Spotlight on Shari Brightly-Brown, PhD, Transgender Health Fellow

Shari Brightly-Brown, PhD, is a recent graduate of the PhD in Clinical Psychology program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa and is currently a postdoctoral fellow in transgender health at the Eli Coleman Institute of Sexual and Gender Health. Their primary clinical interests are in gender-affirming care and sexual health, with a passion for working with LGBTQ+ identified people. Dr. Brightly-Brown’s research interests are broadly focused on resilience among LGBTQ and BIPOC people, with a particular interest in understanding how the intersection of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC identities may contribute positively to mental health. We spoke about their current research interests and experience as a fellow.

How is the transgender health fellowship at ISGH preparing you for your career goals?

I’ve had an excellent experience here, especially since opportunities to work at the intersection of gender and sexual health are quite rare. Throughout my graduate career, I've sought positions to engage with trans and queer communities, but it wasn't until now that I found substantial opportunities. Although I had small experiences here and there, none allowed me to specialize in gender-affirming care—until now. This has become the primary focus of my work, and I find I get so much time in gender-affirming care work here that I sometimes find myself looking to diversify my clinical experiences—which, fortunately, I get to do with sex therapy—but that is a stark contrast to my previous struggles to find these opportunities.

After a year here, I can confidently say that this role has provided exactly what I needed for both gender-affirming care and sex therapy. Previously, I was eager to gain experience in both areas, but my options were limited. Now I have a wealth of clinical experience focused on queer populations and research opportunities focused on queer and BIPOC populations.

This environment has met all my expectations, but your question about future preparation is challenging. The unique nature of the Eli Institute for Sexual and Gender Health means there are few similar opportunities elsewhere, which is why I’m eager to stay. Yet, if I decide to create something in private practice or elsewhere, this experience has equipped me with the best preparation possible to succeed in that endeavor.

What are you enjoying and appreciating most about the program?

One unique aspect I value is that so many of us are queer. While I can’t know everyone’s identity for certain, many of us seem to share this identity, even if by a different name. In previous educational settings, I often found myself in the position of being only one of few queer people and having to educate others about queer topics. It’s refreshing to be in an environment where I’m frequently the one learning about LGBTQIA+-related topics from others.

Many of my colleagues have been working in this field for a long time and bring their own experiences to the table, which enhances both my clinical and educational experiences. This environment positively impacts me socio-emotionally and contributes to my growth as a learner.

Can you tell us what a day in the life of a postdoctoral fellow is like?

I'm pretty hybrid—50% clinical and 50% research. Most of my research work is done at home, while my clinical days are primarily in person. I typically have at least one client in person each day, even though all clients have the option to meet virtually.

A typical day for me involves going into my office to see clients in person or online through the Epic system we use through Fairview. We occasionally have didactics, which can be in person or virtual, and it’s great when we can all be together. There aren’t many fellows—at most, there have been three in my time here, but currently, it’s just me and one other fellow. While I spend most of my time with clients in my office, I appreciate the opportunities to interact with others during lunches, didactics, and hybrid faculty meetings.

Would you like to share insights into your last study or favorite research project?

I do my research primarily with Nic Rider, PhD, LP, and the work I do with them focuses mainly on LGBTQ youth, especially minoritized groups like Asian American and Pacific Islander LGBTQ youth. We’ve worked together on three main projects in my time here thus far in collaboration with other people and community groups, such as the Minnesota Youth Sex Trading Project and Liberty church. All the projects focus on working with minoritized BIPOC and or LGBTQ+ youth. The projects have given me the chance to interact with people I wouldn’t normally meet and learn a lot, especially about qualitative research like photovoice, which was new to me.

One of my favorite experiences, however, isn’t tied directly to these projects but to a paper I co-authored with Nic on gender modality. This concept helps differentiate experiences of gender discrimination by considering whether someone is cis or trans as separate from their actual gender (e.g., man, woman, non-binary), which is important for understanding the nuances of discrimination and other experiences. I was extremely grateful to be brought onto the project, and it was a great opportunity to network and grow. It was a fun and meaningful experience, combining gender studies, linguistics, and advocacy.

This experience highlighted how much people here look out for your growth, providing opportunities that enhance your learning and career. Being involved in that paper was not only enjoyable but also a thoughtful gesture from my mentor.

Why did you choose your residency program?

I knew I wanted to stay in Minnesota for residency. I knew that all of the University of Minnesota family medicine residency programs were really strong. Fortunately, two of my best friends I went to medical school with were also planning to go into family medicine, so we took the whole interview season to go through and really analyze all the different programs and what our priorities were. And we all ultimately decided to choose St. John's. Fortunately, we all ended up here.

What are some of the best things about living and training in Minnesota?  

I can’t speak for the rest of Minnesota since I haven’t really explored it, but I love Minneapolis. Minnesota has long been a supportive environment for sexual health, education, and gender work. It's a state that provides refuge for people seeking reproductive and gender care, which is why these work opportunities exist here.

On a personal level, I’ve really enjoyed my time here because it’s so queer. There's a lot of political activism deeply rooted in community, and it's very far-left, grassroots, and focused on marginalized peoples. While there’s room for improvement on racial issues, the people I interact with are aware and making efforts to address systemic racism.

I’ve found it easy to connect with people whose values align with mine, and it’s been a place where I’m constantly challenged to live up to my own values as a queer and Black person. It's been a pleasant surprise how much I've enjoyed it here, especially since I’d never been to the Midwest before. I found Minneapolis surprisingly beautiful, with great parks and recreational spaces. I’ve been impressed with how much is available for free. And, of course, you can’t beat the cost of living in a city.

What would you tell a prospective fellow who is considering the program?

There are so many opportunities here if you know what you want. If you're a prospective fellow, it’s important to be clear about your goals and align them with what this program can offer. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the options, so setting clear goals and being intentional about the experiences you want is key. You can focus on teaching, clinical work, research, or a mix of all three, with countless add-ons in each area. As long as you're clear on your priorities, the opportunities are endless.

Learn more about the Eli Institute for Sexual and Gender Health here.