Meet Dr. Nadim Joukhadar: Shaping the future of gender-affirming care in Nova Scotia

For Dr. Nadim Joukhadar, offering subcutaneous mastectomies (top surgery) isn’t just about performing procedures - it’s about making space for people to feel at home in their bodies.

“I just genuinely love performing the procedures,” Nadim says. “I have never had more appreciative and excited patients.”

Nadim is a gender-affirming plastic surgeon at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax and an assistant professor of plastic surgery at Dalhousie University.

His path to plastic surgery has been shaped by a fascination with the balance of science and art. This combination immediately drew him to plastic surgery during his first elective in medical school. From the start, he was captivated by the wide scope of the specialty and the unique opportunity to make immediate, tangible differences in a person’s life.

That passion has evolved into a focused commitment to gender-affirming care, where Nadim combines technical skills with deep compassion and advocacy. He’s long felt a desire to give back to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and finds the work immensely rewarding. 

Patients are typically referred to Nadim through healthcare providers who are already supporting them on their gender-affirming care journey. These providers often apply to MSI, Nova Scotia’s public health plan, for surgical coverage. Once referred, patients meet with Nadim and his team for a highly collaborative and personalized experience. He prioritizes listening, learning and building trust with his patients - ensuring every decision reflects the individual’s identity, lived experience and personal goals.

He emphasizes gender-affirming care isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. For some patients, surgery is about gender expression. For others, it’s a way to alleviate long-standing dysphoria or simply to feel more comfortable in their skin. “These goals are unique for every individual,” he says. “I try to create an environment where their identity is respected and centred in every step of the process.”

For Nadim, the most powerful moments often come just after surgery. Seeing a patient’s joy - sometimes within minutes of waking up from the procedure - is deeply moving. Many of his patients have waited years, even decades, for access to gender-affirming surgery. Helping bring that long-held hope into reality, he says, is one of the greatest honours of his career.

Nadim hopes his work sends a clear message to young 2SLGBTQIA+ people: that everyone deserves the chance to live authentically, supported by a healthcare system that sees, respects, and affirms them. He also hopes to see gender-affirming care in Nova Scotia continue to grow as a fully integrated, accessible part of public healthcare, one supported by collaboration across disciplines, informed policies and a commitment to ongoing education.

This year, as PRIDE Month is celebrated across the province and beyond, Nadim plans to mark the occasion by spending meaningful time with his friends and family - embracing both joy and reflection. PRIDE, to him, is a reminder of the progress made and the work still ahead to build inclusive, affirming systems of care.

To new physicians considering a similar path, he offers both encouragement and practical advice. “Start by seeking out education and hands-on training in gender-affirming surgery,” he says. That includes clinical electives, mentorships and learning the specific needs of this population - not just in the operating room, but in the systems and barriers they navigate every day. 

Above all, he advises approaching this work with respect and dedication: “Gender-affirming surgery is life-changing. Providing it requires both technical skills and compassion. I’m always happy to offer guidance.”

Nadim’s work is not only changing lives - it’s also helping reshape the future of surgical care in Nova Scotia, where affirmation, identity and health can truly go hand in hand.

Photo of Dr. Nadim Joukhadar.