Theresa Gaffney

@_gaffknee

reporter & Guild member at STAT
Signal: theresagaff.97
bsky: theresagaff.bsky.social

she / her

BOS statnews.com/staff/theresa-… Joined January 2012

1.1K Following 825 Followers 1K Posts

Latest posts 5

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Theresa Gaffney @_gaffknee Dec 23, 2024

I wrote about gender-affirming surgery — what it means to the people that get it, its evolution as a professional specialty in the U.S., and how the incoming administration could put all of that at risk: statnews.com/2024/12/23/gen…

An excerpt from the story: “'In the case of an emerging field like this, where there weren’t a lot of road maps on how to do things and there was so much room for improvement, you have somehow to have a lot of creativity,' she recalled.

Trinidad was a small 'Santa Fe Trail' type of town, Bowers said, where she and Biber were the only surgeons of any kind for miles.

The people stepping off the Greyhound bus were almost always alone, Bowers remembers. They were usually older, retired, single or divorced, and had lived much of their lives in the closet. After finally coming out as trans, they were often estranged from their families. Insurance wouldn’t cover the procedure, so they always paid in cash. Afterward, they left town without knowing whether any other doctor might understand the procedure enough to be able to address potential future complications. They prepared for the long recovery alone."

A 19-year-old patient wearing ripped jeans and loosely tied work boots sits in a chair in the doctor's office. One foot is propped up resting on his knee. He has a spiral notebook and mechanical pencil in his lap.

Theresa Gaffney @_gaffknee 3d

Despite all the attention that kratom & related products are getting from health officials lately, few people have heard of them or understand the difference. Here's an explainer to help, including perspectives from people who have used the products: statnews.com/2026/11/06/wha…

www.statnews.com Most people haven't heard of kratom. What is it, and who's using it? Few Americans are familiar with kratom, despite public health messaging and rising use. So what is it, and who's using it?

Theresa Gaffney @_gaffknee 4d

The blue wave that handed Democrats power in both the House and Senate did not filter neatly through ballot measures across the country. statnews.com/2026/11/05/sta…

www.statnews.com Ballot measures affirm divisions over abortion and transgender issues Voters in 2026 midterm elections decided state health policy ballot measures on abortion rights, marijuana laws, science bonds, and transgender youth care.

Theresa Gaffney @_gaffknee Oct 22

a great story from Katie on the wave of telehealth companies providing off-label GLP-1 prescriptions for addiction, and how that impacts actual patients statnews.com/2026/10/22/glp…

www.statnews.com Telehealth leapfrogs FDA approval with off-label GLP-1 prescriptions for addiction As telehealth promotes GLP-1s for addiction, experts worry about fragmented care, and exposing patients to unknown risks.

Theresa Gaffney @_gaffknee Oct 20

Health care ballot measures to watch: statnews.com/2026/10/20/wha…

www.statnews.com The key health care ballot measures we’re watching in the midterms State fights over issues like transgender rights and Medicaid offer clues to where Americans stand on contentious health matters.