A health clinic in Massachusetts is gaining national recognition for transgender care. Advocates say Transhealth Northampton could be a model for other communities to serve patients who often have to commute hours to get basic care. and its clinical director, Dr. Andrew Cronyn, is described as the first rural transgender health clinic in the country and one of the first to focus solely on transgender and gender-diverse patients. Katie Wolf, chief executive officer said. Transhealth Northampton opened in May and has served more than 500 adults and children in western Massachusetts who previously needed to go to Boston or Providence for basic health care. “It leads to a lot of stress,” says Mia Lauer, community engagement expert. “This results in you not being able to see your doctor as often.” The clinic provides mental health and primary care services from staff, many of whom are transgender or gender diverse. “Community closet and peer support groups.” A lot of times the transition can be very isolating and so is having a space where people can come and be themselves and have community. That’s really important here,” Lauer said. While Transhealth Northampton is seen as a breakthrough, clinic officials acknowledge there may be other organizations that already offer similar services, but are afraid to make them public due to the recent wave of anti-transportation legislation. gender and transphobia across the country. Wolf said. Employees want the estimated 20,000 transgender or gender diverse people living in western Massachusetts to know they can now get quality, compassionate health care close to home. “You know, I’ve had people tell me I’ve saved people’s lives,” says Cronyn. “As a doctor, it was incredibly emotional, but for all of us, it also made us angry because no one, no one, has to have a special medical center to be treated. meet their basic health needs.”
A health clinic in Massachusetts is gaining national recognition for transgender care.
Advocates say Transhealth Northampton can be a model for other communities to serve patients who often have to commute hours to get basic care.
“They have patients who haven’t seen a doctor for 10 to 15 years because they’re scared,” says Dr Andrew Cronyn, pediatrician and clinical director of FAAP.
It has been described as the first rural transgender health clinic in the country and one of the first to focus solely on transgender and gender-diverse patients.
“Not only is there enough volume, but we are having a hard time keeping up with the pace,” said Katie Wolf, chief executive officer.
Transhealth Northampton opened in May and has served more than 500 adults and children in western Massachusetts who previously needed to go to Boston or Providence for basic health care.
“It leads to a lot of stress,” says Mia Lauer, community engagement expert. “It leads to you not being able to see your doctor as often.”
The clinic provides mental health and primary care services from staff, many of whom are transgender or gender diverse.
It will soon expand its engagement and programming to include a community closet and peer support groups.
“Many times the transition can be very isolating and so having a space where people can come and be themselves and have that community is really important here,” Lauer said.
While Transhealth Northampton is seen as a breakthrough, clinic officials acknowledge there may be other organizations that already offer similar services, but are afraid to make these services public due to the recent wave of legislation. anti-transgender and transphobia laws across the country.
“Not far away there have been protests in other localities that are asking for validation care, and so that is something that we try not to focus on too much, but we have,” says Wolf. think about.
Security measures, including not publishing the clinic address online, are in place.
Employees like the estimated 20,000 transgender or gender-diverse people living in western Massachusetts know they can now get quality, compassionate health care close to home.
“You know, I’ve had people tell me I’ve saved people’s lives,” says Cronyn. “As a doctor, it was incredibly emotional, but for all of us, it also made us angry because no one, no one, has to have a special medical center to be treated. meet their basic health needs.”
