Mission & Vision for Transgender Health
- About Us
- For Providers
- Insurance Information & Self-Pay
- Support Services & Resources
- Community Engagement
Our Transgender Health Program at University of Utah Health is committed to providing comprehensive, compassionate, evidence-based care for gender diverse individuals in a supportive, affirming environment. We are a patient-centric, multidisciplinary gender health program for all gender journeys across the lifespan.
Our Values
- Coordinated Care: We will provide coordinated care through patient navigation and provider communication on all aspects of care.
- Research: We will engage in research to advance knowledge and well-being for the care of gender diverse individuals.
- Education: We seek to educate providers, trainees, and the public on the needs and health of gender diverse individuals.
Our program is in accordance to the recommendations of numerous professional organizations including (but not limited to):
- American Medical Association
- American Nurses Association
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- The Endocrine Society
- American Psychological Association
- American Psychiatric Association
- National Association of Social Workers
- American Speech Language Hearing Association
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- American Urologic Association
- American Academy of Family Physicians
Meet Our Leadership
Our leadership team represents the primary medical specialty areas involved in the care of gender diverse patients. This ensures cross-program collaboration to support our mission and vision.
Administration
Outreach Network and Development Specialist: Ariel Malan (she/her), MHA, leads the program's strategy development, coordinates community outreach and manages the development of university-wide learning programs on the topic of transgender health and gender diversity.
Operations Manager: Nicholas Snow, DNP
Clinical Leadership
- Medical Director: Cori Agarwal, MD
- Surgical Director: Benjamin McCormick, MD
- Co-Medical Directors: Erika Sullivan, MD and Bernadette Kiraly, MD
- Adolescent Program Director: Nikki Mihalopoulos, MD
- Education Director: Joanne Rolls, PA-C
- Gynecology Lead: Marisa Adelman, MD
- Fertility Lead: Erica Johnstone, MD
- PA Lead: Norelle Walzer, PA-C
- Plastic Surgery Program Lead: Isak Goodwin, MD
- Social Work Lead: Annie Charles, LCSW
- Voice Therapy Lead: Brett Myers, PhD
Transgender Health Program Advisory Board: This group of patients and family members of patients meet quarterly to develop program improvements.
Our Commitment to Addressing Social Determinants of Health
We are committed to addressing social determinants of health that impact our community’s access to quality, evidence-based healthcare. We do this by partnering with community organizations in the following areas:
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Insurance benefits and coverage for gender-affirming care
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Legal name and gender marker changes
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Training and education for the healthcare workforce
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Patient education on how to access gender-affirming services
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Research on health outcomes
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Student education on transgender health needs
Hear from Our Patients
Gender Affirmation Does More Than Affirm—It Heals
When River Jude August arrived for surgery, they faced yet another challenge in their long journey to align their body with who they know they are. River, who identifies as agender—or outside the female/male binary—had already changed their legal gender to X. They had transitioned socially, opted for several medical treatments, and now faced their biggest surgery yet. River was about to undergo phalloplasty, the construction of a phallus.
Authentic Life Begins Thanks to Transgender Health Program
Jace was standing in the bra section of a clothing store with his mom when suddenly he began to cry. Jace hadn’t been the kind of kid who struggled with his gender identity from a young age. But when puberty hit and his body became more feminine, it didn’t feel right.
Pioneering Patient Finally at Home in Her Own Body
Although she belongs to the larger community of transgender individuals, Josie is one of a kind: she is the first patient ever to undergo comprehensive gender confirmation surgery at University of Utah Health.
Give Today
Every dollar helps advance transgender health research and provide patients with opportunities and support throughout their journey.
We Want Your Feedback
We are constantly evolving as a program and welcome any feedback from the community that will help us meet our mission to provide safe, gender-affirmative care at University of Utah Health. Please email us at transgenderhealth@hsc.utah.edu.