What does accessing gender-affirming chest surgery look like in Atlantic Canada? Is coverage the same for chest feminization and chest masculinization? What barriers do patients face when policies don’t reflect real clinical needs? And beyond the risks, recovery, and logistics, what does it actually feel like to finally see yourself reflected in your body?

Featuring:

• Gabriel Enxuga (he/they) - PrideHealth Navigator
• Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee
• Aspen (she/her)
• Dr. Nadim Joukhadar (he/him)
• Pascale Joëlle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_
• Amy Prescott (she/xe) - @affirmpt
• Gabriel Dit L’individu (he/they) - @youngqueersick

Time stamps:

• 01:05 - What is top surgery
• 01:40 - Chest feminization (CF)
• 02:20 - Newfoundland (NL) CF coverage
• 03:00 - Nova Scotia (NS) CF coverage
• 06:05 - New Brunswick (NB) CF coverage
• 06:44 - Prince Edward Island (PEI) CF coverage
• 07:25 - Access barriers to CF
• 08:20 - BMI barriers
• 09:14 - Chest masculinization (CM)
• 09:20 - Eligibility factors & considerations
• 12:25 - Lived experience: discovering top surgery
• 14:10 - NL CM coverage
• 14:30 - NS CM coverage
• 14:50 - NB CM coverage
• 15:20 - PEI CM coverage
• 15:45 - Risks
• 19:05 - Post-op follow-up
• 20:16 - The role of physiotherapy
• 22:08 - Rewarding work
• 23:25 - Trans joy!

Resources:

• CQMSA Provincial GAC Guides
• Trans Care BC
• prideHealth NS
• Gender Affirming Care PEI
• Find Nikki on Twitch (nikki_mv)
• Gabriel Dit L’individu’s LinkTree: linktr.ee/youngqueersick

Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod

Instagram: @genderqueriespod

Recording dates: Apr 2025 (Aspen), June 2025 (Amy), July 2025 (Nikki, Pascale), Sept 2025 (Gabriel, Dr. Joukhadar), Dec 2025 (Gabriel)