Trans*forming Healthcare in West Virginia

Nicolette Shaffer*, Megan E. Gandy, and James Weiss

School of Social Work, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation Category: Behavioral & Social Sciences (Poster Presentation #75)

Student’s Major: Social Work

For my research project we created an advisory board committee for transgender healthcare in West Virginia. We aimed to improve the experiences and care for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals within the West Virginia University healthcare system. To accomplish this goal the board committee will work between the public and West Virginia University to create the best system possible for everyone. To create the most educated and responsive board we examined existing research on the findings already in place about TGD people in rural areas. We wanted to know about their experiences in healthcare to understand where the biggest issues were. The board will enable us to connect to the community to gain members to participate in both synchronous and asynchronous focus groups. These groups will consist of transgender or gender diverse individuals to evaluate their experiences, feelings, and ideas surrounding West Virginia University’s healthcare system and gender-related healthcare overall. We most likely will find, through these focus groups, several areas where the West Virginia University medical system can improve to create a safer and more accepting environment for TGD individuals. This then would lead to helping extend services and education for the healthcare system to allow these issues to be resolved. With these education tactics and improved acceptance in several areas, the TGD population using the medical system hopefully will feel comfortable and validated.

Funding: Schneider-Langlois

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: a WVU 297-level course