Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician
Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician invites healthcare providers into a compassionate conversation about gender inclusivity. Hosted by Dr. Shannon Panszi, a retired Ob/Gyn and seasoned gender advocate, this podcast draws on over a decade of experience to bridge the gap between medical practice and the lived experiences of transgender and nonbinary patients. Each episode combines insightful knowledge with practical advice, illustrating how providers can enhance their care by recognizing and challenging their own assumptions.
Join us as we explore a range of topics, from medical issues to broader societal themes, all designed to help you improve the care you deliver—not just for transgender and nonbinary patients, but for everyone. Subscribe and share to help spread awareness and foster a more inclusive healthcare environment for all!
Episodes
67 episodes
Transgender Rights Aren't 'Far-Left.' They're Human Rights. (67)
Transgender rights are often mislabeled as a "far-left" issue, but that framing erases the humanity at the center of the conversation. In this episode, I call out the confusion between political strategies and basic human rights, and why it's c...
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Season 1
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Episode 67
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12:08
Who’s Protecting Kids? Supporters or Deniers of Gender-Affirming Care? The Elephant Test (66)
Everyone says they’re protecting kids. But what does real protection look like?Inspired by elephants during a San Diego earthquake, this episode offers a five-part “elephant test” for adults on all sides of the gender-affirming care deba...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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17:01
Perfect or Banned? The Double Standard in Gender-Affirming Care (65)
Why is gender-affirming care expected to be flawless when no other area of medicine is? In this episode, we unpack what “perfection” really means in this context—the idea that even one bad outcome is treated not as an individual case to learn f...
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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13:48
Even If You Don't Believe It, Sex and Gender Are Not the Same (64)
The common misuse of the term “Spanish” to describe any Spanish-speaking patient stuck with me—and years later, it became the perfect analogy for a much deeper misunderstanding: the difference between sex and gender. In this episode, I explore ...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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11:58
Transgender Visibility: A Computer, a Loved One, History, and Hope (63)
In this special episode, I step away from my usual format to share a personal story that lives at the intersection of visibility, history, and love.What does it mean for a young transgender person to see themselves reflected in the world...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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11:51
From Headlines to Half-Truths: The Stories Shaping Transgender Rights (62)
We all know numbers can be misleading—but what happens when distorted facts are used to justify taking away people’s rights?In this episode, I break down some of the most common narratives used to stir fear and confusion about transgende...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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16:50
How Homeland Security’s Policy Change Affects Transgender Patients
A recent change to Homeland Security policy has raised serious concerns for transgender individuals and their families. In this episode, we explore how the removal of gender identity from protected categories could impact privacy, safety, and t...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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17:37
Scientific Integrity in the Transgender Sports Debate (60)
When discussing transgender girls in sports, accuracy matters. No matter your stance, one correction is essential: transgender girls are not "boys playing girls’ sports." This distinction isn't just about respect—it’s about scientific accuracy....
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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8:48
Everywhere but Unnecessary: Rethinking Sex Markers in Healthcare
Does Your Hospital System Need to Reassess?Sex markers are everywhere in healthcare—from ID bracelets to patient boards—but does their constant presence actually help deliver better care? Or does it do more harm than good? In this...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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14:46
Think You're Gender Competent? A Reality Check (58)
Think your department has gender competency covered? What if the very confidence that you're "good" is the biggest red flag?In this episode, I break down the common pitfalls of assuming gender competency is a one-and-done achievement. Ho...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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9:58
The Executive Order That Divides: Staying Focused on Patients, Not Politics (57)
When an executive order threatens gender-affirming care, emotions run high—for patients, families, and providers alike. It’s easy to feel frustrated, villainized, or even ready to walk away. But how do you stay committed to your values when the...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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22:52
When Politics Scrubs ‘Transgender’—Here’s How Medicine Can Hold the Line
As federal websites erase mentions of “transgender,” how can medical professionals ensure all patients remain visible? In this episode, Dr. Shannon breaks down the critical role providers play in upholding medical accuracy—not jus...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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14:54
Building Trust with Transgender Patients: 5 Simple Changes, No Approval Needed (#55)
Creating a more welcoming environment for transgender and nonbinary patients doesn’t have to be complicated—or require board approval. In this episode, I share five small but meaningful changes any physician can make to signal awareness and red...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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15:59
Early Transition, Fewer Surgeries: The Overlooked Truth About Gender-Affirming Care
Early gender-affirming care can reduce the need for surgery later in life, but how many people realize this? In this episode, we uncover the overlooked truths about gender-affirming surgery, including why most surgeries in minors are actually p...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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17:34
SURPRISE DROP: A Physicians Insights on the Two-Sex Executive Order
This unscheduled episode of Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician offers a medical perspective on the recent executive order redefining sex. I break down the order’s use of gendered language, omission of intersex individuals, and r...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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19:38
Too Young? Peripubertal Medical Transition for Transgender Patients
This episode explores the growing group of transgender patients who socially transitioned in childhood and pursue medical transition in adolescence. Decisions around medical transition are thoughtful and deliberate, and early affirmation provid...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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21:36
Why Social Transition Matters: Supporting Transgender Children
What does social transition really mean for transgender children, and why does it matter? In this episode, I break down the realities of social transition—what it is, what it isn’t, and why it benefits transgender kids. With firsthand stories a...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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25:04
A Missing Perspective: Adults Who Transitioned in Childhood
Are you prepared to treat transgender adults who transitioned before puberty?Most conversations about transgender healthcare focus on those who transition after puberty—but what about those who transition earlier in life? The first gener...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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10:43
ENCORE: Names & Pronouns--Understanding and Conquering the Challenge (49)
Learning new names and pronouns can feel daunting at first—but why is it so hard? In this encore episode, we dive into the brain’s role in learning and why it takes conscious effort to create new habits. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of th...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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11:54
The NDAA and Gender-Affirming Care for Minors: A Political Battleground
Congress is doing something unprecedented—legislating healthcare coverage for TRICARE in a way it never has before. In this episode, I discuss H.R. 5009, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a political amendment in Sec...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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15:54
Big Opportunities for Less Than a Bottle of Water/Day
Start your journey toward inclusivity! This week, explore the School for Engendering Inclusivity—your resource for gender education, live office hours, and practical tools. With the holidays near, it’s the perfect time to prepare for meaningful...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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6:30
Medical Insights into the Supreme Court Debate on Gender-Affirming Care (#46)
I dive into the medical arguments behind United States vs. Skrmetti—what’s said, what’s left unclear, and how subjective terms like “new” and “experimental” shape perceptions. You’ll hear why banning gender-affirming care for minors co...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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25:19
Don't Believe Everything You Hear: How to Evaluate Gender Expertise (#45)
In this episode of Gender Matters: Insights from a Physician, we explore a challenge many face today: how to critically evaluate what we hear about gender from people we assume are “experts.” Just because someone holds a specific title...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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20:30
Rep. Sarah McBride and the Bathroom Bill Myth: Who’s Really at Risk?
Representative Sarah McBride’s historic election should be a moment of progress, yet it’s met with a wave of anti-trans bathroom bills. These laws claim to protect, but who—or what—are they really protecting against?In this episode, we u...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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11:59
Why Bother with Gender-Inclusive Care? It’s About More Than Just ‘a Few’ (#43)
Providing gender-inclusive care aligns with the very foundation of medicine, honoring each patient as a unique individual. In this episode, we reveal how inclusive language goes beyond serving a few—it’s an essential part of patient-centered ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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12:56