Authenticity and Queer Joy in Surgery

By Aeryn Kangas-Dick, MD 

The art of surgery is the art of connection. 

As surgeons, we have the unique privilege to meet our patients in times of need and offer them real, concrete, often rapid solutions to their diagnoses. As vital as the surgeon’s skills in the operating room are, the surgeon’s mandate is to create an immediate connection forged with trust and understanding with our patients. We ask them to be put under general anesthesia and to place their lives in our hands. 

In return, we become their fierce advocates. The sense of ownership in patient care is unmatched in any other specialty. We make ourselves available to tend to their needs after typical business hours and drop everything to care for their issues whether we are on call or not, often to the neglect of our personal lives. 

Creating a meaningful connection requires honesty, openness, skill, confidence, and experience. For many LGBTQ+ patients, finding a provider they feel comfortable with can be a daunting task. This leads to more than low patient satisfaction scores. LGBTQ+ patients follow less regularly with primary care providers, engage in preventative measures like cancer screening at lower rates, and consequently have poorer health outcomes. 

Particularly in a political climate where open celebration of queer identity has become controversial, creating an environment of allyship creates a comfortable experience for our patients, and makes it more likely that they will seek further care. Therefore, Pride Month is more than a celebration of who we are and our community, it is an opportunity to recognize the significant issues and barriers in access to care in the LGBTQ+ community. 

In my own experience as a queer transgender woman, I know how difficult it can be to see a new provider as a patient. Wondering how well or poorly you might be treated by various staff members is extremely anxiety provoking. In my experience, it’s the small touches that make me feel comfortable. At my most recent primary care visit upon moving to a new city for fellowship, I was excited and relieved to see that the iPads the medical assistants and nurses were carrying all had a rainbow and transgender pride flag! 

As a trainee in complex general surgical oncology, I have had the privilege to participate in gender-affirming mastectomies as part of my fellowship. It has been highly rewarding to see the joy and relief on my patients’ faces when they are seen pre-operatively, and even more so during that first “peek” when they wake up in the recovery room. Almost as rewarding is the connection we make when we first meet for consultation. Our shared experience makes it simple to put the patients at ease. Visibility and authenticity encourage connections between patients and providers.     

Celebrating my queerness has vastly improved my ability to access the joy that comes from learning to be a surgeon. Beyond patients, I am better able to connect with my peers, mentors, and co-workers. By connecting with those around me, I recognize that beyond the stress of a surgical career lies the opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of those around us. 

We need more surgeons who represent the diversity of our patients. When we are showing the world our true selves, we have a greater opportunity to create connections with those around us.  As a queer transgender woman in surgery, Pride Month represents an opportunity for me to reflect on the many pioneers and mentors who have made it possible for me to train and practice as my authentic self. Pride means more than acceptance. It means creating an environment where each of our identities is celebrated.  

Aeryn Kangas-Dick is a fellow in Complex General Surgical Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY. Her clinical interests include hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, Upper gastrointestinal surgery, and HIPEC. She previously completed a residency in General Surgery at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. In her spare time, she enjoys playing Rugby with her local club, and spending time with her partner, and their cat and dog.