Back in the day, I used to think of “bullying” as that silly kid at school who makes fun of everyone. Unfortunately, it can take many forms and shapes in the professional world, especially in healthcare.

I learned this the hard way when I worked as a Dental SHO in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department in one of the hospitals down south. It was a really nice and quiet town by the sea, but the toxic work environment made my life he

Gender dysphoria is clinically defined as a ‘marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and natal gender of at least 6 months in duration’ (1), with the presence of 2 or more of a list of other specified psychological manifestations.

This can often be confused with gender non-conformity. Gender non-conformity is not a clinical diagnosis, rather a pattern of behaviour exhibited in certain affected individuals where their behaviour and actions are not traditionally conforming to their assigned sex at birth. Gender dysphoria can usually be differentiated by the presence of distress along with the incongruence. (2)

In the field of OMFS it is very important to understand the differences of these diagnoses and how to recognise them. Some of the surgeries (especially those which interface with gender presentation) such as gender-affirming procedures within the field can often be necessary due to these indications, not to mention that some OMFS trainees and staff themselves may be living with these diagnoses themselves.