2024 Chicago Dinner

Dr. Robert Garofalo, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine at Lurie Children's Hospital. He is the founder and co-director of Lurie Children’s Gender and Sexual Development Program. Dr. Garofalo is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of Transgender Health and co-authored the book When Dogs Heal. In addition to his academic and clinical contributions, he founded Fred Says, a non-profit that has raised over $1 million to support services for transgender youth and young people affected by HIV.

The GenderCool Project is a youth-led movement bringing positive change to the world. The Champions are helping replace misinformed opinions with positive experiences meeting transgender and non-binary youth who are thriving. What began as a national storytelling campaign has become a movement with global impact. Among the many ways GenderCool has shown leadership in the LGBTQ+ community, the organization offers support for developing inclusive school policies, positive parent-to-parent communication, and positive connections for employee’s children with other young people to build community.

Tristan Geiser is the Product, Workflow, Development Senior Consultant at CNA Insurance and Chair of Link-USA's Chicago Steering Committee. Tristan's role in the growth and success of CNA's Pride ERG is significant, with a notable 17% increase in membership and 15 new job openings. His strategic partnerships with industry organizations and active engagement in events like the Out & Equal Workplace Summit demonstrate high-level networking and tangible results. Tristan’s four year tenure as External Operations Chair and continued involvement on the ERG Board reflect his long-term commitment and leadership.