Center for Gender-Affirming Medicine

We provide customized, thoughtful, evidence-based care. Our goal is to help patients feel comfortable exploring their gender identity and improve their overall health.

For minors

The Ohio Saving Adolescents from Experimentation Act (SAFE Act), also referred to as House Bill 68, limits the gender-related services we can offer to minor patients ages 17 and under. Please call our Adolescent Medicine department at 330-543-8538 for further information.

For patients 18 and older

Treatment may include:

• Pubertal suppression 
• Gender-affirming hormones
• Mental health care coordination
• Well checks/preventive visits
• Education
• Supportive care for LGBTQ+ youth and their families

Click the link below to learn about our clinical path for patients 18 and older.

Step 1:

Call the Adolescent Medicine department. Please leave a message with your child’s full legal name, date of birth and the best phone number to reach you.

Refer yourself, or have a provider refer you. Please call 330-543-8538, and select option 2.

Step 2:

Complete the brief phone intake.

• Staff will mail a packet to your home. Complete and send back.
• Schedule with multidisciplinary team.
• Prepare any questions you have for the team.

Step 3:

Meet our multidisciplinary team. This is a two-hour intake assessment. We will provide a note pad and pen for you.

Whom you’ll meet:

• Adolescent Medicine physician.
• Mental health specialist.
• Social worker.

What to expect:

• Share your gender journey.
• Medical and mental health history.
• Assess current mental health and mental health supports.
• Brief physical exam.

Create a plan:

• Where do I go from here?
• Follow up with Adolescent Medicine?
• Continue with or connect to mental health specialist.

Step 4:

Care options: Start gender-affirming medical treatment, if desired.

Adolescent Medicine:

• Menstrual suppression, continued monitoring.

Mental health care

• Establish care with a gender-affirming therapist for ongoing monitoring of mental health. This may be an Akron Children’s or community provider.
  • To start gender-affirming medical treatment, you will likely need a letter of support from your therapist.

Step 5:

Continue receiving care.

• Adolescent Medicine will follow you through age 24 and can manage your hormone therapies if you are 18 or older at your first assessment.
• Mental health specialists and Social Work will be available for consultation and ongoing support, as needed.
• A nurse coordinator will help with ongoing medication questions or concerns, education and resources, and general program questions.
• We will help transition you to an adult provider, when appropriate.