trans health care and resources
The Northwestern Medicine Student Health Center at Northern Illinois University recognizes navigating and accessing trans healthcare resources may present challenges and the Health Center is continually growing awareness and support to serve the needs of transgender students.
If you wish to schedule a consultative patient appointment, please call to make an appointment with our physician at 815.306.2777. Q: Where do I get started for Hormone Replacement Therapy? Can NIU Heath Services Doctors provide a prescription or referral to a doctor who can? A: NIU Health Services does not initiate HRT, but injectable medications can be administered here after the student has established care with a specialty doctor. Basically, the specialty doctor writes the order and we administer the medications here and/or draw corresponding lab work. The three specialty locations for this are: Tiffany A Karas, MD 1600 N. Randall Road Suite 225 Elgin, IL 60123 630.208.6775 Andrea Cedeno, MD 7 Blanchard Circle, Suite 202 Wheaton, IL 60189 630.208.6775 Gender Pathways Program 675 N. Saint Clair Street 19th Floor, Suite 250 Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312.695.2422 Q: Can care after HRT prescription be provided at NIU (such as blood levels, answered below)? If so, which services? A: Yes, injectable medications can be administered, bloodwork can be drawn Q: Are doctors, nurses, reception, administrators inclusive—will they utilize the proper name and pronouns students provide? A: At the student health center and throughout the Northwestern Medicine Health System we are Trans-Inclusive and have built-in prompts in our electronic medical record that help us better document and utilize universal language, preferred pronouns and have all gender restrooms available. Q: Can NIU (doctors, psychologists, if needed) provide any affirmation of surgical care procedures? A: We can and have certainly provided documentation in support of students’ gender affirming surgical procedures. We do provide documentation of regular follow up, medication compliance and motivation. Psychology support can be provided at NIU Counseling and Consultation Services. All LGBTQ+ students are welcome here at the Student Health Center to access all services provided. |