Welcome to the Phoenix Helix podcast dedicated to autoimmune resilience. While there is no cure for

autoimmune disease, the choices we make every day can have a powerful impact on how we feel. I'm Eileen

Laird, your host. In this podcast, I interview experts in the fields of nutrition, lifestyle, mindset,

and integrative medicine. I also interview people with

autoimmune disease just like you. We can learn so much from each other. This podcast is named

Phoenix Helix, and it's after the mythical bird that rises from its own ashes. If you've ever

felt like your autoimmune disease knock you down so hard you would never

rise again, never underestimate your ability to rise. We all have a phoenix within us. A short

disclaimer, I'm neither a doctor nor a nutritionist and the opinions expressed here are personal.

I do interview medical professionals on the show, but it's meant to be information, not medical advice.

So always consult with your health care team before making your own medical decisions.

Now let's get on to the show. Welcome to episode 226. Our topic today is transgender autoimmune health. My goal with the Phoenix Heelix podcast is to help people with

autoimmune disease thrive. And today's episode is dedicated to our transgender listeners and

the health care practitioners who serve them. We'll be talking about the medical complexities

that might arise from the intersection of gender affirming treatment and autoimmune treatment.

We'll discuss the challenges transgender patients face when seeking medical help and not knowing if you will face medical discrimination.

We'll share tips for creating safe spaces within health care practices.

We're also going to talk about the stress autoimmune connection and the special challenges facing transgender people with advice for both self-care and self-advocacy.

And I'm really honored to have a panel of guests with me today.

Mitch Hankins is a transgender man living with autoimmune disease and will be sharing his experience and advice with us.

Dr. Ailey Cohen is an integrative rheumatologist who will be sharing the medical perspective.

And Dr. Shana Ali is a mental health counselor, educator, and advocate.

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