Creating the 'Worthy' Patient in Transgender Medicine

October 15, 2019 - Kamryn Romano

Join stef shuster, assistant professor in Lyman Briggs College and Department of Sociology, for a seminar on the ins and outs of transgender medicine and its effect on patients at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 in room 303 of the International Center. Explore the notions of worth and its connection to administering healthcare to transgender people.

The seminar will address gender conformity and ideas about identity in a medical setting from a medical provider’s perspective.

shuster’s research focuses on the historical contexts that have shaped the ideas of patient worth, and whether the oppressive ideas from the 1950s have persisted.

shuster will speak about redefining patient “worth” as someone who is compliant, dutiful, and authentically trans. This event will allow for audience interaction with the researcher about findings and implications.

MSU’s Center for Gender in Global Context, or GenCen, is a resource for education and research about gender- and sexuality-related disciplines. shuster and other researchers work to increase knowledge on intersections between gender identity and racial, socioeconomic —and sexual differences.

“I am grateful to the GenCen for the opportunity to speak about my research,” shuster said. “It is a great opportunity to bring scholars and students from different areas together to offer insight about my work.”

Students and faculty alike will have the opportunity to ask challenging questions about transgender medicine as well as contribute to shuster’s ideas for their upcoming book: "Treating Gender: Transgender Medicine and Uncertain Expertise."