Health Across the Gender Spectrum

Maya Adam serves as Director of Health Media Innovation and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford School of Medicine, where she revolutionizes health education through innovative digital approaches. After earning her BA in Human Biology from Stanford and MD from the University of British Columbia, she began her unique journey from professional ballerina in Germany to becoming a leading voice in global health communication. As Faculty Lead for the Global Child Health Media Initiative and Associate Director of Stanford's Center for Digital Health, she creates impactful video-based content and online courses reaching over a million learners worldwide. Her work focuses on maternal-child health, nutrition, and disease prevention through entertainment-education approaches. She has developed eight massive open online courses and leads two randomized-controlled trials investigating digital health education interventions in collaboration with the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health. Beyond academia, she authored "Food, Love, Family: A Practical Guide to Child Nutrition" and founded initiatives promoting healthy eating habits. Her courses, including "Stanford Introduction to Food and Health" and "Child Nutrition and Cooking," have enrolled over 1.4 million learners, demonstrating her significant impact on global health education.

Robyn S. Tepper serves as Director of Medical Services at Stanford University's Vaden Health Center, where she has provided leadership in student health for over 25 years since 1997. After earning her MD from Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and completing her residency in Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, she has built an impressive career combining primary care expertise with specialized interests. As a founding member of the Vaden Eating Disorders Care Team and advocate for LGBTQ+ healthcare, she brings comprehensive experience to student health services. Her expertise spans the full spectrum of primary care while maintaining special focus on eating disorders, gender and sexual identity healthcare, and health information technology. Beyond her clinical leadership, she holds a Health Information Technology Leadership Certificate from the American College of Physician Executives and is board certified in Family Medicine. While maintaining her professional commitments, she pursues personal interests in music, theater, dance, technology, and outdoor exercise, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance in healthcare leadership.

Catherine Sonquist Forest serves as Clinical Associate Professor at UCSF Natividad Family Medicine Residency, following her role as Medical Director of Stanford Health Care at Los Altos. After earning her MD from UCSF, completing residency at UCSF-Santa Rosa Family Medicine, and obtaining an MPH in Behavioral and Environmental Health Sciences from UC Berkeley, she has built an impressive career spanning clinical care, education, and healthcare policy. Her 30-year career includes leadership roles as Medical Director of Santa Cruz Women's Health Center and significant contributions to healthcare access initiatives. Her expertise spans women's health, end-of-life care, gender minorities healthcare, and physician wellness. Her advocacy work earned her the CAFP "Hero of Family Medicine Award" in 2013, while her recent work includes pioneering efforts in end-of-life care options and healthcare equity. As a member of the California Health Care Foundation Fellowship Cohort 13, she continues to advance healthcare access and policy reform while maintaining her commitment to medical education and patient care.

Benjamin Laniakea (they/them) serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and Chief of the Stanford LGBTQ+ Adult Clinical Program, where they revolutionize healthcare delivery for the LGBTQ+ community. After graduating from SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine and completing residency at UCSF Fresno Family Medicine program, they have built an impressive career combining clinical excellence with educational innovation. As Medical Director of Stanford's LGBTQ+ Clinical Program in Los Altos, they lead a patient-centered medical home providing comprehensive care through a team of LGBTQ+ specialists. Their impact extends to medical education as Theme Lead for Sex, Gender, and Sexual Function curriculum at Stanford School of Medicine, where they transformed LGBTQ+ medical education from a single exam question to an integrated curriculum with clinical rotations. Through their leadership at the Los Altos facility and commitment to educating future physicians, they continue to advance LGBTQ+ healthcare while advocating for care that goes beyond mere tolerance to embrace comprehensive, affirming treatment for all gender identities and sexual orientations.