When Ellie Volkland of Wilkes-Barre goes out into the world, she's often on edge.

Like many transgender females, she's easily recognized as such. At a recent dental appointment in Wilkes-Barre, she expected at best an uncomfortable exchange because her medical records include the male name and gender assigned to her at birth.

But a savvy receptionist, after welcoming Ms. Volkland, noticed her button with "Sir" crossed out. She asked Ms. Volkland her preferred name and updated records in the office computer. Everyone on staff used female pronouns. An email she received later that day was addressed to "Ellie."

"I keep my expectations low and I have thick skin, but they were quick to pick up and it was seamless," she said.

Unfortunately, that sort of casual, respectful acknowledgement is rarely offered to transgender people, even from medical professionals.

The fourth annual Transgender Health Conference at the Commonwealth Medical College sought to educate the practitioners and the community on Monday about delivering care to the transgender population. The keynote speaker was Pennsylvania Physician General Rachel Levine, M.D., the highest-ranking openly transgender state official in Pennsylvania history.

The medical school community was joined by 170 local citizens and service providers.

About half of all transgender people report that medical practitioners reacted badly to their situation, Dr. Levine said. Transgender people face challenges. They attempt, think about and commit suicide at rates higher than the general population. They are more unlikely to have health insurance and more likely to be HIV-positive.

She discussed the mental health and medical protocol for providers before treating a transgender person with hormones or surgery. Gender identity can be difficult to imagine for those who are cisgender — comfortable living the gender they were born.

"You question your church, question your parents, but you don't question your gender. It is a fixed star," Dr. Levine said. "But for transgender people, their gender is something that is not right, something that is struggled with. That is the experience we are trying to communicate."

Then there is etiquette. Don't use the term "transvestite," Dr. Levine said, noting the once-casual term has become offensive. But "queer," once an epithet, may be OK. She noted young people have embraced the term, even using it as an identifier.

Sexual orientation is separate from gender identity, and she avoids applying the term "gay" or "straight" to transgender patients, asking instead, "Who are you attracted to?"

A clinician who doesn't know someone's gender identity, orientation or preferred pronoun should just ask, she said.

The conference, one launched by students, has become a fixture at the young medical school. Professor Jennifer Joyce, M.D., said the event fit with the school's commitment to diversity and serving all people.

TCMC Dean Steven J. Scheinman, M.D., sporting a rainbow bowtie, said this conference comes at a time of tension in the nation. The great strides in LGBT acceptance have been tripped up by discriminatory laws.

"We had stunning progress, yet we see continuing intolerance," he said. "We want to shine a light on our need to understand and support each other and celebrate our difference."

Contact the writer:

dfalchek@timesshamrock.com