Dr. Wong presented a lecture titled “Has Medicine Failed the Intersex Community? DSD & Intersex Care: Past and Present,” exploring the complex history of medical care for individuals with differences of sex development (DSD), commonly referred to as intersex traits. Drawing on her experience as a general urologist in the greater Philadelphia area, Wong examined how approaches to care have evolved over time and highlighted the importance of patient-centered, evidence-based practices that respect individual autonomy and lived experience.
A graduate of Yale School of Medicine, Wong encouraged attendees to consider how medicine can continue to improve care for historically underserved populations through thoughtful dialogue, education, and reflection.
Wong and Moran [offered] both clinical and lived-experience perspectives on the history, challenges, and ongoing evolution of intersex care.
The lecture also featured Maddie Moran, director of communications for interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, who joined Wong virtually to discuss issues affecting intersex individuals and their experiences navigating the health care system. Moran, an intersex, queer, and disabled advocate with MRKH (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, a congenital condition in which the uterus, cervix, and upper vagina are underdeveloped or absent, despite normal ovaries and typical puberty development), is a national speaker whose work centers on education, storytelling, and community engagement. Together, Wong and Moran provided attendees with both clinical and lived-experience perspectives on the history, challenges, and ongoing evolution of intersex care.
In opening remarks, Margaret Tandoh, M.D., associate dean for intercultural excellence at Larner, emphasized the significance of the lecture as part of the college’s commitment to excellence in medical education and advancing health equity.
Richard L. Page, M.D., dean of the Larner College of Medicine and UVM chief medical affairs officer, expressed gratitude to Vito Imbasciani, M.D.’85, Ph.D., and his husband, George DiSalvo, whose generosity established the lecture series. The endowed lecture—the first in the United States dedicated specifically to LGBTQ health equity—continues to bring leading voices and critical topics to the Larner community.
“Opportunities to engage thoughtfully with complex issues have never been more valuable.” — Richard L. Page, M.D.
“At a moment when national conversations and policies continue to shape the future of health care and influence the patient-physician relationship, disease prevention, vaccine confidence, and public trust in medicine, opportunities to engage thoughtfully with complex issues have never been more valuable,” Dean Page said.
The annual event also celebrated the remarkable career and contributions of Dr. Imbasciani, a physician, educator, public servant, and advocate for equitable health care.
A urologic surgeon and chair of the board of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Imbasciani has held numerous leadership positions throughout his distinguished career. He served as secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs and as a surgeon in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the era of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” experiences that informed his longstanding commitment to LGBTQ health and inclusion.
Now in its 13th year, the Imbasciani lecture continues to provide a forum for exploring issues at the intersection of health care, equity, and education, while honoring the vision of its founders and their commitment to improving the health and well-being of LGBTQ communities. This lecture is part of Larner’s Health C.A.R.E. (Cultural Awareness, Research, and Education) Series, designed to advance excellence in medicine by bringing our community together to explore the many factors that influence health care, medical education, research, leadership, and patient outcomes.