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Physicians with the Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways Program talking with a patient.

The Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways Program considers patients’ holistic experience of their gender across the lifespan. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive setting where everyone can feel safe to be themselves. We believe that everyone deserves high-quality health care that respects and validates their gender identity.

We use integrated, coordinated health services to bring together a team that provides gender-affirming health care. Our clinicians address all aspects of a person's medical, emotional, social and legal transition. The Gender Pathways Program also promotes education, research and advocacy to advance gender-affirming care.

 

We ask because we care.

At Northwestern Medicine, the patient comes first. That starts with affirming you are in a safe place.

  • If you prefer, you can choose X in the Legal Sex and Sex Assigned at Birth fields in your medical record. X is a sex designation on government identification documents that represents a legal sex other than male or female.
  • We will confirm your pronouns and preferred name.

We can document your preferences in your medical record to help ensure you get respectful and appropriate medical care.

Services

Feminizing Surgeries

Surgeries to produce a more feminine appearance. Examples include:

  • Breast augmentation
  • Vaginoplasty
  • Facial feminization surgery

Masculinizing Surgeries

Surgeries to produce a more masculine appearance. Examples include:

  • Mastectomy with free nipple graft/chest surgery
  • Periareolar 'keyhole' mastectomy
  • Facial masculinization surgery
  • Hysterectomy
  • Phalloplasty

Medical Care

  • Hormone therapy
  • Primary care
  • Preventive health screenings
  • Laser hair removal
  • Mental health services and referrals
  • Legal service referrals
  • Voice therapy

Meet the Team

Dr. Angela Chaudhari talking with a gender pathways patient.

The Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways team consists of physicians from a range of specialties. Together, they provide access to comprehensive, coordinated care. We have specialists in internal and family medicine, endocrinology, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, plastic surgery, voice/speech therapy, orthopaedics, social services and dermatology.

Meet the Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways Team

Appointments

To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 312.926.3866. TTY 711. Or, email us at genderpathways@nm.org.

We offer Gender Pathways Program services at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We also offer primary care in Geneva and Grayslake. The location of your appointment will depend on the physician you will see. You will learn the location when you schedule your appointment.

Why Northwestern Medicine

What makes us better, makes you better.®
Northwestern Medicine is a community of caregivers who welcome, respect and serve all people without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and military or veteran status. This applies to patients and visitors.

For nine consecutive years, Northwestern Memorial Hospital has been recognized as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. We earned this by demonstrating a commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) patient-centered care. Facilities that receive this honor meet LGBTQ-inclusive benchmarks that are part of the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index. This is a unique survey that encourages equal care for LGBTQ Americans by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to patients, visitors and employees.

Locations & Contact Information
    Providing Gender-Affirming Care to Transgender and Gender-Diverse Patients
    Providing Gender-Affirming Care to Transgender and Gender-Diverse Patients

    Diana K. Bowen, MD, assistant professor of Urology, discusses the Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways Program. She shares her approach to care for transgender and gender-diverse patients and exciting projects currently underway at Northwestern Medicine.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Get answers to common questions regarding Northwestern Medicine's Gender Pathways Program.