CLN Daily 2026
How do we define a demographic in healthcare? And how do those definitions influence patient care? Wednesday afternoon’s session, “Best practices for incorporating gender diversity and inclusion in pathology and laboratory medicine,” will explore these important questions, with the goal of improving clinical care for individuals with gender dysphoria by highlighting ADLM’s best practice recommendations.
“I think that it's important that we have these guidance documents so that, no matter where you are within the country, laboratory medicine practitioners have a toolset that they can refer back to,” said speaker Tiffany Thomas, PhD, of Columbia University. The session will focus on best practices in laboratory medicine, including reference intervals, informatics, and the impact of national policies on patient care.
Session moderator Dina Greene, PhD, DABCC, of the University of Washington, will begin by presenting a case-based approach to applying sex-specific reference intervals to a gender-diverse population. “Anybody that’s interested in estrogen should come and listen because it will blow their minds,” she said.
Greene’s presentation will examine the challenges of applying appropriate reference intervals to individuals who have undergone gender-affirming treatments, whether surgical, hormonal, or both. Because not all laboratory values are affected by gender-affirming hormone therapy, understanding which analytes are influenced, and to what extent, is essential for providing optimal care.
Next, Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD, of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, will discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with adapting laboratory informatics to patients who don’t conform to the gender binary. Electronic health records (EHRs) and laboratory information systems (LIS) often fail to accurately represent transgender and non-binary individuals, creating barriers to effective care and complicating the exchange of patient data across healthcare institutions.
Thomas will conclude the session with a presentation about how restrictive gender policies affect the implementation of clinical best practices. “At the end of the day, respect matters the most,” she said. Thomas will emphasize that all patients, regardless of gender identity, deserve equitable, respectful treatment within the healthcare system.
Ultimately, this timely and thought-provoking session will highlight practical ways lab professionals can advance health equity and improve patient care.
As Dr. Greene noted: “I don't have any type of solution to any of this. I just like to continue to engage people, discuss it, and make people aware of it.” By fostering dialogue and increasing understanding, the session aims to help laboratorians better serve an increasingly diverse patient population.