Comprehensive Guide to UCLA Gender Health Program Services

The UCLA Gender Health Program is dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to transgender and gender-diverse individuals. This article will explore the various services offered by the program, its commitment to inclusivity, and the resources available to the UCLA community.

Commitment to LGBTQ+ Health

The Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center (ASHE) is committed to delivering excellent, compassionate, inclusive, and equitable care to support all patients, including the diverse LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex & Asexual) Bruin community. The Ashe Center uses the term LGBTQ+ as an umbrella term, acknowledging that language continues to evolve and welcomes suggestions for making its services more inclusive.

Consistently since 2015, UCLA’s Ashe Center has been recognized as a Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality. This recognition is awarded to healthcare facilities that meet key criteria, including patient and employee non-discrimination policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and ongoing LGBT health education for key staff members. The Ashe Center has earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria, demonstrating its commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients and their families.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Ashe Center is committed to promoting equity, inclusion, and the affirmation of individual and cultural diversity. Its services and training foster the development of healthy behaviors necessary for success in a complex global environment. Recognizing that everyone's gender journey is unique, the center aims to understand each individual's specific needs to provide holistic care.

Healthcare Services Offered

The UCLA Gender Health Program offers a wide range of treatments and gender-affirming healthcare options to support transgender and gender-diverse patients, including children, adolescents, and adults. These services are designed to be sensitive to everyone’s individual needs.

The UCLA Gender Health Program offers:

Primary Care Services
Hormone Therapy
Facial Reconstruction
Chest/Top Surgery
Genital Reconstructive Services/Bottom Surgery
Gynecological Care
Pediatric Care
Reproductive Health and Fertility Services
Voice Therapy and Voice Surgery
Behavioral Health Services
Care Coordination
Referrals to Specialty Physicians

LGBTQ Health Services

LGBTQ Health Services include PrEP/PEP, STI Testing/ Reduction, Transgender Health Visits, and more.

Gender Affirming Mental Health Services

Transgender and gender-diverse individuals often have unique concerns. Specialized counselors provide one-on-one, family, or group therapy options, matching individuals with the right therapist for their needs.

Fertility Treatment

Treatments like hormone therapy and surgery can alter a transgender person’s fertility. The program offers fertility preservation options to transgender patients before transition. Zain A. Dr. Al-Safi, Associate Professor in OBGYN, provides fertility preservation care for transgender patients.

Transgender Health Care

Transgender patients may opt for noninvasive treatments to help them transition to a gender expression that matches their gender identity. Common options include:

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Hormone therapy/puberty blockers: Patients may opt to take hormones such as androgen or estrogen to achieve a more desirable gender expression. Younger patients may also take blockers or drugs that prevent puberty. Pauline N. Dr. Nguyen is a board-certified family medicine physician whose clinical interests include LGBTQ+ health, including initiating and maintaining gender-affirming hormone therapy. Kimberly J. Dr. Richardson, a primary care board-certified internist, also has experience initiating and managing gender-affirming hormone therapy.
Voice therapy: Speech-language pathologists offer voice therapy to help patients achieve a pitch, resonance, and intonation that matches their gender identity. They also offer communication therapy to help patients communicate in a way that expresses their truest self. Lisa Bolden, MA, CCC-SLP, leads the UCLA Voice Program and specializes in voice. Joey Buhler, MM, MS, CCC-SLP, has a background in operatic performance and passion for the human voice. Jacquelyn R. Laing, SP, specializes in voice disorders, upper airway disorders, gender-affirming vocal care, and neuromuscular facial retraining.

Gender Affirmation Surgery

For some people, gender-affirming surgery is a vital step in the transitioning process. At UCLA Health, you’ll find:

Chest reconstruction/top surgery: Bilateral mastectomy to achieve a more masculine chest and breast augmentation to achieve a more feminine chest.
Facial reconstruction: Expert craniofacial and plastic surgeons provide a variety of surgery options to help patients achieve their desired appearance. Justine C. Dr. Lee is the Bernard G. Sarnat Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Biology and Associate Chief of the UCLA Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, who developed the facial gender affirmation surgery program at UCLA. Dr. Ozaki specializes in gender-affirming facial surgery. Michael R. Dr. DeLong is an Assistant Professor-in-Residence in the UCLA Division of Plastic Surgery with expertise in complex reconstruction. Dr. Do is a board-certified plastic surgeon with dual fellowship training in microvascular and craniofacial surgery. George H. Dr. Rudkin is a Clinical Professor and training program director of Plastic Surgery at UCLA.
Genital reconstruction/bottom surgery: Collaboration with specialists in plastic surgery, urology, and gynecology for surgical transitions that involve changing a patient’s genitalia. Dr. Gladys Y. Ng is the Surgical Director of the UCLA Gender Health Program and Associate Professor of Urology. Jesse N. Dr. Mills is a Clinical Professor of Urology at UCLA and a national proctor for penile prosthetic surgery.

Gynecological Care

The program also offers gynecological care. Dr. Jacqueline Fahey is passionate about providing comprehensive and individualized care and delivers gynecologic care to patients who are transgender or gender-diverse. Dr. Grisales has an interest in providing care to the LGBTQ+ community. Christina S. Dr. Christina Han is a Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology and Division Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Lindsay L. Dr. Kroener is an Asst. Clinical Professor of UCLA OBGYN, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. Daniel S. Dr. Lee is an Assistant Clinical Instructor of OBGYN at UCLA. Hannah C. Dr. Hannah Reiser is passionate about providing comprehensive, reproductive healthcare. Dr. Robert Roman is passionate about providing equitable, evidence-based, and affirming care for the LGBTQ+ community. Kathleen M. Dr. Brennan is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Interim Division Chief, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Christopher R. Dr. Christopher Douglas is an Assistant Clinical Professor of OBGYN at UCLA.

Mental Health Services

The program also provides mental health services. Jessica M. Dr. Jessica Bernacki is a licensed clinical psychologist. Marco A. Dr. Hidalgo is a licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and Associate Professor of Medicine-Pediatrics at UCLA. Dr. Brandon S. Dr. Ito is Assistant Professor of Medicine - Psychiatry at UCLA. Dr. Ramos is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the Division of Population Behavioral Health and a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist.

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Multidisciplinary Team

UCLA’s Gender Health Program brings together a multidisciplinary team of specialty physicians from primary care, surgery, endocrinology, gynecology, urology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and behavioral health, as well as care coordinators. Using a multidisciplinary approach, teams work together to provide comprehensive and compassionate care in a safe and welcoming environment for all gender-diverse patients.

Primary Care Physicians

Several primary care physicians are affiliated with the UCLA Gender Health Program:

Dr. Nupur Agrawal is an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at UCLA.
Ryan A. Dr. Clagg is a UCLA primary care physician practicing in Burbank.
Dr. Naomi Duncan is a primary care physician with UCLA Health.
Jorge D. Dr. Danny Flautero is a primary care physician and Clinical Instructor in the Department of Medicine-Pediatrics.
Dr. Kao is a primary care physician who practices in downtown LA.
Dr. Maliha Khan is a primary care physician.
Dr. Poulos is a primary care physician at UCLA Health.
Rebecca C. Dr. Rada is a queer, non-binary primary care physician who practices in Beverly Hills.
Noah J. Dr. Ravenborg is a Clinical Instructor of Internal Medicine and a primary care physician at UCLA Health.
Amy K. Dr. Weimer is Co-Director of the UCLA Gender Health Program and Associate Professor of UCLA Medicine-Pediatrics.

Endocrinologists

Dr. Arasu earned her medical degree and completed her Internal Medicine residency at UCLA and her endocrinology fellowship at UCSF.
Sophie M. Dr. Mestman Cannon is a UCLA endocrinologist who practices in Beverly Hills.
Shira M. Dr. Grock joined the UCLA faculty in 2017.

Other Specialists

Dinesh K. Dr. Chhetri is Professor of Head and Neck Surgery and a Laryngologist.
Michael A. Dr. Michael Holliday earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Christine T. Dr. Nguyen-Buckley is an Associate Clinical Professor in the UCLA Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.
Mark S. Dr. Litwin is Co-Director of the UCLA Gender Health Program, Chair & Professor of UCLA Urology, and Professor of Public Health and Nursing.

Care Coordinators and Patient Navigators

Isaac Medina, Intake Coordinator, guides individuals through the care process, ensuring inclusivity and support.
Ethan Alexander Patron, Care Coordinator, advocates for Trans and Gender Variant communities in Los Angeles.
Nicole Wabuke is a Patient Navigator for the Gender Health Program within the Department of Urology.
Kristen Williams is a Community Health Programs Research Manager in the Department of Urology.

Accessing Care and Resources

Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center (ASHE)

The Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center provides comprehensive medical care for all registered UCLA students. It is committed to creating a nurturing and non-judgmental environment for all patients and will coordinate care for transgender students at any stage of their journey. Appointments can be scheduled through the patient portal or by calling the center.

Community Resources

UCLA's Gender Health Program is through UCLA Health rather than the Ashe Center, making it a great option for UCLA students that don't have UC SHIP, members of the UCLA community, and those that utilize the UCLA Health system.

Other community resources include:

LA LGBT Center Transgender Health Program: Provides comprehensive primary health care as well as trans-specific services.
Trans Wellness Center: Provides hormone therapy and transition resources; HIV testing and care; mental and sexual health services and education; occupational training; and housing and legal services, among others.
St. John's Transgender Health Program: Provides comprehensive transgender health services in a safe and welcoming environment.

Mental Health Resources

Gender Identity Group: For students who are exploring and/or identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, and/or non-binary.
UCLA 24 Hour Mental Health Line: Provides immediate mental health support.
LA LGBT Center: Provides sliding scale individual and group counseling.
The Trevor Project: Offers a 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline for LGBTQ youth.
Trans Lifeline: A hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people.

Financial Assistance

Campus Medical Assistance Fund: Eligible students can receive a grant to assist them in paying their out-of-pocket medical expenses related to gender-affirming care.

Insurance Coverage

UC SHIP: UC SHIP's medical plan offers coverage for gender-affirming care.

Updating Name and Pronouns

Zoom: Zoom offers a section to input pronouns and add them by your name.
MyStudentChart: Students can update their Preferred Name, Gender Identity, and Pronouns on MyStudentChart.
BruinCard: Students’ approved preferred first name will be printed on the front of student BruinCards.

Legal Name Change

For assistance navigating a legal name change as it impacts UCLA documents and records, please contact Student Legal Services.

Sharing Feedback

The Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center encourages all comments and suggestions from patients and their concerned loved ones.

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