Based in East Dundee, Illinois, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) represents a global commitment to equity, respect, and access to quality healthcare for all gender identities and expressions. Originally established as the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA), WPATH has evolved into an internationally recognized interdisciplinary professional organization with a clear mission: to promote evidence-based care, education, research, public policy, and respect in transgender health. The organization envisions a world where people of all gender identities have access to evidence-based healthcare, social services, justice, and equality. WPATH brings together professionals from diverse fields—from psychiatry and medicine to law and social work—united by a shared commitment to understanding and advancing transgender healthcare. Members engage in rigorous clinical and academic research while advocating for policies that protect and support transgender individuals worldwide. Through its biennial scientific symposia, WPATH creates spaces for interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange among healthcare professionals dedicated to improving care standards. The organization's published Standards of Care and Ethical Guidelines reflect years of professional consensus-building and serve as foundational resources for practitioners globally. Supported by its membership community and non-commercial funding sources, WPATH remains independent and focused on its core values of evidence-based practice, professional excellence, and advocacy for transgender health equity across all communities.
East Dundee, IL