health and is particularly interested in the health of the transgender population. Her chief academic goal is to help educate future healthcare providers about LGBTQIA+ health issues and act as an advocate for social justice, in particular as it relates to the practice of pharmacy.
Michaela Taylor is a 4th year pharmacy student at UCSF. She is one of the co-chairs for the forum and has worked on the planning committee for the Forum in the previous two years. She is also involved with the UCSF Committee on LGBT Affairs and was featured in the LGBT Resource Center's OUTList. She hopes to one day do research into LGBTQIA+ Health and is particularly interested in the health of the transgender population. Her chief academic goal is to help educate future healthcare providers about LGBTQIA+ health issues and act as an advocate for social justice, in particular as it relates to the practice of pharmacy.
Zami Tinashe Hyemingway, MSW Co-founder of Bloom Transgender Community Healing Project Bio | Bloom
Zami is a co-founder of Bloom Transgender Community Healing Project. He identifies as a Trans of Center, healer, poet and teacher. He has a Masters in Social Work as well as a Masters in Arts and Social Transformation, allowing him to use art and writing as a modality for healing with clients and community, He has worked in the field of community mental and public health, since 2010 focusing on youth, the LGBTQ community, people living with HIV/AIDS, people who inject drugs (PWID), survivors of violence and re-entry populations. Zami is dedicated to gender justice work that reflects the fluidity of gender and encouraging people to create spaces that honor all forms of gender expression. He believes in using love as an ethic for liberation and in practicing radical honesty, revolutionary forms of self-preservation and care, and transformative healing.
Zami is a co-founder of Bloom Transgender Community Healing Project. He identifies as a Trans of Center, healer, poet and teacher. He has a Masters in Social Work as well as a Masters in Arts and Social Transformation, allowing him to use art and writing as a modality for healing with clients and community, He has worked in the field of community mental and public health, since 2010 focusing on youth, the LGBTQ community, people living with HIV/AIDS, people who inject drugs (PWID), survivors of violence and re-entry populations. Zami is dedicated to gender justice work that reflects the fluidity of gender and encouraging people to create spaces that honor all forms of gender expression. He believes in using love as an ethic for liberation and in practicing radical honesty, revolutionary forms of self-preservation and care, and transformative healing.
EB Troast, MPH Sr. Education Manager for Planned Parenthood Bio | Email
EB Troast has been working in the field of sexual health education for the last 15 years and is the Sr. Education Manager for Planned Parenthood Northern California. EB also works as an independent sex educator and consultant in the SF Bay Area, is a core trainer for San Francisco Sex Information, and a steering committee member of the Adolescent Health Working Group. EB has supported with writing and editing several sex ed curricula, including Be Real. Be Ready. The sex education work that EB does is fueled by a passion for providing inclusive, positive, and respectful education. EB has a BA in Psychology, LGBT studies, and human sexuality studies, and an MPH.
EB Troast has been working in the field of sexual health education for the last 15 years and is the Sr. Education Manager for Planned Parenthood Northern California. EB also works as an independent sex educator and consultant in the SF Bay Area, is a core trainer for San Francisco Sex Information, and a steering committee member of the Adolescent Health Working Group. EB has supported with writing and editing several sex ed curricula, including Be Real. Be Ready. The sex education work that EB does is fueled by a passion for providing inclusive, positive, and respectful education. EB has a BA in Psychology, LGBT studies, and human sexuality studies, and an MPH.
