Learner Spotlight: Priya Lewis, Gender-Affirming Surgery Fellow
Priya Lewis, MD, is a former gender-affirming surgery fellow in the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in partnership with the Transgender Health Program. Her work, focused on transgender health, provides patients with validating surgical care for every situation.
Lewis joined the fellowship in August 2022, seeking a program that would provide an in-depth education in comprehensive gender-affirming care.
"I wanted specific training in all types of gender-affirming surgeries, which I hadn’t previously gotten exposure to in my residency,” Lewis said. “I also got insight into the infrastructure of the program, which better prepared me to help grow a program wherever I go.”
Under the guidance of passionate faculty mentors, including Dana Johns, MD; Isak Goodwin, MD; Courtney Crombie, MD; and Cori Agarwal, MD; Lewis was able to hone her skills in a caring and supportive environment. Unique to the program, she was also able to begin performing operations as the attending surgeon earlier than most.
“This fellowship gives you a lot of autonomy,” Lewis said. “You get to see patients by yourself early on. After a few months in the program, I was able to start doing top surgeries on my own, which is a huge deal.”
Beyond the technical knowledge the fellowship provided, Lewis also noted that the compassionate, collaborative approach to transgender healthcare increased her ability to navigate a variety of environments, with patient care and comfort always at the forefront.
“This job can be hard, with really long hours, but it’s the patient outcomes that make it all worth it,” Lewis said. “Seeing patients after their surgery and knowing how important it is to them is incredibly rewarding.
After completing the fellowship in July 2023, Lewis now works as a surgeon at University of California San Diego, focusing primarily on bottom surgeries. In the future, she hopes to use her skills to bring comprehensive gender-affirming care to underserved communities.
For other surgeons considering a path in gender-affirming surgery, Lewis noted that they should not be deterred by existing perceptions they may have of Utah and, instead, embrace the opportunities for growth and advocacy the program offers.
“This program is full of advocates and allies who want to progress the field of transgender healthcare,” Lewis said. “Any fellow who joins this fellowship will get not only the experience they need but also the opportunity to really be on the frontlines of pushing this field forward.”