La Clínica’s commitment to improving the quality of life of the diverse patients it serves means addressing gaps in care for underserved and vulnerable communities.
For many transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, barriers to better health can come in the form of lack of culturally competent providers or previous experiences in discriminatory and hostile clinic environments.
To address this, La Clínica opened TRIUMPH in October 2017 that offers a gender affirming model of care and creates a welcoming medical home for transgender communities in order to increase access to comprehensive health care services.
Since opening, TRIUMPH has welcomed more than 60 new patients who receive full-scope primary care services, as well as hormone therapy and surgery referrals. In addition, HIV prevention and care services are tailored for this patient population to address infection rates at crisis proportions, particularly among trans women of color.
Through its partnership with UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, patients can also access peer health navigators and a supportive social environment during clinic hours as well as monthly gatherings outside of clinic.
TRIUMPH patient Yamilet Flores-Becerra was linked to care.
One patient who’s been linked to care is Yamilet Flores-Becerra.
Two years ago, Yamilet learned about TRIUMPH through her friend and program Peer Health Educator Arianna Salinas.
Before joining TRIUMPH, Yamilet was taking hormones without medical supervision. She also didn’t have access to a medical provider who was culturally competent in transgender healthcare; in fact, she was the first trans patient at her previous medical office.
She eagerly joined TRIUMPH at Arianna’s invitation and quickly found comfort and reassurance.
“Everyone here is very friendly and attentive; they care about your wellbeing. You feel as if you are among family so you feel comforted, supported, and protected by them,” she said.
Yamilet says this clinic has provided her and other trans patients a new outlook on life.
“For many people this service is a hope for life. This is an opportunity to learn to appreciate your life and to not ruin it in a moment’s decision. I’m personally very grateful for La Clínica,” she said.
To learn more about this clinic, you can contact Arianna Salinas, Peer Health Navigator, at 510-561-7882.
You can also contact, Layla Welborn, Family Nurse Practitioner for TRIUMPH clinic, at 510-535-3509 (in office Mondays and Wednesdays only) or by email at lwelborn@laclinica.org.