The Roanoker - July/August 2021 - 22

the gist
" I'm motivated to
provide equitable
service to everyone
in the community. I
have a commitment
to social justice. "
MICHELE MEINHART
treats young adults who are dealing with
gender dysphoria.
Due to the fact that he wasn't originally
trained to deal with gender-related issues,
Vance has worked to educate himself given
the increase in transgender patients he has
Sabrina Bruce
Understanding
Gender Care Needs
written by Aila Boyd Local businesses are expanding their services
for the growing transgender community.
A
2019 study from the Williams
Institute at the UCLA School
of Law estimated that 34,500
Virginians identify as transgender.
While demographics specific to the Roanoke
Valley aren't available, it's obvious that a
significant number of those included in the
study reside locally.
For years, a number of health
care providers, including therapists,
dermatologists, endocrinologists and
cosmetic surgeons, have been expanding their
services to meet the needs of the growing
local transgender community.
When Roanoke resident Sabrina Bruce
decided to come out publicly as a transgender
woman five years ago, she set about finding
the professionals who could help her navigate
the complicated transition, which included
laser hair removal, facial feminization,
22 JULY/AUGUST 2021
hormone replacement therapy and breast
augmentation.
" It was a daunting experience. It's an
expensive and emotionally costly ordeal, "
she remembers.
For transgender women like Bruce,
hair removal is a concern. Family nurse
practitioner and master esthetician Michele
Meinhart has been offering laser hair
removal and injections for temporary facial
reconstruction since the mid-2000s when she
founded Starkey Medical Esthetics.
" I'm motivated to provide equitable
service to everyone in the community. I have
a commitment to social justice, " she explains.
Throughout the years, she has treated around
100 transgender individuals.
Dr. John E. Vance, an associate professor
in child psychiatry at the Virginia Tech
Carilion School of Medicine, frequently
encountered over the past 10 years.
" Psychiatric and psychological services are
a big component of their healthcare needs, "
he explains. " A growing number of therapists
are becoming more comfortable and skilled
in working with kids who are going through
transition. "
He notes that one of the most important
things for health care providers who are
dealing with transgender patients to keep
in mind is that they should validate the
patient's identity through the use of preferred
pronouns and names.
Dr. Erica Reynolds, a pediatric
endocrinologist, is one of two medical
providers who specializes in gender care at
Carilion Clinic. Like Vance, Reynolds has
developed an expertise in gender-related
medicine over the past 10 years as the result
of an increase in transgender patients coming
to her for puberty blockers and cross-sex
hormone therapy.
" The first few years I was here, I only saw
a couple of transgender patients. The number
of patients has increased now to the point
that I have several transgender patients on
my schedule every week, " she explains. " It's
becoming more socially acceptable for them
to come out and seek care, which is a good
thing. "
Reynolds is currently working with a
Carilion psychiatrist to determine if there is
a need for a full-fledged transgender clinic
in order to better serve the community. I
TheRoanoker.com
COURTESY OF SABRINA BRUCE
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker - July/August 2021

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