MY WORK

I strive for all of my work to be community-centered. My specific academic research interests and expertise include:

• Gender-affirming surgery, most specifically genital surgery 

• Sexual health, pleasure, and embodiment after genital surgery

• Clinical ethics, including patient autonomy, informed consent, and patient-provider relationships 

• Trauma-informed approaches to healthcare and research

• Knowledge dissemination, health education, and community engagement 

• Peer support

• Weight stigma and gender-affirming healthcare

I have presented at numerous conferences on many of the above topics for both community members and professional audiences, including the annual World Professional Association for Transgender Health and United States Professional Association for Transgender Health conferences, the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, and the American Urological Association Annual Meetings. 

SELECTED CITATIONS

Manuscripts/peer-reviewed publications:

1. Zhang TR, Castle E, Zhao LC. What Pediatric Robotic Surgery Since 2000 Suggests About Ethics, Limits, and Innovation. AMA Journal of Ethics. 2023;25(8):637-642.

2. Castle E, Kimberly L, Blasdel G, Parker A, Bluebond-Langner R, Zhao LC. Should BMI Help Determine Gender-Affirming Surgery Candidacy? AMA Journal of Ethics. 2023;25(7):496-506. 

3. Blasdel G, Kloer C, Parker A, Castle E, Bluebond-Langner R, Zhao LC. Coming Soon: Ability to Orgasm After Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty. J Sex Med. 2022;19(5):781-788. 

4. Castle E, Blasdel G, Shakir NA, Zhao LC, Bluebond-Langner R. Weight stigma mitigating approaches to gender-affirming genital surgery. Plast Aesthet Res. 2022;9(20).

Book chapters:

1. Castle E, Kimberly L. Gender-Affirming Surgery in Later Life: Center Older Adults’ Perspectives to Promote Equitable Access and Person-Centered Surgical Care. In: Toze M, Willis P, Hafford-Letchfield T, eds. Trans and Gender Diverse Ageing in Care Contexts: Research into Practice. 1st ed. Bristol University Press; 2024. Forthcoming.

Oral abstracts + presentations:

1. Klein A, Golub S, Castle E, Starbuck L, Guerra A, Harris A, Berke D. Creating an evidence-based trauma-informed approach to research with transgender and non-binary individuals. United States Professional Association of Transgender Health 2023 Scientific Symposium. Westminster, CO. November 2023.

2. Castle E*, Daigle R*, Cazares A. Guidelines for a Stepwise Model of Informed Consent in Gender-Affirming Surgery. United States Professional Association of Transgender Health 2023 Scientific Symposium. Westminster, CO. November 2023. 

3. Castle E, Kimberly LL. Considerations for Gender-Affirming Surgery in Later Life. United States Professional Association of Transgender Health 2023 Scientific Symposium. Westminster, CO. November 2023.

4. Kerwin J, Castle E, Klein A. Context matters: Improving sexual health conversations in healthcare with trans men and transmasculine people. TransPride PGH. Virtual. October 2023.

5. Castle E, Kerwin J, Klein A. Beyond sexual function: Facilitating embodiment and sexual wellbeing for patients pursuing and postoperative genital surgery. TransPride PGH. Virtual. October 2023. 

6. Castle E. Beyond sexual function: Embodiment and wellbeing after genital surgery. TransPride PGH. Virtual. October 2023. 

7. Castle E. Phalloplasty and Metoidioplasty A-to-D. TransPride PGH. Virtual. October 2023. 

8. Castle​​ E, Blasdel G, Dubach-Reinhold C, Zhang TR, Bluebond-Langner R, Zhao LC. Does Body Mass Index Influence Vaginoplasty Outcomes? 2023 American Urological Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. April 2023.

9. Blasdel G, Dubach-Reinhold C, Castle E, Bluebond-Langner R, Zhao LC. Outcomes of 429 Primary Robotic Peritoneal Flap Gender Affirming Vaginoplasty Cases. 2023 American Urological Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. April 2023.

5. Castle E, Mishra K, Blasdel G, Bluebond-Langner R, Zhao L. Pleasure and Sexual Health After Gender-Affirming Genital Surgery. First Event Conference. Boston, MA. January 2023.

6. Castle E. The importance of peer support and embodied knowledge: A model for community-led gender-affirming surgery education based on an existing peer support model. Callen-Lorde Gender Affirming Perioperative Practices (GAPP) Summit. Virtual. November 2022.

7. Castle E, Blasdel G, Robinson IS, Zhao LC, Bluebond-Langner R. A Comparison of Non-Surgical Methods Used By Phalloplasty and Metoidioplasty Patients to Improve Connection to Genitals: How Usage of Methods and Their Perceived Helpfulness Shift After Surgery. World Professional Association of Transgender Health 27th Scientific Symposium Surgeon’s Only Program. Montreal, Quebec. September 2022.

8. Castle E, Cazares A, Luscombe R, Fisher K, Bluebond-Langner R, Zhao LC. Multidisciplinary Teamwork in Gender-Affirming Surgery: An Integrative Approach to Care. Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference Continuing Education Track. Virtual. July 2022.

9. Castle E, Blasdel G. Transmasculine Genital Surgery in the 21st Century. Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference 2022. Virtual. July 2022.

10. Castle E, Cazares A, Dubach-Reinhold C, Bluebond-Langner R. Gender-Affirming Surgery for Youth. Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference 2022. Virtual. July 2022.

11. Castle E. Gender-Affirming Care for Youth - Evidence-Based Information and Advocacy. Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference Continuing Education Track. Virtual. July 2022.

12. Agochukwu-Mmonu N, Castle E, Zhao LC, Radix A, Bluebond-Langner R, Makarov DV, Ospina-Norvell C, Berry C. Patient Reported Outcomes in Genital Gender-Affirming Surgery: Magnifying the Patient Voice. United States Professional Association of Transgender Health 2021 Virtual Scientific Symposium. Virtual. November 2021. 

13. Castle E, Shakir N, Blasdel G, Zhao LC, Bluebond-Langner R. Weight-stigma mitigating approaches to genital gender affirming surgery. United States Professional Association of Transgender Health 2021 Virtual Scientific Symposium. Virtual. November 2021.

* indicates co-first authorship

Poster presentations:

1. Dubach-Reinhold C, Blasdel G, Castle E, Zhao LC, Bluebond-Langner R. Comparing Electrolysis and Laser Hair Removal For Depilation of Phalloplasty Donor Flap: Patient Reported Outcomes and Satisfaction. World Professional Association of Transgender Health 27th Scientific Symposium. Montreal, Quebec. September 2022.

2. Agochukwu-Mmonu N, Castle E, Zhao LC, Radix A, Bluebond-Langner R, Harel D, Makarov D, Ospina-Norvell C, Berry C. Patient Perspectives in Genital Gender-Affirming Surgery: The Need for Patient Reported Outcome Measures. 2022 American Urological Association Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. May 2022.

3. Blasdel G, Castle E, Kloer C, Parker A, Bluebond-Langner R, Zhao LC. Quantifying Time To Orgasm After Gender Affirming Vaginoplasty. A2022 American Urological Association Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. May 2022.

Professional memberships

1/2023-Present Member

National Student Bioethics Association

12/2022-Present Member

American Society for Bioethics + Humanities

08/2022–Present Member, Empirical Bioethics Working Group

NYU Langone Health

07/2021-Present Full voting member 

World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)

07/2021-Present Full voting member 

United States Professional Association for Transgender Health (USPATH)

10/2019-Present Member

Trans Health Advocates of New York (THANY)

10/2022-5/2023 Member, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Data Working Group

NYU Langone Health

07/2021-05/2023 Member, LGBTQ+ Advisory Council

NYU Langone Health 

If you would like to see my full CV, please contact me: castle.elijahr [@] gmail.com

COLLABORATION

I have consulted for and provided education for medical residency programs, surgical practices, and others working in trans healthcare. I also have experience in program evaluation and healthcare analytics for trans healthcare providers and organizations.  

I am available for consultation, presentations, education, and other opportunities for collaboration. 

If you would like to see samples of my work or discuss working together, please get in touch.

CONTACT ME

Feel free to reach out if you would like to get in touch. 

You can also find me on LinkedIn.