Hello WPATH Members,

We are excited to announce several exciting leadership and program updates in our Global Education Initiative (GEI) for 2021.

Welcome Ren Massey

We are honored to welcome Ren Massey, PhD, as the new Mental Health Chair of GEI, following Lin Fraser, EdD, stepping down from that position. Dr. Fraser served as inaugural Mental Health Chair, along with Dr. Gail Knudson, the inaugural Medical Chair of GEI. We appreciate the countless hours Dr. Fraser devoted to developing outstanding GEI programs with her Co-Chair, Dr. Knudson, over the more than 7 years they worked together. Dr. Fraser will continue her dedicated service to GEI and WPATH, in such roles as the lead of the Mental Health Mentor Group, and the Co-Chair of the Ethics Committee.

Dr. Massey was the first transgender man to be President of a state psychological association in the USA (Georgia Psychological Association, 2017-18). Ren is very familiar with the needs and functioning of the GEI, as he has been on faculty since the second program in January 2016, and he has been on the GEI Steering Group since 2018. He has served on the WPATH Board of Directors and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine.

He looks forward to collaborating with Co-Chair/Medical Chair Dr. Gail Knudson, continuing to enhance programs to increase access to trans/gd-competent care through educating healthcare providers.

Staff Announcements

We want to congratulate Blaine Vella, who is now the WPATH Executive Director, and Jamie Hicks, who is now the Associate Executive Director. Congratulations to both of them on their new positions.

2021 Programs

Ren and Gail are thrilled to announce that the first online course for 2021, Foundations, part of the core curriculum, is now open for registration. Registered attendees will begin watching their didactic sessions on February 15, with the live panels beginning March 15.

We plan to offer the following virtual GEI Core Curriculum Courses in 2021; Foundations (2), Advanced Mental Health (2), Advanced Medical (2), Advanced Child & Adolescent Workshop (2), Advanced Ethics workshop (2). In addition, we plan to run a Journal Club Series (3), and a Book Club Series (3).

GEI Strategic Plan

In 2020, the GEI Committee and key volunteer leaders participated in a 3-part strategic planning process which was presented to the Board of Directors. Part of this plan included a hub and spoke model for GEI, in order to increase member engagement and involvement opportunities.

Be on the lookout for the Call to Action that will be sent soon, this will be your opportunity as a WPATH Member to Get involved, Engage now, and Impact many, through your expertise and lived experiences.