Our Expert Team

Find your care

UCLA Health is a safe and supportive environment for transgender and gender diverse patients. Call 310-267-4334 to make an appointment.

Everyone's gender journey is unique. We recognize that every person requires something different and want to get to know you so that we can take care of the whole you. Using a multidisciplinary approach, our teams work together to provide comprehensive and compassionate care in a safe and welcoming environment for all of our gender-diverse patients.

UCLA's Gender Health Program brings together a multidisciplinary team of specialty physicians from primary careplastic surgeryvocal surgeryendocrinologygynecologyurologypsychiatry, pediatrics and behavioral health, as well as care coordinators.

 

Leadership


Primary Care & Pediatrics

Juline  Asamoah, MD

Juline Asamoah, MD

Pediatrics| Internal Medicine

Dr. Juline Asamoah is a primary care physician who enjoys caring for both children and adults. Her interests include transition medicine of those with chronic childhood disease, adolescent medicine, women's health, and LGBTQ+ health. She is passionate about learning and teaching about the disparities in health in underserved populations and how those social determinants of health impact an individual. 

Erin Baroni, MD

Erin Baroni, MD

Pediatrics| Internal Medicine

Dr. Baroni, Clinical Instructor of UCLA Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, is engaged in equity, diversity, & inclusion efforts. She completed her internal medicine-pediatrics residency at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University where she was awarded an American Academy of Pediatrics CATCH grant to work with LGBTQ+ youth healthcare engagement. Dr. Baroni specializes in the unique healthcare needs of sexual and gender minority communities and welcomes them in her practice. 

Ryan A. Clagg, MD

Ryan A. Clagg, MD

Pediatrics| Internal Medicine

Dr. Clagg is a UCLA primary care physician practicing in Burbank since 2020. He is double board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, treating both adults and children. Dr. Clagg received his medical degree from Marshall University. He completed residency training in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Marshall. In addition to providing primary care to all ages, he enjoys serving the LGBTQ+ community by providing gender-affirming hormone treatment for his adult patients.

Daniela Delgado, MD

Daniela Delgado, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Delgado is a primary care physician with a special interest in transgender health. She also focuses on adolescent health, PrEP, and gynecological care. She is board certified in family medicine and sees patients of all ages. Dr. Delgado is also an Assistant Professor in the UCLA Department of Medicine. She received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed her family medicine residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She is a native Spanish speaker. 

John D. Fernandez, MD

John D. Fernandez, MD

Internal Medicine

Dr. Fernandez is a Clinical Instructor in the UCLA Department of Medicine. He received his medical degree at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Dr. Fernandez has experience working with transgender and gender non-conforming patients in both rural and urban environments. 

Johnathan Kao, MD

Johnathan Kao, MD

Pediatrics| Internal Medicine

Dr. Kao is a primary care physician who practices in downtown LA. His clinical interests include primary care for all ages, HIV management and prevention, and LGBTQ+ health. After residency, he completed the HIV Clinical Leadership Program at LAC+USC, where he worked with patients living with HIV through the county and community health clinics. During his fellowship, he also received training in gender health including gender affirming hormone therapy through CHLA and LAC+USC.

Raffi Petrosian, MD

Raffi Petrosian, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Petrosian practices primary care in Santa Clarita. He advocated for LGBTQ+ health inclusivity at St. George's Medical School where he graduated Cum Laude and at Adventist Health Glendale where he served as Chief Resident. His clinical interests include transgender and gender diverse patient care, PrEP, STI prevention and treatment, and preventative care. He is dedicated to patient centered, compassionate and inclusive care for all individuals.

Theresa Anne Poulos, MD

Theresa Anne Poulos, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Poulos is a primary care physician at UCLA Health. She completed her undergraduate degree in Economics and Art History at Duke University and earned her medical degree from UCSF School of Medicine. She completed Family Medicine residency at UCLA and then joined on as faculty. Dr. Poulos’s clinical interests include adult and pediatric primary care, preventive medicine, and LGBTQ+ health, including primary care for transgender and gender-diverse patients.

Rebecca C. Rada, DO, MS, MBA

Rebecca C. Rada, DO, MS, MBA

Family Medicine

Dr. Rada (they/them) is a queer, non-binary primary care physician who practices in Beverly Hills. They are a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Medicine and were the 2021-2022 UCLA LGBT+ Fellow. Their clinical interests include caring for transgender and gender diverse patients, including hormone initiation/management, LGBTQ+ primary care, PrEP, and STI management. They see youth, adolescents, and adults for their Gender Health needs.

Noah J. Ravenborg, MD

Noah J. Ravenborg, MD

Internal Medicine

Dr. Ravenborg is a Clinical Instructor of Internal Medicine and a primary care physician at UCLA Health. Dr. Ravenborg’s clinical interests include adult primary care, preventive medicine, HIV prevention and treatment, and LGBTQ+ health, including primary care for transgender patients and gender-diverse patients. He has experience in HIV primary care, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), STD prevention and treatment, and initiation and management of gender-affirming hormones. 

Kimberly J. Richardson, MD

Kimberly J. Richardson, MD

Internal Medicine

Dr. Richardson is a primary care board-certified internist practicing in Torrance.  She received her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  She has experience initiating and managing gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender and gender-diverse patients.  She works with members of the LGBTQ+ community with clinical interests in PrEP/PEP and primary care of the HIV patient.

Amy K. Weimer, MD

Amy K. Weimer, MD

Pediatrics| Internal Medicine

Dr. Weimer is Co-Director of the UCLA Gender Health Program, Associate Professor of UCLA Medicine–Pediatrics. She completed her residency in internal medicine & pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was chief resident in internal medicine & spent several years practicing general primary care before joining UCLA faculty. She became deeply interested in health care for transgender & gender-diverse patients & founded the UCLA Gender Health Program in 2016. 


Anesthesiology

Christine T. Nguyen-Buckley, MD

Christine T. Nguyen-Buckley, MD

Anesthesiology

Dr. Nguyen-Buckley is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the UCLA Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. She attended Eastern Virginia Medical School, where she was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. Dr. Nguyen-Buckley completed residency at UCLA followed by liver transplant anesthesiology fellowship. She is working on an Anesthesiology Department project on improving care of patients with gender health diagnoses through physician and nurse education.


Behavioral Health

Jessica M. Bernacki, PhD

Jessica M. Bernacki, PhD

Pediatric Psychology

Dr. Bernacki, a licensed clinical psychologist, joined the Department of Medicine in 2013. She is the UCLA Gender Health Program Director of Behavioral Health and was the founding psychologist in 2016. She provides consultation, assessment, and therapy to gender diverse individuals of all ages. Her clinical and research interests include gender affirmative care, youth with differences of sex development/intersex traits, and evidence-based services in primary care settings. 

Marco A. Hidalgo, PhD, MA

Marco A. Hidalgo, PhD, MA

Pediatric Psychology| Clinical Psychology

Dr. Hidalgo is a licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and Associate Professor of Medicine-Pediatrics at UCLA. He completed his doctoral training at DePaul University and post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hidalgo practices exclusively in the Gender Health Program, where his patients are trans/gender-diverse individuals spanning from childhood to older adulthood.

Brandon S. Ito, MD, MPH

Brandon S. Ito, MD, MPH

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Dr. Ito is Assistant Professor of Medicine – Psychiatry at UCLA. Dr. Ito completed his Adult Psychiatry training at the University of California, San Francisco and fellowship training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU Child Study Center and Bellevue Hospital where he served as Chief Fellow.  

Liz Ollen, PhD, MA

Liz Ollen, PhD, MA

Pediatric Psychology

Dr. Ollen, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, has extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ youth & families. She practices from the Gender Affirmative Model & provides guidance around healthy identity development. She is involved in research & development of therapeutic interventions to foster resiliency. She has experience using evidence-based treatment for youth with disruptive, mood, & anxiety disorders in community, hospital-based outpatient, & inpatient settings. 

Natalia Ramos, MD, MPH

Natalia Ramos, MD, MPH

Psychiatry

Dr. Ramos is the Medical Director of Child Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Services at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica who treats pediatric and adult patients through Behavioral Health Associates (BHA), the Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Clinic and the Faculty Practice Group. She also leads a resiliency group study for LGBTQ+ teens (ages 12- 17 years old with depression and anxiety.  


Endocrinology

Susan C. Ahern, DO

Susan C. Ahern, DO

Endocrinology

Dr. Susan Ahern is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine and Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at UCLA. She completed her Internal Medicine residency training, Internal Medicine chief residency and Endocrinology and Metabolism fellowship at the University of California at Irvine. Dr. Ahern has a general Endocrinology practice at UCLA and has a special interest in caring for gender-diverse populations. 

Aarthi Arasu, MD

Aarthi Arasu, MD

Endocrinology

Dr. Arasu earned her medical degree and completed her Internal Medicine residency at UCLA. She went on to do her endocrinology fellowship at UCSF. During that time, she spent extensive time doing research in osteoporosis with world-renowned experts in the field.  

Shira M. Grock, MD

Shira M. Grock, MD

Endocrinology

Dr. Grock (she/hers) was born and raised in Los Angeles. She received her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and her medical degree from University of Southern California. She went on to complete her Internal Medicine training at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and returned to Los Angeles for her endocrinology fellowship at UCLA. Dr. Grock joined the UCLA faculty in 2017. Her clinical practice has a focus on hormone therapy and gender health. 

Stanley G. Korenman, MD

Stanley G. Korenman, MD

Endocrinology

Dr. Korenman is a Professor of Endocrinology at UCLA. He graduated from Princeton University and medical school at Columbia. He trained in Internal Medicine at Bellevue & Memorial Hospitals in New York. He is the Associate Dean for Ethics and directs the Ethics program of the Clinical & Translational Science Institute. Dr. Korenman’s practice specializes in reproductive endocrinology including the endocrine aspects of gender transition and maintenance.  

Reema Patel, MD

Reema Patel, MD

Diabetes

Dr. Patel is a clinical instructor of Endocrinology. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California. She completed her internal medicine training at the UC San Diego and her endocrinology fellowship training at the University of California Los Angeles. She has a special interest in caring for gender-diverse patients and managing hormone therapies in adults. She also participates in research projects with the UCLA Gender Health Program. 


Head and Neck

Lisa J. Bolden, SP

Lisa J. Bolden, SP

Otolaryngology

Lisa Bolden, MA, CCC-SLP, is a certified and licensed speech pathologist who specializes in voice. Lisa earned her master's degree at Northwestern University and her bachelor's degree at the University of Arizona. She joined the UCLA Speech Pathology Department in 2000, launching the UCLA Voice Program in 2006 that she continues to lead. The UCLA Voice Team's practice is centered on the understanding that voice is important to the quality of life. 

Dinesh K. Chhetri, MD

Dinesh K. Chhetri, MD

Otolaryngology

Dr. Chhetri is Professor of Head and Neck Surgery and a Laryngologist, specializing in voice disorders, swallowing disorders, & airway disorders. He graduated magna cum laude in Biochemistry from Brown University, & his MD from UCLA School of Medicine. He remained at UCLA for his Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency and Fellowship in Laryngology. He has been consistently funded by the NIH for his research in the topic of neuromuscular control of the larynx and voice disorders.

Michael A. Holliday, MD

Michael A. Holliday, MD

Otolaryngology

Dr. Michael Holliday earned his bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University in Durham, NC, and his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. He completed his Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery training at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC and subspecialty training in Laryngology at UCLA, enabling him to treat complex disorders of the larynx (voice box), including vocal cord, airway, and swallowing disorders. 


OB/GYN

Zain A. Al-Safi, MD

Zain A. Al-Safi, MD

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Dr. Al-Safi is Associate Professor in OBGYN. He completed his residency training at Wayne State University and served as the Administrative Chief Resident. He completed fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Colorado. He provides fertility preservation care for transgender patients. His clinical interests include infertility, oncofertility, reproductive surgery, recurrent pregnancy loss, and reproductive hormones disorders.

Kathleen M. Brennan, MD

Kathleen M. Brennan, MD

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Dr. Brennan is a Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Interim Division Chief, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Brennan completed her medical degree at University of Nebraska College of Medicine, and her obstetrics & gynecology residency at UCLA School of Medicine and a reproductive endocrinology fellowship at UCLA School of Medicine.

Tamara Grisales, MD

Tamara Grisales, MD

Urogynecology| Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery| Gynecology

Dr. Grisales is Associate Clinical Professor of OBGYN. Dr. Grisales completed residency in OBGYN and a fellowship with Urogynecology Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at UCLA. Since starting her practice at UCLA in 2014, she has had an interest in providing care to the LGBTQ+ community. She has a non-obstetric practice and sees patient for both gynecologic and urogynecologic care. 

Alexandra Havard, MD

Alexandra Havard, MD

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Havard is a Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She completed her medical degree and residency in obstetrics & gynecology at the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Havard provides full-scope OBGYN care for patients including general gynecology, contraception counseling, pregnancy care, fibroid and abnormal uterine bleeding management, as well as gender-affirming care and surgeries (including hysterectomy and oophorectomy) for transgender patients.

Lindsay L. Kroener, MD

Lindsay L. Kroener, MD

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Dr. Kroener is an Asst. Clinical Professor of UCLA OBGYN, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She graduated from Northwestern University, completed her medical degree at USC Keck School of Medicine and her OBGYN Residency & Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Fellowship at UCLA. Her primary clinical interests are infertility management & treatment, recurrent pregnancy loss, polycystic ovarian syndrome, & fertility preservation for a wide range of patients.

Valentina M. Rodriguez, MD

Valentina M. Rodriguez, MD

Obstetrics and Gynecology| Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Dr. Rodriguez-Triana is an Associate Clinical Professor of Ob/Gyn at UCLA. She attended The Johns Hopkins University for undergraduate school and received her medical degree at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She completed her Ob/Gyn residency at UCLA. She specializes in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, with a particular focus on fibroid management and gender- affirmation surgery. She also offers routine office gynecologic and obstetric care for all patients. 


Plastic Surgery

Andrew L. Da Lio, MD

Andrew L. Da Lio, MD

Plastic Surgery

Dr. Da Lio is Clinical Professor and Chief in the UCLA Division of Plastic Surgery. He earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Michigan. He completed his residency in general surgery at the prestigious Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and matched into the plastic surgery residency program at the USC Keck School of Medicine. After finishing his residency training, he elected to complete an additional subspecialty fellowship in microvascular surgery at UCLA

Michael R. DeLong, MD

Michael R. DeLong, MD

Plastic Surgery

Dr. DeLong is an Assistant Professor-in-Residence in the UCLA Division of Plastic Surgery.  He completed medical school at Duke University, followed by a six-year integrated residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery and a microsurgery fellowship to develop expertise in complex reconstruction at UCLA. His clinical interests and expertise include breast reconstruction, head and neck reconstruction, orthopedic reconstruction, gender affirmation, and face, breast, and body cosmetics.

Justine C. Lee, MD, PhD

Justine C. Lee, MD, PhD

Plastic Surgery

Dr. Lee is the Bernard G. Sarnat Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Biology and Associate Chief of the UCLA Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She is a craniofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon who developed the facial gender affirmation surgery program at UCLA. Dr. Lee’s gender health research program is dedicated to improving outcomes and access in facial gender-affirming surgery. 

Wayne Ozaki, MD, DDS

Wayne Ozaki, MD, DDS

Plastic Surgery

Dr. Ozaki is a Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery and a member of UCLA’s gender health program who specializes in gender affirming facial surgery. He is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Ozaki is the Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Craniofacial Surgery, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry at UCLA. He also serves as Chief of Plastic Surgery at Olive View- UCLA Medical Center. 

George H. Rudkin, MD

George H. Rudkin, MD

Plastic Surgery

Dr. Rudkin is a Clinical Professor and training program director of Plastic Surgery at UCLA, and the Chief of the Plastic Surgery service at the West Los Angeles Veteran Hospital. He completed his training in both General and Plastic Surgery at UCLA, and has been on staff since 1998.  Dr. Rudkin’s clinical interests include performing transgender top surgery.  


Urology

Mark S. Litwin, MD

Mark S. Litwin, MD

Urology| Urologic Oncology

Dr. Litwin is Co-Director of the UCLA Gender Health Program, Chair & Professor of UCLA Urology, Professor of Public Health and Nursing. Dr. Litwin specializes in testicular, bladder, kidney, and prostate cancer. His research focuses on improving quality of care in urologic oncology. A former board member of the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association, he directs IMPACT, a state-funded program providing free medical care statewide for low-income, uninsured men with prostate cancer. 

Jesse N. Mills, MD

Jesse N. Mills, MD

Andrology| Urology

Dr. Mills is the Clinical Professor of Urology at UCLA. He is a national proctor for penile prosthetic surgery and a national expert in Peyronie’s Disease. Dr. Mills is a leader in fertility preservation in the UCLA Gender Health Program, providing medical care to transgender individuals seeking gender affirming care.  As a male reproductive medicine specialist, he also has extensive experience counseling patients on sperm freezing prior to male to female gender affirmation surgery.

Gladys Y. Ng, MD, MPH

Gladys Y. Ng, MD, MPH

Trauma and Reconstructive Urology| Urology

Dr. Ng is Surgical Director of the UCLA Gender Health Program and Associate Professor of Urology. She did her surgical training at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and fellowship training in genitourinary reconstruction at Emory University.  Dr. Ng specializes in general adult urology, minimally invasive surgery, and pelvic medicine reconstruction with a focus on male genitourinary reconstruction.  


Affiliated Institutions

J. Brian Boyd, MD

J. Brian Boyd, MD

Plastic Surgery| Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

Dr. Boyd is Professor of Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine and Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He grew up in Manchester, England. After attaining a W.H. Rhodes scholarship to Canada he attended Liverpool Medical School. He trained in general surgery in England and then plastic surgery in Canada at the University of Toronto. As a surgeon at Toronto General Hospital, he developed a novel method of phalloplasty (the ‘cricket bat’ flap)

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Fellow

Maliha Khan, MD

Maliha Khan, MD

Internal Medicine

Dr. Maliha Khan (she/her/hers) is the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Fellow for 2022-2023. She completed her medical degree at Texas Tech University and residency training in family medicine at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills, CA. Her clinical interests include LGBTQ+ primary care, HIV care, adolescent medicine, gender affirming care, and behavioral health. 


Care Coordination

Ethan Alexander Patron

Ethan A. Patron

Care Coordinator

Ethan Alexander Patron (he/they), Care Coordinator, advocates for Trans and Gender Variant communities in Los Angeles. He played a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of the Trans Health Program at St. John’s Well Child & Family Center as a Patient Advocate and Intake Coordinator. He provides a patient center approach, helps patients reach their goals by conducting patient intakes and provides appropriate referrals to the services they may need. 

Kristen Williams

Kristen C. Williams, MA

Program Manager

Kristen Williams (they/she) is Population Health Research Manager for Urology, OBGYN, and Surgery, supervising administrative and research arms of the UCLA Gender Health Program as well as the UCLA IMPACT Program and the Population Health Research Core. With their Master’s degree in clinical psychology, Kristen works to support the UCLA Gender Health Program faculty in building rigorous, innovative research in collaboration with trans and gender expansive community members and organizations.