Helping Redefine What Quality Care Means in Gender-Affirming Surgery
We’re proud to share that Dr. Thomas Satterwhite and Dr. John Henry Pang of Align Surgical Associates have contributed to a major international study published in JAMA Network Open. The study introduces the GENDER-Q—the first comprehensive, validated tool that helps us better understand how gender-affirming care is experienced by patients.
Why This Matters
For a long time, there hasn’t been a consistent way to measure what “successful” gender-affirming surgery really means from a patient’s point of view. Many existing tools were developed with cisgender people in mind—and didn’t reflect the priorities or experiences of transgender and gender-diverse patients.
The GENDER-Q changes that.
What Is the GENDER-Q?
The GENDER-Q is a new, patient-centered questionnaire developed by experts around the world—including our team here at Align. It helps providers gather real, meaningful feedback from people receiving gender-affirming care.
It includes:
- 54 different scales covering things like emotional well-being, surgical outcomes, and body image
- 2 additional checklists for areas that need different types of questions
- Input from over 5,000 transgender and gender-diverse adults worldwide
- Availability in multiple languages
Most importantly, trans and gender-diverse individuals were involved every step of the way in designing this tool. That means it reflects what truly matters to the people receiving care—not just what clinicians think should be measured.
Why Patient Experience Counts
Good care isn’t just about surgical technique or clinical results. It’s about how people feel—physically, emotionally, and socially—after their procedure. Patient-reported outcomes help us understand:
- Quality of life
- Mental health
- Satisfaction with appearance and function
- Sexual well-being
- Experience with the care team
By using the GENDER-Q in our practice, we can make sure we’re delivering care that improves lives in ways that matter to our patients.
Align Surgical’s Role
Our team is proud to have contributed to this research. And we’re even more proud to use the GENDER-Q in our day-to-day work. It’s one more way we’re making sure our care is not only technically excellent, but also affirming, respectful, and truly patient-centered.
Looking Ahead
The GENDER-Q will help providers around the world:
- Use a shared language for measuring outcomes
- Compare different approaches to care
- Design care that reflects patients’ voices
- Push research in gender-affirming care forward
We’re honored to be part of this movement.
Want to learn more?
The full study is available in the April 2025 issue of JAMA Network Open.
Questions about how we’re using the GENDER-Q in our care? Contact us.