Ada Cheung Explained

Honorific Prefix:	Principal Research Fellow
Ada Cheung
Honorific Suffix:	PhD
Fields:	Transgender studies
Workplaces:	University of Melbourne Austin Hospital
Education:	University of Melbourne (MBBS) University of Melbourne (PhD)
Spouses:	)-->
Partners:	)-->

Ada Cheung is an Australian clinical scientist, endocrinologist and researcher who is known for her research in transgender studies.

She holds both a NHMRC and Dame Kate Cambell Research fellowship as a principal research fellow at the University of Melbourne and works as a clinical scientist and endocrinologist at Austin Hospital in Melbourne.^[1]

Education and career

Cheung earned a MBBS (Hons) in 2003,^[2] and a PhD in 2017 at the University of Melbourne.

Prior to completing her PhD, together with Jeffrey Zajak, Cheung established a clinic in 2016 to serve trans and gender-diverse people.^[3]

After completing her degree in 2017, she established the Trans Health Research group at the University of Melbourne to improve the "health and wellbeing of trans and gender-diverse communities".^{[1] [4]} Through the research led at the Trans Health Research group, she was able to help secure government funding for two trans health clinics and a state-wide training program for health professionals. Cheung promotes an informed consent approach to gender-affirming care and through her work has helped inform national guidelines in Australia on gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender patients.^{[3] [5]}

Cheung serves as a board member on the Endocrine Society of Australia Council.^[6] She also serves as a member of the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CoDI) at the international Endocrine Society.^[7]

Cheung is an associate editor of the International Journal of Transgender Health.^[8] She is also a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism,^[9] as well as a member of the editorial board of the journal on Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism.^[10]

Cheung has been a guest on various medical podcasts. In 2019 she appeared on the Medical Journal of Australia podcast where she explained the new national guidelines on gender affirming care she helped co-author.^[11] In 2020, Cheung appeared as a guest on the podcast MDQueer on the topic of gender-affirming hormone therapy.^[12] In November 2023, she appeared on the Australian podcast The Latest in LGBTIQ+ Health and Policy.^[13] In June 2024, Cheung appeared as a guest on the podcast Science Vs on the topic of Trans Kids’ Healthcare: Are We Getting It Wrong? alongside Professor Stephen Russell and Dr Cal Horton.^[14]

Awards and recognition

• In 2017, Cheung earned the Early Investigators Award by the Endocrine Society.^[15]
• In 2020, she earned the Dame Kate Campbell Research Fellowship.^[16]
• In 2021, she was named the GLOBE Ally of the year.^{[17] [18]}
• In 2021, she received a Strategic Grant for Outstanding Women by the University of Melbourne, recognizing her contributions in transgender research and for being "pivotal in developing new national guidelines in the hormonal management of trans and gender diverse individual".^[19]
• In 2024, she was named one of 50 remarkable and inspirational women in Australian science by Cosmos Magazine.^[20]

Bibliography

Cheung has published a large number of highly cited research papers in peer-reviewed journals during her career.^[21] Some select articles:

• Ensuring an inclusive, trans-led future for the field of trans health . 10.1080/26895269.2024.2370607 . 2024 . Riggs . Damien W. . Lowik . A.J. . Javellana Restar . Arjee . Everhart . Avery . Lett . Elle . Cheung . Ada S. . Arora . Manvi . Treharne . Gareth J. . Rosenberg . Shoshana . International Journal of Transgender Health . 1–4 .
• 10.1210/clinem/dgad414 . 2023 . 109 . 2 . Cheung . Ada S. . Zwickl . Sav . Miller . Kirsti . Nolan . Brendan J. . Wong . Alex Fang Qi . Jones . Patrice . Eynon . Nir . The Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Physical Performance . The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism . e455–e465 . 37437247 . 10795902 .
• 10.1089/trgh.2020.0094 . 2023 . 8 . 1 . van Leerdam . Taylah R. . Zajac . Jeffrey D. . Cheung . Ada S. . The Effect of Gender-Affirming Hormones on Gender Dysphoria, Quality of Life, and Psychological Functioning in Transgender Individuals: A Systematic Review . Transgender Health . 6–21 . 36895312 . 9991433 .
• 10.1186/s12888-021-03084-7. free . 2021 . 21 . 1 . Zwickl . Sav . Wong . Alex Fang Qi . Dowers . Eden . Leemaqz . Shalem Yiner-Lee . Bretherton . Ingrid . Cook . Teddy . Zajac . Jeffrey D. . Yip . Paul S. F. . Cheung . Ada S. . Factors associated with suicide attempts among Australian transgender adults . BMC Psychiatry . 81 . 33557793 . 7869522 .
• 10.3389/fimmu.2020.604000. free . 2021 . 11 . Shepherd . Rebecca . Cheung . Ada S. . Pang . Ken . Saffery . Richard . Novakovic . Boris . Sexual Dimorphism in Innate Immunity: The Role of Sex Hormones and Epigenetics . Frontiers in Immunology . 33584674 . 7873844 .
• 10.1007/s10508-020-01689-9 . 2020 . 49 . 7 . Cheung . Ada S. . Leemaqz . Shalem Y. . Wong . John W. P. . Chew . Denise . Ooi . Olivia . Cundill . Pauline . Silberstein . Nicholas . Locke . Peter . Zwickl . Sav . Grayson . Ren . Zajac . Jeffrey D. . Pang . Ken C. . Non-Binary and Binary Gender Identity in Australian Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals . Archives of Sexual Behavior . 2673–2681 . 32285311 .
• Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Amongst Individuals with Gender Dysphoria: A Systematic Review. 10.1007/s10803-019-04298-1. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2019 . 50 . 3 . Thrower . Emily . Bretherton . Ingrid . Pang . Ken C. . Zajac . Jeffrey D. . Cheung . Ada S. . 695–706 . 31732891 .
• Position statement on the hormonal management of adult transgender and gender diverse individuals . 10.5694/mja2.50259 . 2019 . 211 . 3 . Cheung . Ada S. . Wynne . Katie . Erasmus . Jaco . Murray . Sally . Zajac . Jeffrey D. . Medical Journal of Australia . 127–133 . 31271465 .
• Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Transgender Adults in Australia. 10.1089/trgh.2018.0019. Transgender Health. 2018 . 3 . 1 . Cheung . Ada S. . Ooi . Olivia . Leemaqz . Shalem . Cundill . Pauline . Silberstein . Nicholas . Bretherton . Ingrid . Thrower . Emily . Locke . Peter . Grossmann . Mathis . Zajac . Jeffrey D. . 229–238 . 30596151 . 6308273 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: A/Prof Ada Cheung. 20 August 2024. University of Melbourne.
2. Web site: Overcoming injustice: Dr Ada Cheung. 19 June 2019. 20 August 2024. University of Melbourne.
3. Web site: Associate Professor Ada Cheung: Accountability for greater impact. Harry Wood. 20 August 2024. University of Melbourne. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033353/https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/embedding-the-standards/stories/profile-ada-cheung. live.
4. Web site: Trans Health Research. 20 August 2024. transresearch.org.au. 6 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240806195640/https://www.transresearch.org.au/. live.
5. Position statement on the hormonal management of adult transgender and gender diverse individuals . 10.5694/mja2.50259 . 2019 . 211 . 3 . Cheung . Ada S. . Wynne . Katie . Erasmus . Jaco . Murray . Sally . Zajac . Jeffrey D. . Medical Journal of Australia . 127–133 . 31271465 . 2024-08-21 . 2024-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033252/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/mja2.50259 . live .
6. Web site: The Endocrine Society of Australia - Councillors. 20 August 2024. Endocrine Society of Australia. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033255/https://www.endocrinesociety.org.au/councillors.asp. live.
7. Web site: Voices from ENDO 2024. 12 June 2024. 20 August 2024. Endocrine Society. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033253/https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/blog-endocrine-signals/blog-june-2024. live.
8. Web site: International Journal of Transgender Health - Editorial board. 20 August 2024. International Journal of Transgender Health. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033357/https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/wijt21/about-this-journal#news-and-calls-for-papers#editorial-board. live.
9. Web site: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Editors and Editorial Board. 20 August 2024. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033255/https://academic.oup.com/jcem/pages/Editorial_Board. live.
10. Web site: Editorial Board - Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 20 August 2024. Sage Publishing. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033303/https://journals.sagepub.com/editorial-board/TAE. live.
11. Web site: MJA Podcasts 2019 Episode 32: Hormone therapy for transgender and gender diverse adults, with Dr Ada Cheung. 5 August 2019. Medical Journal of Australia. 21 August 2024. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033408/https://www.mja.com.au/podcast/211/3/mja-podcasts-2019-episode-32-hormone-therapy-transgender-and-gender-diverse-adults-dr. live.
12. Web site: Interviewing Dr Ada Cheung on gender affirming hormone therapy. 20 September 2020. MDQueer Podcast. 21 August 2024. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033305/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interviewing-dr-ada-cheung-on-gender-affirming-hormone/id1529627128?i=1000491941593. live.
13. Web site: Episode 21: Ada Cheung. The Latest in LGBTIQ+ Health and Policy. 15 November 2023. 20 August 2024.
14. Web site: Trans Kids' Healthcare: Are We Getting It Wrong?. 6 June 2024. Science Vs. 18 August 2024. 16 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240816022449/https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs/76h5zk6x. live.
15. Web site: Endocrine Society honors Early Investigators Award winners. 1 February 2017. 20 August 2024. Endocrine Society. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033407/https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2017/endocrine-society-honors-early-investigators-award-winners. live.
16. Web site: About - Dr Ada Cheung - Endocrinologist. 20 August 2024. endocrinologistmelbourne.com.au. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033310/https://www.endocrinologistmelbourne.com.au/about-us/. live.
17. Web site: Past Winners - Victorian Pride Awards - GLOBE Victoria. 20 August 2024. GLOBE Victoria. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033307/https://globevictoria.com.au/victorian-pride-awards/past-winners/. live.
18. Web site: A/Prof Ada Cheung receives the GLOBE Ally of the Year award. 30 March 2022. 20 August 2024. University of Melbourne. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033308/https://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/news-and-events/Aprof-ada-cheung-receives-the-globe-ally-of-the-year-award. live.
19. Web site: 2021 SGOW Recipients. 2021. 20 August 2024. University of Melbourne. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033308/https://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/about/diversity-and-inclusion/strategic-grants-for-outstanding-women/2021-winners. live.
20. Web site: 50 remarkable and inspirational women in Australian science. 8 March 2024. 20 August 2024. Cosmos Magazine. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033332/https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/society/50-remarkable-and-inspirational-women-in-australian-science/. live.
21. Web site: Ada Cheung - Google Scholar. 20 August 2024. Google Scholar. 21 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240821033900/https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=zEduJdEAAAAJ. live.