Linda Wesp

Linda Wesp, PhD, MSN, RN, FNP-C, APNP, AAHIVS

  • Assistant Professor

Dr. Wesp’s research and scholarship focuses on health equity and improved quality of life for marginalized populations through participatory and community-driven interventions, especially LGBTQIA+ people and populations affected by HIV/AIDS.  Dr. Wesp has been providing clinical care for LGBTQIA+ populations since 2002 and is a Certified HIV Specialist and nationally known expert in transgender health care.

Dr. Wesp is co-editor of the recently published book Clinicians Guide to LGBTQIA+ Care and has authored various guidelines and protocols for gender affirming clinical care. She also conducted the Wisconsin HIV/AIDS Oral History Project, housed at the UWM Libraries Digital Collections.

Education

2019                Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

2006                M.S.N.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Masters of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner

2000                B.S.N.
Loyola University Chicago Niehoff School of Nursing
Major in Nursing, with Honors Summa Cum Laude

Awards & Honors

2022
UW-Milwaukee College of Nursing Community-Engaged Practice Award

2016-18
Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar

2017-18
UW-Milwaukee Chancellor’s Award

2017
First Place - Student Podium Presentation at UWM College of Health Sciences Research Symposium

2017
Sigma Theta Tau Eta Nu Chapter Clinical Nursing Excellence Award

2017
Sigma Theta Tau Eta Nu Student Poster Award

2016-17
UW-Milwaukee Chancellor’s Award

2015-16
UW-Milwaukee Chancellor’s Award

2006
Howard Brown Staff Spirit Award

2000
Inductee Sigma Theta Tau Honors Nursing Society
Presidential Scholar Loyola University Chicago
Niehoff School of Nursing Service Award

1999
Helene Fuld Nursing Fellowship
Mary Menze Thomas Award Loyola University Chicago
Inductee Alpha Sigma Nu National Jesuit Honors Society
Kathy Klauseger Scholarship
Spirit of Nursing Award – US Army & National Student Nurses Association

1998
Vice President’s Student Leadership Award Loyola University Chicago
Community Service Student Leader Award Loyola University Chicago
Niehoff School of Nursing Service Award

1996-2000
Niehoff School of Nursing Full Undergraduate 4-year Scholarship Award

Contracts & Grants

HRSA-STARs Program, Inclusive Training for SANE Nurses – Kako (PI), Mkandawire-Valhmu, Shadewald

Intellectual Contributions

Mukerjee, R., Wesp, L.M., Singer, R., Menkin, D. (2021) Clinicians Guide to LGBTQIA+ Care: Cultural Safety in Sexual, Reproductive, and Primary Healthcare. Publisher: Springer.

Wesp, L.M., Demidont, A.C., Jelinek, S. (2022) “Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Patients” in Sexual and Reproductive Health - A Practical Guide to Primary Care Clinicians.  Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media.

Kako, P.M. and Wesp, L.M. (2019) Chapter 15: Women and HIV in Schadewald, D., Pritham, U., Youngkin, E., Davis, M., & Juve, C. (Eds) Women's Health: A Primary Care Clinical Guide, 5th Ed. Publisher: Pearson.

Singer, R. B., Johnson, A. K., Crooks, N., Bruce, D., Wesp, L., Karczmar, A., ... & Sherman, S. (2021). “Feeling Safe, Feeling Seen, Feeling Free”: Combating stigma and creating culturally safe care for sex workers in Chicago. PLOS ONE16(6), e0253749.

Weitzel, J., Luebke, J., Wesp, L.M., Graf, M. D. C., Ruiz, A., Dressel, A., & Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2020). The Role of Nurses as Allies Against Racism and Discrimination: An Analysis of Key Resistance Movements of Our Time. Advances in Nursing Science43(2), 102-113. doi: 10.1097/ANS.0000000000000290

Weinhardt, L. S., Wesp, L. M., Xie, H., Murray, J. A., Martín, J., DeGeorge, S., Weinhardt, C.B., Hawkins, M.M., & Stevens, P. (2020). Pride Camp: Pilot Study of an Intervention to Develop Resilience and Self-Esteem Among LGBTQ Youth. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-110423/v1

Wesp, L.M., Malcoe, L.H., Elliott, A., Poteat, T. (2019). Intersectionality Research for Transgender Health Justice: A Theory-Driven Conceptual Framework for Structural Analysis of Transgender Health Inequities. Transgender Health.4(1) p. 287-296. doi:10.1089/trgh.2019.0039

Poteat, T. & Wesp, L.M. (2019). The HIV Care Provider’s Role in Reducing Stigma: How to challenge institutional norms to improve care for patients living with HIV. HIV Specialist, 11(2), 6-11.

Weinhardt, L. S., Xie, H., Wesp, L. M., Murray, J. A., Apchemengich, I., Kioko, D., Weinhardt, C. B., Cook-Daniels, L. (2019).  The Role of Family, Friend, and Significant Other Support in Well-Being Among Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Youth. Journal of GLBT Family Studies. doi:10.1080/1550428X.2018.1522606

Harper, G. W., Jadwin-Cakmak, L. A., Popoff, E., Campbell, B. A., Granderson, R., Wesp, L. M., & Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions. (2019). Transgender and Other Gender-Diverse Youth's Progression Through the HIV Continuum of Care: Socioecological System Barriers. AIDS Patient Care and STDS, 33(1), pp. 32-43.

Wesp, L. M., Scheer, V., Ruiz, A., Walker, K., Weitzel, J., Shaw, L., . . . Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2018). An Emancipatory Approach to Cultural Competency: The Application of Critical Race, Postcolonial, and Intersectionality Theories. Advances in Nursing Science. 41(4), 316-326. doi:10.1097/ans.0000000000000230

Olukotun, O., Mkandawire-Vahlmu, L., Kreuziger, S., Dressel, A., Wesp, L.M., Sima, C., Scheer, V., Weitzel, J., Washington, R., Hess, A., Kako, P., Stevens, P. (2017). Preparing culturally safe student nurses: An analysis of undergraduate cultural diversity course reflections. Journal of Professional Nursing. 34(4), 245-252. Doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2017.11.011.

Weinhardt, L.S., Stevens, P., Xie, H., Wesp, L.M, Chavez-Korell, S., John, S.A., Apchemengich, I., Kioko, D., Cochrane, K., Watjen, J., Lambrou, N. (2017). Transgender and gender non-conforming youth’s public facilities use and psychological well-being: A mixed method Study. Transgender Health, 2(1), 140-150. doi: 10.1089/trgh.2017.0020.

Deutsch, M.B., Radix, A., Wesp, L.M  (2017).  Breast cancer screening, management, and a review of case study literature in transgender populations. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 35(5), 435-441. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1606103.

Cicero, E. & Wesp, L. M. (2017). Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Transgender Students. The Journal of School Nursing, 33(2), 95-108. doi: 10.1177/1059840516689705.

Wesp, L. M., & Deutsch, M. B. (2016).  Hormonal and surgical treatment options for transgender women and transfeminine spectrum persons. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 40(1), 99-111. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2016.10.006.

Wesp, L. M., Dimant, O., Cook, T. (2016). Excellence in the Care of Trans Patients: Expanding the Base of Gender-Affirming Healthcare Professionals. HIV Specialist, 8(2),11-15.

Wesp, L.M. Chapters titled: Diabetes Mellitus; Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Considerations in Transgender Men; Prostate and Testicular Cancer Considerations in Transgender Women; Transgender Patients and the Physical Examination. (2016) In M. B. Deutsch (Ed.), Guidelines for the Primary and Gender-affirming Care of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary People (2nd ed.). Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, UCSF.

Olson-Kennedy, J., Rosenthal, S., Hastings, J., & Wesp, L.M. (2016). Health considerations for gender non-conforming children and transgender adolescents. In M. B. Deutsch (Ed.), Guidelines for the Primary and Gender-affirming Care of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary People (2nd ed.). Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, UCSF.

Presentations

Wesp, L.M., Forcier, M., Steinle, K. (2022) Following the Evidence: Utilizing Labs and Interpreting Levels in Gender Affirming Hormone Care” WPATH 27th Scientific Symposium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Wesp, L.M., Kako, P.M. (2019) Secondary Analysis and Qualitative Health Research: Narrative Inquiry with Transgender Youth of Color. International Congress for Qualitative Inquiry, Champaign, IL.

Wesp, L.M., Mustich, I., Popoff, E., Jadwin-Cakmak, L., Sarin, A., Harper, G.W., Kako, P. (2018). Don’t Dehumanize Me: Recommendations from Transgender Youth for Healthcare Providers. International Congress for Qualitative Inquiry, Champaign, IL.

Wesp, L.M., Mustich, I., Popoff, E., Jadwin-Cakmak, L., Sarin, A., Harper, G.W., Kako, P. (2017). Don’t Dehumanize Me: Recommendations from Transgender Youth for Healthcare Providers. UWM College of Health Sciences Research Symposium, Milwaukee, WI.

Wesp, L.M., Popoff, E., Mustich, I., Sarin, A., Jadwin-Cakmak, L., Harper, G. (2017). Hearing the Voices of Transgender Youth: Recommendations for Programs and Providers. USPATH Scientific Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Cicero, E., Wesp, L.M., Eliason, M., DiSantis, J., Bolt, L., Goodrum, B. (2017). Nursing’s Role in the Continuum of Transgender Health Care: A Panel Discussion with Nurse Leaders. USPATH Scientific Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Deutsch, M., Radix, A., Wesp, L.M.  (2017). Cancer Screening in Transgender People: An Evidence-Based Approach. USPATH Scientific Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Wesp, L.M. (2016). Clinical Guidelines for Providing Primary Care for Transgender People. Midwest LGBT Health Summit. Chicago, IL.

Wesp, L.M. (2016). Update for Nurses on the Guidelines for Primary Care of Transgender and Gender Non-binary People. 4th Annual GLMA Nursing Summit. St. Louis, MO.

Deutsch, M.B., Radix, A., Wesp, L.M. (2016). Cancer Screening in Transgender People: Updates from UCSF Protocol Revisions.  WPATH Biennial Symposium, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Deutsch, M.B., Radix, A., Wesp L.M. (2014). Mini-Symposia on Preventative Screening and Health Maintenance for Transgender Patients: A Rational and Evidence-Based Approach. WPATH Biennial Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand.

Ducheny, K, Wesp, L.M., Emerick, M., Katona, L. (2014). Engaging and Retaining Transgender Patients in Primary/HIV Care Through An Informed Consent Hormone Protocol. WPATH Biennial Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand.

Ducheny, K., Wesp, L.M., Emerick, M., Katona, L. (2014). Informed Consent Hormone Prescription in a Community Health Center – “THInC”– Reviewing the implementation of Howard Brown Health Center’s Informed Consent Hormone Protocol and Transgender Community Response. WPATH Biennial Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand.

Wesp L.M.  (2013). Caring for Transgender Youth. LGBT Health Workforce Conference, New York, NY.