Mount Sinai Opens a Comprehensive Center For Transgender Medicine and Surgery

The Mount Sinai Health System recently opened the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, one of the first centers of its kind in the United States to provide the transgender community with comprehensive primary, specialty, surgical, and behavioral health care services.

The Center serves a growing need to support patients in New York City through each stage of their journeys, from initial assessment and screening to hormonal therapy, surgery, and post-transition care, providing seamless access to affordable care. Gynecology, urology, endocrinology, social work, and nursing are among the specialties available at one location.

“The implementation of a center specializing in transgender medicine and surgery within a major, urban academic health system serves as a model of best practices in continuity of care for transgender patients in our community and beyond,” says David L. Reich, MD, President of The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens.

Mount Sinai’s multidisciplinary health care team reviews each case individually to properly determine each patient’s course of treatment, all of which is done onsite. In the past, transgender care has been limited and expensive, with patients having to visit multiple physician practices—some out of state—in order to receive complete care.

“Patients don’t have to piece it together anymore,” says Zil Garner Goldstein, FNP, Program Director of the Center. “We’ve put together all the pieces for them, making their health care as easy and accessible as possible.”

The outpatient components of the program are an expansion of the highly regarded Institute for Advanced Medicine, which serves the health care needs of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community. Barbara E. Warren, PsyD, Director for LGBT Programs and Policies in the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, along with Susan Somerville, RN, President of Mount Sinai Beth Israel; Michael Mullen, MD, Director of the Institute for Advanced Medicine; and Ms. Garner Goldstein, were among the Mount Sinai Health System leaders who were instrumental in creating the Center.

“Since its inception, the Center has received not only tremendous support from Mount Sinai leadership, but also overwhelming support from the transgender community, who have been so anxious for complete, comprehensive care,” says Dr. Mullen.

The Center’s first surgical procedure, a male-to-female genital reconstruction called vaginoplasty, was completed in March by Jess Ting, MD, Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In conjunction with Zoe Rodriguez, MD, Assistant Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science; and Aaron Grotas, MD, Assistant Professor, Urology, the team has also performed metoidioplasty for female-to-male genital transitions, and chest reconstruction surgery for transgender men and breast augmentation for transgender women, known as “top surgery.” To date, the team has performed more than 70 operations, currently completing five to seven surgeries per week at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and The Mount Sinai Hospital. Additionally, the Center’s surgical team recently hosted world-renowned surgeons for week-long collaborations on vaginoplasty and metoidioplasty surgeries.

Creating a culture of inclusion and sensitivity is another central piece of the Center’s mission. Nurse educators Rose Otero, RN, and Joy A. McÌlvaine, RN, MS, along with Dr. Warren, led the training effort of all nurses, and Fran Silverman, ACSW, LCSW-R, Director of Social Work at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, led the training of social workers. Pamela Abner, MPA, Chief Administrative Officer, Office for Diversity and Inclusion, and Matt Baney, Senior Director, Institute for Advanced Medicine, also played key administrative roles.

“We have devoted considerable effort into training Mount Sinai staff and clinicians to provide both clinically and culturally competent care,” says Dr. Warren. “Mount Sinai Beth Israel has led the way in changing patient intake forms and emergency department registration forms to ask for legal name, preferred name, and preferred gender pronoun, which is then recorded in the patient’s chart and shared with appropriate clinical providers. We have added sexual orientation and gender identity fields to the EPIC electronic health records and have trained clinicians on best practices in adding and using these questions to provide quality care. These are all important steps in our Health System’s transformation toward excellence in transgender health care.” The Center has also begun the process of establishing clinical fellowships and plans to create a first-of-its-kind research registry.

For more information or to set up an initial consultation, call 212-604-1730 or email: CTMSInfo@mountsinai.org.

Lexi and Jevon Share Their Journeys

Lexi, Professional DJ:

I was the first patient to receive vaginoplasty through the new program at Mount Sinai. I’ve been very pleased with the surgical team, led by Dr. Ting, and with my overall care. My results and recovery have exceeded my expectations.

As transgender women in the community learn about the services offered at the Center, many approach me to ask about my experience. Without hesitation I refer them to Zil Goldstein and the Center’s team. It can be challenging for the transgender community to find compassionate and informed health care, even for general wellness. Zil knows the broad range of medical treatments for trans patients, and also understands the community’s struggle for visibility and recognition.

Acknowledging my gender dysphoria led to a happier life than I had imagined possible. Stories I encountered online were instrumental to me finding my own path, and in that spirit, I feel compelled to share my experiences with others.

Jevon, MTA Employee:

I have known Zil Goldstein for about four years, and I started seeing her for my care at Mount Sinai Beth Israel about three years ago. From day one, she has been a positive role model in my life. I can ask her any question and she has an answer, or we find it together.

Through the Center, I receive primary care, mental health care, and electrolysis. Soon I’ll be seeing Dr. Ting for my final surgery. It’s daunting and exciting to be one of the first candidates for this type of surgery at the Center, but I have great faith and trust in Dr. Ting. My ‘top surgery’ was done in 2007, and I had a hysterectomy a few years later, performed by Dr. Zoe Rodriguez at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, who was amazing. I’m thrilled I’ll be able to continue my care and complete my final procedure at Mount Sinai.

One of the best parts about the Center is its location. Surgery is nerve-racking enough without having to worry about traveling across the country—or the world—to receive care.