There are nearly 700, 000 people who are transgender living in the US today, according to a recent Williams Institute study. For them, finding appropriate quality healthcare can be a challenge. Most major cities now have some clinics that specialize in transgender issues, but it can still be an uphill battle to find a doctor who can address the unique needs of people looking to switch genders or stay healthy as a transgender individual.
On today’s Be Well segment, we meet one local veteran who transitioned from female to male, and in the process, helped spark the creation of the nation’s first transgender clinic at a VA hospital. The clinic, located within the Cleveland VA Medical Center, will open its doors in a couple months and it fills a gap in care, says Dr. Henry Ng from MetroHealth's Pride Clinic. “There are thousands of veterans and active service individuals who identify as transgender and at this point many of them find it difficult to access health services,” said Ng.
ideastream’s Anne Glausser sat down with Giovonni Santiago to hear his story.
Produced by Health Intern Rafeeq Roberts
Additional Resources:
Cleveland VA Medical Center - LGBT