Transitioning in Medical Residency

[confdoc]

I'm a 26 pre-everything MTF who's finally looking to start transitioning. Hopefully I've posted this in the correct forum. I'm about finished with medical school and going to start a residency in Michigan this summer. I'm really worried that I'll be terminated or my contract won't be renewed after intern year and I'll be stuck with $300 grand in loans. Has anybody done this before? Is there anyway I can anonymously see if the residency has any issues?

[Ashley Allison]

Hi confdoc, we are actually in the same year of medical school! The only example I know of where someone transitioned in residency, was Christine McGinn I am pretty sure.  Though I am not sure if it was during her intern year.  That being said, I do personally know one girl who went to a residency in Atlanta already transitioned, and she is open about it.  If I have to guess, I don't think you should have any issues regarding to having your contract renewed, though I wouldn't be surprised if you did receive a bit of flack.  I am not sure if you have had the same experience I have on rotations, but it seems there are many homophobic & transphobic docs out there; though there are many tolerant ones.  I am pre-transition and as residency gets closer I often dream of what it would be like to transition in residency (not sure if I am going to do it).  If you want to chat, just message me!
Ashley 

[Cindy]

I'm not sure what residency is like in the USA but in Australia we have had significant reports of bullying and misogyny by consultants. This is being tackled but can be very hard to prove. If being transgender was seen to be 'odd' then I would not be surprised if you received flak. I do know some Gay interns have had a hard time, particularly if they attract attention. It is very sad and unforgivable but unfortunately Consultants and Department Heads can consider themselves to be 'god-like' creatures - even to each other.

I transitioned well into my career and had no issues but I was very senior in my field.

It is a tough call to make about what to do.

[confdoc]

Thank you both for the information! I'm seeing a therapist tomorrow and I'll see if they have any ideas to maybe see what the program thinks.

[captains]

Hiya, confdoc. Best of luck, and please report back with any information you find! I'm an FTM medical student and I've been turning my transition timeline over and over in my head for ages. Every time feels like a bad time...

[FTMax]

Out of curiosity, does anyone think there would also be issues if someone transitioned prior to medical school? The military in the US is ending the ban on open transgender service this year, and I've been considering med school if they would pay for it.

[confdoc]

My therapist seemed pretty clueless when it came to laws regarding transgender employment protections. I did some research and the city I'm going to be doing residency in has a law regarding gender identity discrimination and employment. I'm going to anonymously email them and see what they say. I'm glad that I'm not alone with all of this though!

[Sharon Anne McC]

*

Confdoc:

Unless I am totally mistaken, perhaps a reference from Dr. Marci Bowers might help.

One of my counsellors from last year is F-M.  He's great!  He knows much more about the issues and concerns first-hand compared to cis therapists.

*

[Rejennyrated]

Out of curiosity, does anyone think there would also be issues if someone transitioned prior to medical school? The military in the US is ending the ban on open transgender service this year, and I've been considering med school if they would pay for it.

Difficult to know in the USA but here in the UK it would be fine. I transitioned about 30 years before starting med school.

I know of others for whom the gap was a lot smaller - and indeed a couple of people who did it while at med school... What I have not heard of is anyone doing it during foundation/residency, and from what I've seen I think that could be a bit tricky.

[confdoc]

Thanks again everyone for the replies After anonymously contacting the program I received a pretty quick replay from the Assistant Program Director which was supportive! They stated that they do not discriminate and only evaluate on merit. So it looks like I'll finally be able to be myself!