Meet our candidates

EPATH invites its members to elect two board member to strengthen the EPATH Board. We are very pleased to present to you the six nominated candidates, from several European countries and professional backgrounds. We invite our members to read their background and vision for EPATH carefully before voting.

How will the voting process work?

All EPATH members (list as of 21st of July 2025) will receive a personal invitation from the WPATH secretary to vote online. You will be asked to rank the candidates to your preference, with a minimum ranking of 3 candidates. Voting is open until August 8. The results will be calculated using the Single Transferable Voting system. STV enables votes to be cast for individual candidates rather than for organisations/parties and also provides approximately proportional representation, ensuring that substantial minority fractions have some representation. The outcome of the election procedure will be announced during the General Assembly at the EPATH Conference in Hamburg.

How is the board composed?

The EPATH Board of Directors, includes four At-Large Board members and four Officers of the organization (President, President Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer). Two board members (Joz Motmans and Timo Nieder) will leave our board after several years of serving as Board Members. We need two new incoming members to be elected by the membership.

All nominated Board members are in good standing professionally and are recognized in their field. For the EPATH board, maximizing geographical, professional and gender diversity across the Board is paramount. We urge our members to take these criteria into account when invited to select their candidates of preference.

Justine Defreyne

Background

Justine Defreyne (she/her) earned her degree in Medical Sciences from Ghent University, graduating magna cum laude. In the summer of 2016, she began her PhD studies at the Endocrinology Department of Ghent University Hospital, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Guy T’Sjoen and Prof. Dr. Els Elaut. Her research focused on gender-affirming endocrine care, culminating in her PhD graduation in the summer of 2020. Currently, she is actively involved in endocrine transgender care at Ghent University Hospital and AZ Ostend Hospital. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the European Professional Association for Transgender Health, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the Belgian Endocrine Society, the European Endocrine Society, the Endocrine Society, and the European Society for Sexual Medicine. Justine Defreyne is a (co-)author of multiple international publications. Justines expertise ranges from clinical work—particularly in transgender care and andrology—to research in the field of transgender care.

Vision for EPATH

In the current political climate, it is important that EPATH actively protects and advocates for the rights of transgender individuals. Our responsibility is to speak out against policies that may undermine these rights and to promote access to gender-affirming care in its broadest sense—beyond just medical interventions—so that each individual can freely choose their own path. We must also work to educate the wider public on the true meaning of diversity and emphasize that embracing it poses no threat to the broader community, of which we are all a part. Building bridges, extending support, and addressing misinformation from those who spread misleading messages are essential steps in this effort. Collaboration is key; we should partner with other organizations, both global and local, to advance our shared goals. It is crucial to protect those at risk of harm from harmful policies and to offer assistance where needed. Rather than engaging in unproductive disputes, we should focus on informing the public with accurate, scientifically supported data. Through this approach, EPATH can strengthen its impact and uphold its mission to support and defend transgender rights effectively.

Bartosz Grabski

Background

I am a medical doctor, specialising in psychiatry and sexology, and a cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist. For over a decade, I have been actively involved in supporting the health and wellbeing of transgender and gender-diverse individuals, accompanying them throughout their social and medical transition.

I currently lead the Sexology Unit at the Department of Psychiatry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, based in Kraków, Poland.
Teaching, lecturing, writing, and editing books are among my greatest passions. I am a co-editor and co-author of the first Polish monograph dedicated to gender incongruence and gender dysphoria, as well as a psychoeducational handbook for trans people and their families. I also previously served as co-editor of the first Polish academic monograph focused on LGB psychology. 

Additionally, I acted as the coordinating lead in the development of clinical guidelines on the care of transgender and gender-diverse adults in Poland, which were formally endorsed by the Polish Sexological Society, and was one of the co-authors and coordinators of the corresponding guidelines dedicated to transgender adolescents. 

Vision for EPATH

I would very much like EPATH to continue and further strengthen its active role in countering misinformation. We are living in times when decontextualised research findings – and sometimes even half-truths or outright falsehoods – are used to discredit trans-affirmative medical and psychological care, and to undermine the dignity and rights of transgender and gender-diverse individuals, as well as the professionals who support them. 

Combining my personal passion and commitment with a vision of what EPATH could contribute in this area, I would dream of seeing EPATH take the lead on a major European initiative – similar to those led by societies such as ESSM – resulting in a comprehensive, multi-author, multi-disciplinary volume or handbook on gender diversity, trans identities, and trans health. This work would be written by a diverse group of specialists representing the European continent. Such a publication could serve as a powerful tool in dispelling myths and providing reliable, evidence-based knowledge. I would be very keen to contribute to such a project as one of its co-editors and collaborators. 

Gennaro Selvaggi

Background

Dr. Selvaggi is a plastic surgeon and academic with over two decades of experience in gender affirming care. Their journey began with surgical training under Prof. Monstrey in Ghent (2001–2003), culminating in a PhD on Gender Affirming Surgery (2010), with a focus on patient experiences, reported outcomes, and the broader life impact of care.

Since 2011, Dr. Selvaggi has led the Gender Affirming Surgery Program at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, combining clinical practice with research, education, and systems-level coordination. He holds a Master in Global Public Health (NYU, 2018) with a focus on bioethics, and a Master in Leading & Managing Healthcare Organisations (Plymouth University, 2013), equipping them to engage with healthcare delivery both ethically and strategically.

They have held numerous leadership roles, including EPATH and WPATH program committees, Swedish national advisory boards, and international surgical education forums. With more than 80 scientific publications, 13 book chapters, and co-editorship of Gender Affirming Vaginoplasty (Elsevier, 2025), Dr. Selvaggi’s commitment to inclusion, ethics, and evidence-based policy continues to shape his work in building accessible and respectful healthcare systems for trans and gender diverse people.

Vision for EPATH

I envision EPATH serving as a cultural platform that both transgender individuals and scientists can utilize to amplify voices and disseminate scientific information. Our targets include governmental agencies, healthcare organizations, and providers. Specifically, EPATH will establish direct communication channels with Ministries of Health across target countries to ensure the provision of care in each member country. Our specific aims encompass affirming rights, fostering research, and promoting evidence-based care for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. 

 As a healthcare provider, I recognize that the cornerstone of optimal care lies in a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists from various fields, who must also collaborate with social services and governmental agencies. 

Jiska Ristori

Background

I am a psychologist and psychotherapist specializing in transgender and gender diverse (TGD) health since 2005, with earlier academic work on gender identity in preschool children. I began my clinical work with adults at the Gender Team of the University Hospital of Florence (Italy). Since 2014, I have helped establish multidisciplinary care for young TGD individuals in Italy and, in 2025, started an independent multidisciplinary gender-affirming care practice together with colleagues from diverse professional backgrounds. I work closely with TGD children, adolescents, and their families, offering support throughout their paths. 

I am actively engaged in research and have contributed to several high-impact publications and multicenter studies on gender identity. I have co-authored the Children Chapter of the latest WPATH Standards of Care and regularly teach, mentor students, and presents at national and international conferences, including EPATH (since its birth). 

I am committed to advocate and the promote inclusive, evidence-based care. In response to growing professional and political pressures, I have co-founded SIGIS in 2021, an Italian association dedicated to support TGD health and enhance provider training. 

Vision for EPATH

Considering my professional path so far and the worldwide situation, I strongly believe that EPATH’s mission is essential in this historical moment and that we need to stand united as colleagues to respond to the attacks on gender-affirming medical and social pathways. Joining the board would be an opportunity to contribute to a shared effort, to exchange expertise across countries, and to strengthen our collective voice in defending access to affirming care, defend trans health rights, and contribute to high-quality clinical and research standards across Europe. Only through collective support and evidence-based advocacy we can protect the rights and well-being of TGD individuals. 

Sasha Wellenbrock

Background

Dr. med. Sascha Wellenbrock is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon (EBOPRAS) and leader surgeon at the Center for Transgender Health at Fachklinik Hornheide / University Hospital Münster. His clinical and academic work focuses on gender-affirming surgery, interdisciplinary care, and surgical innovation. Dr. Wellenbrock has contributed to national and international guidelines and co-organized multiple symposia on transgender surgery in Germany. He is committed to advancing evidence-based, inclusive, and integrative care for transgender individuals across Europe.

Vision for EPATH

As a specialist in transgender health and surgery, I have dedicated a significant part of my clinical and academic work to advancing high-quality, affirming, and evidence-based care for transgender individuals. My professional background is rooted in surgical practice, complemented by close interdisciplinary collaboration. Over the years, I have worked side by side with urologists, gynaecologists, psychiatrists, and specialists from a wide range of internal medicine disciplines to ensure holistic care for my patients. My vision for EPATH is to further promote this interdisciplinary model: moving from isolated expertise within single disciplines toward a truly integrated, transdisciplinary approach—centred around the transgender individual and led by committed teams working in unison. I believe that transgender surgery should not be seen as a stand-alone intervention, but as one component in a continuum of care that encompasses mental health, endocrinology, primary care, legal support, and social integration. With this vision in mind, I have actively contributed to the development of national and international guidelines in transgender health care, and I have co-organized five symposia on transgender surgery in Münster and Frankfurt. These gatherings have not only fostered dialogue between different disciplines but have also provided platforms for young professionals and researchers to engage with the latest clinical and scientific developments. If given the opportunity to serve on the EPATH Board, I would work to strengthen interdisciplinary structures across Europe and to promote training, research, and policy-making that reflects the complex and diverse realities of transgender people’s lives. I am especially committed to ensuring that the voices of trans individuals and the lived experiences of patients remain central in all aspects of our professional work. EPATH has already made great strides in promoting collaboration, education, and research in transgender health. I would be honoured to contribute to this mission by sharing my clinical expertise, research experience, and long-standing commitment to building inclusive, collaborative networks in transgender health care.

Sophie Rhode

Background

Dr. Sophie Charlotte Rhode is a German board-certified specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. She currently serves as a Senior Consultant at the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf. Dr. Rhode completed her medical studies at the University of Münster in 2017 and earned her doctorate (Dr. med.) in 2019 with research on genotypic characterization of Escherichia coli.

Her residency spanned from 2017 to 2023 at RWTH Aachen University Hospital and Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf. She has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications in the fields of microbiology, neuroscience, and regenerative medicine. Dr. Rhode is multilingual, fluent in German, English, French, and Polish, and holds certifications in Good Clinical Practice and animal research (FELASA-B).

Vision for EPATH

As a trained plastic surgeon specializing in transgender care and surgery, I have dedicated my professional life to advancing the quality, accessibility, and ethical standards of gender-affirming procedures. My commitment extends beyond the operating room—I strive to shape a multidisciplinary, evidence-based, and compassionate approach to transgender healthcare. Joining the EPATH board is a natural next step in contributing to the evolution of our field and supporting the diverse needs of the transgender community.
My clinical practice has focused on gender-affirming surgical procedures, where I have had the privilege of helping individuals align their bodies with their identities. I have developed specific expertise in both feminizing and masculinizing surgeries, working closely with patients to ensure care that is not only technically precise but also deeply respectful of individual goals and identities. I believe that excellence in transgender care can only be achieved through both surgical skill and an empathetic, individualized approach to treatment.
In addition to my clinical work, I am deeply involved in surgical education. I actively teach and mentor younger surgeons to uphold high standards in transgender care, emphasizing both technique and the ethical dimensions of practice. My goal is to ensure the next generation of surgeons is well-equipped not only with technical proficiency but also with cultural competence and sensitivity to the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals.

Collaboration is a cornerstone of my approach. I work in close cooperation with colleagues across multiple disciplines, including urology, gynaecology, psychiatry, and sexual medicine. I believe that true excellence in transgender healthcare requires an integrated, team-based model that brings together diverse expertise for the benefit of the patient. As part of this model, I am committed to building networks and facilitating communication between surgical and non-surgical disciplines.
My approach is research-driven, as I believe that innovation, quality improvement, and accountability in transgender care must be grounded in robust scientific evidence. I am committed to contributing to EPATH’s academic and scientific mission, fostering high-quality research that reflects the realities of transgender lives and informs clinical decision-making. Furthermore, I am passionate about contributing to the empowerment of minorities, particularly those who face compounded marginalization. I view EPATH as a platform to amplify underrepresented voices and promote healthcare equity across all dimensions of identity, including race, socioeconomic status, and geographic location.

It would be an honour to bring my clinical experience, educational commitment, and collaborative spirit to the EPATH board. I am excited about the possibility of contributing to a shared vision of inclusive, ethical, and forward-thinking transgender healthcare in Europe.