Skip to main content

CVC: TH101 Optimizing Transgender Health

Optimizing Transgender Health


CVC
Enrollment is Closed

About This Course

This course’s comprehensive approach provides an accessible and thorough explanation of concepts relevant to the transgender and the human experience. It presents and explores the psychological and physiological complexities of transgender individuals and the societal, economical, legal and other barriers and struggles they face in their access to quality healthcare.

What you’ll learn

Together we will learn:

  • The definitions and differences between gender identity and sexual orientation
  • What gender dysphoria and how it affects transgender and gender non-binary individuals
  • The provider’s role and responsibilities in health care for transgender and gender non-binary individuals
  • Proper assessments and steps in the provision of gender-affirming health care
  • The situation of the transgender community in the Caribbean and Latin America
  • The barriers, facilitators and the reality of transgender health and long-term care
  • The prevalence and correct treatment of mental health issues and STIS amongst transgender individuals

Course authors

Course Staff Image #1

Dr. Eunice Avilés

Dr. Aviles has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Gender Specialist, a certified Sex Educator, and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. She is a full member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Dr. Avilés has had the opportunity to work with transgender and gender nonbinary individuals and their families for over 15 years.

Course Staff Image #2

Dr. Asa Radix

Dr. Radix is the Senior Director of Research and Education at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University. Dr. Radix trained in internal medicine and infectious disease at the University of Connecticut and obtained postgraduate degrees in epidemiology and public health at Cambridge University, UK. Dr. Radix has over 20 years of experience providing HIV care, primary care and hormone therapy to transgender and gender non-binary people and is a recognized expert in transgender medicine.

Syllabus (week by week breakdown)

  1. Introduction
    1. About the course
    2. About you
  2. Understanding Gender Identity
    1. Sexual orientation and gender identity
    2. Gender dysphoria
    3. Provider’s role in healthcare for transgender and gender non-binary individuals
    4. Components of gender affirming environments
    5. Importance of trauma-informed care
  3. Evaluation of gender dysphoria
    1. Gender dysphoria evaluation process
    2. Evaluation strategies for the assessment of gender dysphoria
    3. Impact of sociocultural stressors on the individual’s mental health
    4. Prevalent psychological issues in transgender populations
    5. Co-occurring diagnoses
  4. Gender Dysphoria and Sexuality
    1. Impact of body dysphoria in human sexuality
    2. Body dysphoria during sex therapy assessment stage
  5. Transgender individuals in the Caribbean
    1. Epidemiological data on transgender health outcomes in the Caribbean
    2. Barriers and facilitators to gender affirming care in the Caribbean
  6. Introduction to hormonal care
    1. Physiology related to sex hormones
    2. Gender-affirming Hormone Therapy
    3. Initial medical examination before initiation of hormones
    4. Patient education
    5. Clinical practice guidelines
    6. Feminizing Hormone Regimens
    7. Masculinizing Hormone Regimens
  7. Hormonal long-term care concerns
    1. Long-term Effects on Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy
    2. Gender-affirming Hormone Therapy and Ageing
  8. Sexual health and HIV
    1. Understand the epidemiology of HIV and STIs in trans populations
    2. Transgender Individuals in Latin America and the Caribbean
    3. STI data
    4. HIV prevention strategies
    5. Gender-affirming Surgeries and STIs

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I suitable to take this course?

This course is open to anyone who has an interest in the subject. However, its content was developed taking into account the population of the OECS countries. So we require that the participants, understanding this, be open and respectful.

Apart from that, these would be some persons who can benefit from this course:

  • Health service providers (particularly sexual and mental health)
  • People who work with Trans people
  • Trans, nonbinary people

Is this course free?

All courses in the CVC Academy catalogue are free, as they are meant to serve vulnerable populations and those who work with and for them. The goal is to offer accessible learning opportunities to gain knowledge and develop useful skills so they can improve the quality of their own lives.

Does this course offer a certificate?

Yes, all courses in the CVC Academy catalog offer a certificate upon successful completion of all mandatory lectures and graded exercises.

What can I use this certificate for?

  • Add this certificate to your CV
  • Use it as prerequisite to access other CVC Academy advanced tracks

Are there going to be Zoom sessions?

No, this re-run of the course doesn't provide Zoom sessions.

  1. Course Number

    TH101

  2. Classes Start

  3. Classes End