By: Brigid Martz Smith -
In the coming days and weeks, we will highlight different sessions of the upcoming Oncofertility Conference, Critical Conversations in Oncofertility: Pediatrics and Beyond and our wonderful speakers.
Today, we’re sharing speaker bios for the Morning Panel Session on November 4th, 2015 which focuses on Gender Dysphoria and is moderated by Kristin Smith from Northwestern University.
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Courtney Finlayson, MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University
Dr. Finlayson received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her medical degree from Northwestern University. She completed residency in Pediatrics at Rush University and fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Lurie Children’s Hospital, during which time she was a research fellow with Dr. J. Larry Jameson. Dr. Finlayson is the pediatric endocrinologist for the multi-disciplinary Gender & Sex Development Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital. This program cares for two groups of patients: children with gender non-conformity and children with disorders of sex development. She is currently engaged in research to broaden the understanding of perspectives on fertility preservation and potential of fertility preservation in children with disorders of sex development.
Robert Garofalo, MD, MPH, Director, Center for Gender, Sexuality and HIV Prevention, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Division Head of Adolescent Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Professor in Pediatrics, Northwestern University
Robert Garofalo MD, MPH. Dr. Garofalo is the Division Head of Adolescent Medicine at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and a Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern’ s Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a clinical expert on LGBT Health as well as in the care of HIV+ adolescents. He has been the PI or Co-PI on a number of NIH-funded research grants related to HIV prevention or the care of gender non-conforming children and adolescents. He was recently appointed the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Transgender Health
Jennifer Leininger, Program Coordinator for Gender Dysphoria Clinic, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
Since 2008, Jennifer Leininger has provided both administrative and family-centered, patient support while working in Lurie Children’s Research Center for Gender, Sexuality and HIV Prevention. Jen holds both a BS (Marketing) and a BA (Theatre) from Miami University, and she is currently an MEd candidate (Early Childhood) at DePaul University. In addition to her work at Lurie Children’s, Jennifer has worked on adolescent and children’s programming with other nationally recognized organizations including Old Town School of Folk Music and About Face Youth Theatre.
Lisa Kantz Simons, MD, Attending Physician, Adolescent Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
Dr. Simons is a pediatrician with clinical and research interest in health care for gender non-conforming and transgender youth, adolescent HIV prevention and treatment, LGBT health, and health care for homeless and high risk youth populations. Her clinical activities also include adolescent primary care, adolescent gynecology and menstrual disorder, and reproductive health.
Angela K. Lawson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology and Psychiatry, Northwestern University
Angela K. Lawson, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with over 8 years of postdoctoral experience specializing in women’s health. After completing her doctorate, Dr. Lawson completed postdoctoral training in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. She joined the faculty at Northwestern in 2008 where she provides consultation as well as individual / couple’s psychotherapy related to infertility and other reproductive concerns. She also teaches and conducts research on the psychological aspects of infertility with a particular focus on fertility preservation. She has published and presented on multiple topics related to reproductive health and she has received financial grants to support her work. She serves as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.