Salisbury University’s annual transgender health equity symposium seeks to advance interprofessional care to improve the health and wellbeing of agender, transgender, genderqueer, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people living on the Eastern Shore.

We believe:

• Access to affirming healthcare is a fundamental human right.
• Transgender people have a right to shape the training of healthcare providers and give providers direction on how to best meet their health needs.
• Healthcare professionals have an ethical obligation to advance health equity for transgender and gender nonconforming people.
• As educational institutions and as places of innovation, university settings play a vital role in advancing health equity for transgender and gender nonconforming people.

History of the Symposium

The Annual Transgender Health Equity Symposium was founded in 2023 by Dr. Alison Sutton-Ryan DBH, LCSW, LIAC. Since the founding, the symposium has grown in size and scope.

2023: Interprofessional Symposium on Transgender Care. Keynote: Deborah Dunn, PA-C, MBA

2024: Achieving Trans Health Equity in a Polarized Society: The Role of Interprofessional Health Care. Keynote: Noah Ducket, LCSW

2025: Trans in Delmarva: Social Determinants of Transgender Health and Care. Keynote: Brittany Yerkes, MS PA-C AAHIVM

Symposium Planning Team

The trans health equity symposium is organized by the Transgender Interprofessional Care Team (TICT), comprised of Salisbury University and University of Delaware faculty, students, and staff, with guidance from a Community Advisory Committee.

TICT Members:

• Michele Schlehofer (she/her), Professor, Department of Psychology
• Hannah Ginn (she/her), Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
• Dan Green (he/him), Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
• Becky Anthony (she/her), Associate Professor, School of Social Work
• Elizabeth Workman (she/her), Social Sciences Librarian, SU Libraries
• Kate Culhane-Suluai (she/her), Program Manager University of Delaware’s Partnership for Healthy Communities
• Willow Nyland* (they/them), Undergraduate student pursuing a dual degree in Philosophy and Psychology with minors in Asian Studies and Disability Studies
• Elliott Albert (he/they) SU MSW student and intern at MidShore Meals

*also a member of the Community Advisory Committee

Members of the Community Advisory Committee:

• Tina Jones (she/her), Delmarva Pride Center
• A. Rand (they/them), Staff Attorney, Shore Legal Access
• Blush Autumn Rain (she/her), CUPS, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Salisbury, LGBT Connections, Salisbury PFLAG​
• And additional community members

Thank You To Our Donors

Our event is provided free of charge due to the contribution of generous donors:

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BECOME A DONOR TODAY!