Gender Identity and Presentation: How To Support Your Child

Guest Bio: Dr. Ilana Sherer

Dr. Ilana Sherer has a general pediatrics practice in Dublin California at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation/Sutter Health with a specialty in caring for gender-nonconforming and transgender youth. She is also a member of the AAP Section on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Wellness.

Becoming a mom (my sons were born in 2014 and 2017) gave me a new perspective on being a pediatrician. I realized how hard it is to be the “perfect” parent I hoped to become, and that sometimes parents just need to do what they need to do to survive. It also helped me realize the value of reassurance. Sometimes you think everything is OK but you just want someone else to tell you that it is. So don't ever be afraid to ask me a question or to check something out on your kid. I will never judge you for what you may think are silly questions. I also do not promise to know everything, but I do promise that if your child has a problem I'm not experienced in, or if you have a question I cannot answer, we can work together to learn about it.

I am passionate about connecting with families and watching children grow into opinionated human beings. I talk with my families about how the choices we make in our lives impact our health in the long term, and so I believe strongly in immunizations and a holistic approach to healthy living through nutrition, exercise, community, and stress reduction — not to mention fun and play. Because few things in medicine are clear cut or have only one answer, my style is to work with families, providing a range of options when they are available. I am also comfortable advising non-intervention, as sometimes letting the body heal itself is the healthiest course of action.

I love seeing families from all walks of life and at all ages, and I have developed a particular interest in a few groups of children. I have experience and passion for adolescent care, and especially around LGBTQ issues. I am a national expert on transgender children and love to care for them here at PAMF. I also love to care for children with special or complex health care needs, such as developmental concerns/delays or genetic diseases. I speak Spanish and have traveled widely in Latin America providing pediatric care, and so love to see Spanish-speaking families.

On my days off, you can find me hanging out with my son singing silly songs, hiking, biking, or spending time outdoors. Someday I want to become a writer, although there never seems to be enough time, so for now I will just read as much as I can. I also moonlight on weekends and evenings as a musician (I play violin) with the Saul Goodman Klezmer Band.