Spotlight: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth: Panel Discussions
Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST
Category: Events
Spotlight: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth: Panel DiscussionsJoin us for the second of three special "Spotlight" sessions hosted by the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice and the Coming Together for Action Conference. These bonus live sessions will be recorded and available as on-demand content during the conference. Access is free but you’ll need to register for your space in each spotlight session. Register now at zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D9UhjZtzSWisq9n3Iof7ew. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining this Zoom webinar. Special Introduction
Panel 1: Advocating for Supportive Environments for Transgender and Gender-Diverse YouthsMODERATOR: Jill D. McLeigh, PhD (She/Her) (@jill_mcleigh) is the Director of Policy, Advocacy, & Research at Children's Health in Dallas, TX. She currently serves as the co-editor for American Journal of Orthopsychiatry and associate editor for the Kempe-Haruv Journal on Child Abuse and Neglect. Her primary research interest has been in preventive measures and interventions that seek to strengthen communities' capacity for family support, participation, and mutual assistance. Jill has been the recipient of the Outstanding Student Award from the American Psychological Association, Division of Psychologists in Public Service, and the South Carolina Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Community Award. She has a Master's degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University and a PhD in International Family & Community Studies from Clemson University. Connect with Jill on LinkedIn
Panel 2: Experiences and Challenges for Providing Care for Transgender Youth in the SouthMODERATOR: Megan McComas, MA (She/Her) is a doctoral student in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She formally served (2018-2020) as a behavioral health intern at Levine Children’s Center for Gender Health providing behavioral health care to adolescents, emerging adults, and families. She was also involved in the development and implementation of the Center for Gender Health. Her current research investigates systemic factors that influence transgender and gender expansive youth health and health care disparities. Her work aims to promote gender-affirming health care in diverse geographical regions. Connect with Megan on LinkedIn Shamieka Virella Dixon, MD (She/Her), a native of the Bronx, NY, graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development. Shamieka obtained her doctorate degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, completed pediatric residency training at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, and an adolescent medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. She serves as the Director of Adolescent Medicine and Levine Children’s Center for Gender Health at Teen Health Connection providing primary and consultative care to adolescents and young adults. Connect with Shamieka on LinkedIn Betsy Thompson, MEd, LPC (She/Her) is the Program Coordinator of Mental Health Services for Teen Health Connection, supervising a team of 6 licensed therapists. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a licensed school counselor. For thirteen years, Betsy has worked with adolescents in a variety of settings, including as the Clinical Program Manager for two locked psychiatric treatment facilities, in the school system as a middle school counselor and with youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System. Betsy is trained/rostered in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and has presented at a variety of conferences and school districts on trauma, adolescent development, gender health and integrated healthcare. Laura Levin, MD (They/Them) is a graduate of Drexel University with a B.S. in Physics. They graduated from Hahnemann University with a Masters in Applied Human Physiology. Their medical degree comes from Temple University School of Medicine and they did an internship and residency at University of Maryland Medical Systems in Baltimore, MD. They have been practicing medicine for the last 29 years with Piedmont Pediatric Clinic in Concord, NC. Laura started taking on transgender patients 9 years ago when they were asked to do so because the current provider in Charlotte who worked with gender diverse children was retiring. Laura currently provides medical care to the gender diverse community at Levine Children’s Center for Gender Health and has been professionally involved in the transition of over 150 adolescents and young adults. Connect with Laura on LinkedIn |