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Who We Are

Mission:

Transhealth is an independent and comprehensive healthcare center that supports and empowers trans and gender-diverse individuals and families.

Throughout our history as a community, trans and gender-diverse people have looked to each other for healing, support, and affirmation. Transhealth honors that by serving as a source of hope and showing what good gender-affirming healthcare looks like.

As a trans and gender-diverse led organization rooted in Western Massachusetts, we are expanding the healthcare possibilities for our community. Through expert care, community support, education, and advocacy, we work to secure a healthy, affirming future for all of us.

Vision:

We are transforming the world so that trans and gender-diverse individuals are empowered and celebrated as they work with an affirming team to own their healthcare journey.

Our Services

Clinical Care

We provide high-quality, gender-affirming primary care, pediatric care, mental healthcare, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), and surgical letters.

Community Support

Our lifesaving community outreach programs include a drop-in community space, community closet, groups and events, resources, transportation, insurance enrollment counseling, HIV/STI prevention, and harm reduction supplies.

Education

We offer comprehensive education for patients, families, members of the community, and clinicians.

Advocacy

We advocate for laws and policies to transform healthcare and improve the lives of the trans and gender-diverse community.

Our Values

How We Started

Transhealth has its roots in the experience of two Western Massachusetts LGBTQIA+ community leaders. Tired of driving two to three hours to a city for certain types of gender-affirming care, they dreamed of creating a comprehensive center for gender-affirming care in Western Massachusetts. With the generous support of family, this dream became a reality.

The first step in founding the center was to build a team to conduct a study of local needs known as The PATH Project (Plan and Act for Transgender Health). This needs assessment was conducted as a partnership between local gender-diverse community members and staff from The Fenway Institute, Cooley Dickinson Health Care, and Harvard Medical School to ensure that as many voices as possible contributed to the foundation of the center. The goal of PATH was to reach as many people who typically don’t get their needs taken into consideration. Based on the needs assessment, the center could offer the services that people actually want and need with a commitment to always listen and respond to the community.

With the study complete, and the needs of the community clearly defined, Transhealth was born, opening its doors in May 2021. From there, Transheath team and the number of patients they serve has continued to grow.

Our Team

The Transhealth team is a proud, hardworking, and committed group of healthcare providers and other professionals who have dedicated their lives to serving the trans and gender-diverse community. Our team gets it. They know the struggle, they know the joy, and they are committed to supporting you in being your authentic self and receiving the affirming, compassionate healthcare you deserve.

Transhealth is led by CEO Joan Erwin (any pronouns) and COO Celia Overby (she/her). Joan is a registered nurse with decades of experience as both a healthcare provider and high-level executive with proven success guiding organizations through strategic expansion. As a gender-non-conforming lesbian with non-binary children, Joan brings an unyielding passion for removing barriers to quality healthcare. Celia is an expert systems thinker who excels at strategic development, high-level operations, and the implementation of complex and multi-faceted growth. A steadfast supporter of the trans and gender-diverse community, Celia wholeheartedly believes everyone should have a place where they can bring their whole selves, belong, and flourish.

Board of Directors