Programme EPATH’s 3rd Summer School
General structure of the programme
- Each day begins with two or three plenary lectures delivered by leading researchers in the field of transgender health, followed by discussions with participants. (8h in total)
- In the afternoon, interdisciplinary master classes are organized in which case studies (practical exercises) and relevant background literature and/or research proposals are presented by the summer school participants. All participants from different disciplines are invited to engage critically with each other. Through interactive discussion and peer feedback we aim to stimulate the participants in their work. The sessions are coordinated by experts in the specific topic of the session. Doctoral students are required to send in a research proposal or case study when registering, which will be peer reviewed by the scientific committee of the summer school. Selected oral submissions will be presented by the participants in their respective session. (9h in total)
- In the tête-à-tête mentoring sessions all participants from different disciplines have the chance to book individual supervision with experts in the field of transgender health research or clinical care. They might want to discuss their research or a clinical case study. The information prepared by the participant will be send to the expert in advance, so the expert can give feedback during this one-on-one discussion. The mentoring session can be organised online or in person. We’ll provide a list of experts in advance, so that the participants can choose with whom they would like to speak. (2h in total)
Note: Lunch is not foreseen by EPATH. However, the University Hospital Ghent has multiple restaurants, sandwich shops on site, and supermarkets nearby. The UZ Gent restaurants and sandwich shops offer cheap meals.
Wednesday 08/07/2026
8:00-9:00: Registration desk opens. (Location: Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent. Building: K3)
9:00-10:00 Keynote lecture: Transgender care for adolescents: Current knowledge and clinical challenges (Annelou de Vries, Amsterdam UMC, NL)
10:00-11:00: Keynote lecture: The social and legal position of trans people in Europe (Pieter Cannoot, UGent, BE)
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-12:30 Keynote lecture: Gynaecological aspects, fertility options and parenting (Norah van Mello, Amsterdam UMC, NL)
12:30-13:30 Lunch break
13:30-16:30 Interdisciplinary master classes:
- Social, Legal & Human Rights Perspectives (Pieter Cannoot, UGent, BE)
- Mental Health in Adolescents (Annelou de Vries, Amsterdam UMC, NL)
- Sexual & Reproductive Health (Norah van Mello, Amsterdam UMC, NL)
- Mental Health in Adults (Jiska Ristori, Independent gender practice, IT)
16:30-18:30 Tête-à-tête mentoring sessions
Thursday 09/07/2026
9:00-10:00 Keynote lecture: Surgical aspects in transgender health (Müjde Özer, BovenIJ Hospital Amsterdam, NL & Marlon Buncamper, UZ Gent, BE)
10:00-11:00: Keynote lecture: Endocrinology in paediatric and adult care (Justine Defreyne, UZ Gent, BE) & Alessandra Fisher, Tuscany Centre Health Authority Florence, IT)
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-12:30 Keynote lecture: Psychosocial interventions to enhance resilience in TGD individuals (Koray Basar, Hacettepe University, TR)
12:30-13:30 Lunch break
13:30-16:30 Interdisciplinary master classes:
- Intercultural specifics of transgender healthcare (Iva Zegura, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, HR)
- Youth Care & Family (Koray Basar, Hacettepe University, TR)
- Organization of Care & Gender-Affirming Pathways (Laura Garner, Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health, UK)
- Endocrine Care of Adults & Minors (Justine Defreyne, UZ Gent)
- Speakers: Joz Motmans, Senne Misplon, Joppe de Campeneere, Robin Fauconnier
- Moderation: Dean Vanhassel
- Location: Sint-Pieters Abbey (Sint-Pietersplein 9)
Friday 10/07/2026
9:00-12:00 Interdisciplinary master classes:
- Surgical Care & Aftercare (Müjde Özer, BovenIJ Hospital Amsterdam, NL)
- Mental Health & Lived Experience (Attila Fazekas, Lund University, SE)
- Minority Stress, Transilience & Lived Experience (Iva Zegura, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, HR)
12:00-13:00 Lunch break
13:00-14:00 Keynote lecture: Ethical and methodological aspects in transgender research design (Joz Motmans, UZ Gent/UGent, BE)
14:00-14:30 Coffee break
14:30-15:30: Keynote lecture: Voice and communication (Evelien D’Haeseleer, UZ Gent/UGent, BE)
15:30-16:00 Plenary Closing remarks & handing out of the certificates of attendance (Iva Zegura, EPATH President & Annelou de Vries, EPATH Past-president)
If you want to read more about the format of the summer school and the criteria for participation, read more about it here.
The EPATH summer school, Ghent, Belgium 08/07/2026 – 10/07/2026, has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) with 18.5 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that they actually spent in the educational activity.