PASSIONATE PHYSICIAN JOINS LYON-MARTIN CLINIC
Dr. Michelle Orengo-McFarlan Committed to Providing "the best health care"
Lyon-Martin Health Services [LMHS] announces the appointment of Dr. Michelle Orengo-McFarlane as Primary Care Physician for the clinic. Dr. Orengo-McFarlane completed her residency at University of California San Francisco where she provided family-oriented primary care and urgent care to multi-lingual, multi-ethnic seniors, children, adolescents and prenatal patients. While working with San Francisco General Hospital she supervised medical students and interns, earning a reputation for compassion, attention to detail and quality care.Her experience in LGBT-oriented healthcare settings includes the Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia and the Tom Waddell Health Center's transgender clinic.
Passionate about community service, Dr. Orengo-McFarlane spearheaded a community assessment of the Samoan community in Visitation Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, and designed a collaborative and culturally competent health education curriculum for this community.
The vibrant and enthusiastic Dr. McFarlane embraces the Lyon-Martin mission of providing culturally competent Health Care services to women and transgender patients who often feel unwelcome, underserved or unsafe in traditional medical environments. "The best health care is only possible when physicians are sensitive and caring about each individual's life', says Dr. Orengo-McFarlane. " Lyon-Martin provides a safe place for queer and trans patients to be entirely out about themselves, and therefore, as a physician, I am in a trusted position to really see them, and attend to their medical needs with sensitivity and cutting edge medical practices. This is a rare and special opportunity for me to make a difference. That is exciting!"
"Every now and then a rare individual shows a passion for working with women as well as the queer and trans community", say Dr. Dawn Harbatkin, LMHS Medical Director. "I have no doubt that Lyon-Martin patients will welcome her skill and kindness as she delivers outstanding care to each of them. "
"Lyon-Martin is a Godsend"
Health Clinic delivers free HIV testing and breast/chest exams
to SF Pride participants
Lyon-Martin Health Services (LMHS), the only clinic focusing on the health needs of San Francisco lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, brought free rapid HIV testing and Clinical Breast/Chest exams to San Francisco Pride weekend. 29 HIV tests and 28 Breast/Chest Exams were performed at Trans March and 76 Breast/Chest Exams were performed at the Dyke March.
"Having breast exams available at an event such as this ( Dyke March) really reminds us all that we have no excuse not to take care of ourselves. The Lyon-Martin clinic is a godsend", said a woman named Jill. " Even though they said it was free, I was happy to donate $20, especially since they found out I am healthy."
"We're proud to bring our services into the community", says Elizabeth Sekera, Clinic Director. " The health of our LBT sisters and brothers is our passion".
Lyon-Martin has been providing these services free of charge for decades. The Susan B. Komen Foundation and To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation have been strong supporters of such services, seeing the outreach to transgender and lesbian patients as critical for health care.
Lyon-Martin Appoints New Behavioral Health Director
Lisette Lahana, LCSW Joins LMHS Medical Staff
Lyon-Martin Health Services enthusiastically welcomes Lisette R. Lahana, LCSW, in her new appointment as Behavioral Health Director. Ms. Lahana will assume responsibility for all Integrated Behavioral Health Services and have supervisory responsibility for a team of Psychiatrists, Social Workers and Interns. Her appointment to Lyon-Martin signals a significant commitment that Lyon-Martin has to the holistic health and well being of the clinic's women and transgender patients.
Ms. Lahana comes to Lyon-Martin after an impressive tenure with Kaiser Permanente Adult Psychiatry Department in Hayward where she provided psychotherapy and case management for Spanish and English speaking patients. She designed and led group therapy programs for LGBT and Bipolar patients as well as trauma survivors. She spearheaded the creation of transgender mental health services including a group program for trans patients, their significant others and family members.
Prior to working at Kaiser Permanente, Ms. Lahana was in private practice welcoming the LGBT community with a primary focus on gender variant clients. Her long term dedication to serving LGBT clients offers an invaluable asset to the Lyon Health care team in furthering their mission to those who feel underserved, unwelcome or unsafe in traditional medical environments. .
Ms. Lahana is a graduate of UC San Diego where she double majored in Psychology and Critical Gender Studies. She earned a Masters in Social Work from Smith College, completing her thesis on "Rejection and Resistance: The experience of bisexual women in lesbian communities". Her vast knowledge of group dynamics, Gender Identity, Sexuality and Transgender issues will offer Lyon-Martin patients caring and experienced mental health services.
One of her proudest accomplishments was founding the New England Gender Conference for Therapists and Health Care Providers in 2007.
"I am excited to be joining Lyon-Martin. It's an amazing opportunity to work at a Health Center with a mission unlike any other in the US", says the dynamic Lisette. "I've always felt it was most rewarding to serve communities that are misunderstood and underrepresented. This is a unique opportunity to provide direct service to women and trans people in the clinic, as well as educate locally and regionally with Project HEALTH."
Ms. Lahana will join Lyon-Martin as full time Behavioral Director in July 2010.
"We are most fortunate to have Lisette joining Lyon-Martin", says Dr. Dawn Harbatkin, Medical Director. " A woman of her caliber who is passionate about the LBT community is a rare find. We're thrilled she is joining us."
Lyon-Martin Health Services Given Breast Cancer Screening Grant
To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation has granted San Francisco's Lyon-Martin Health Services $10,000 for breast cancer screening and outreach. The grant enables Lyon-Martin to provide screening mammograms and diagnostic imaging for women and transgender patients who might otherwise be unable to access such vital care.
Additionally, the grant enables Lyon-Martin to once again offer free clinical breast exams at the San Francisco Dyke March on June 26, 2010 in Dolores Park.
Lyon-Martin Executive Director Teri McGinnis thanked To Celebrate Life at their grant recipients' reception: "These funds allow us to [provide] essential services to people who have been impacted by the recent cuts in California's funding for Breast Cancer Diagnostic Screening. Thank you for allowing us to be partners in saving lives."
To Celebrate Life is a Marin County volunteer-based organization formed to increase awareness of breast cancer, to raise funds for those living with breast cancer and to offer healing opportunities to women and men living with breast cancer throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Lyon-Martin Health Services Receives
Kaiser Permanente Community Giving Grant
$5K donation makes "a world of difference"
Lyon-Martin Health Services (LMHS), the only clinic focusing on the health needs of San Francisco lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, has received a $5K Kaiser Permanente Community Giving grant, intended to help make local communities better places to work and live.
Randy Wittorp, Kaiser Permanente Public Affairs Director, San Francisco Service Area indicated KP is extremely pleased the donation went to LMHS. He said, "Lyon-Martin's delivery of personalized health care and support services to women and transgender people lacking access to quality care is consistent with Kaiser Permanente's mission. Like Lyon-Martin, we are also here to serve the community."
"Once again, we are impressed by Kaiser's generosity and commitment to Lyon-Martin," said Lyon-Martin Medical Director Dr. Dawn Harbatkin. "In these increasingly hard economic times, so many have lost all their health care benefits. Our services are in more demand than ever. This donation makes a world of difference to us and our patients."
Lyon-Martin Health Services Offers FREE Rapid Testing
Primary Care Requirement Waived; All Women and Transgender People Welcome
On December 1, 2009, Lyon-Martin Health Service (LMHS) will offer FREE Rapid Results Testing to women and transgender San Francisco residents. No appointment is necessary. Tests will be given on a first-come first-served basis at the LMHS clinic located at 1748 Market Street.
Free testing is also available by appointment, at any time, by calling 415.565.7667.
To acknowledge the ongoing epidemic and continuing high rate of new infections especially among women and transgender people, Lyon-Martin will be expanding its HIV Counseling and Rapid Testing program. Previously, a person needed to be established in primary care before being eligible for rapid testing. Starting Dec 1, LMHS is making this service available through our clinic to the community at large.
As per Lyon-Martin's mission to serve women and transgender people, someone wishing to get tested must identify in this way. People tested that day will also have priority in establishing primary care at Lyon-Martin, regardless of their test results or status. In the future, counseling and testing will be by appointment only.
Lyon-Martin Health Services Receives National and Local Grants To Improve Transgender Healthcare
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Community Clinics Initiative Award Funding For Project HEALTH: Harnessing Education, Advocacy & Leadership for Transgender Health
 San Francisco, California - Lyon-Martin Health Services has earned a four-year, $450,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation matching grant to help fund Project HEALTH: Harnessing Education, Advocacy & Leadership for Transgender Health. Local funding partners providing the first year's matching dollars include the Community Clinics Initiative, a joint project of Tides Foundation and the California Endowment.
"Transgender people often face consequential barriers to accessing healthcare," says Dawn Harbatkin, MD, Lyon-Martin's Medical Director and Project HEALTH Director. "Many healthcare providers are eager to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all, yet have not had the opportunity to access information about the needs and experiences of this marginalized community. To provide comprehensive care, providers need trans-specific medical information such as knowledge about hormone therapies and post-surgical care."
Jane Stafford, Director of the Community Clinics Initiative, notes, "Trans people often experience frustration or discrimination from the waiting room to the exam room. For example, common patient history and intake forms are often not inclusive." Stafford continues, "We are pleased to support this collaboration between the Transgender Law Center, Equality California and Lyon-Martin Health Services to facilitate culturally competent transgender healthcare in the larger San Francisco Bay Area."
Bridging that gap, Project HEALTH offers a comprehensive training program as a resource to clinics and providers seeking information. Lyon-Martin has also developed a specialized clinical rotation for third- and fourth-year medical students to provide experience in skilled, sensitive care for transgender people.
Project HEALTH works with trans communities, advocates, and clinical providers to disseminate healthcare provider education and patient advocacy by four main methods:
- Partner with clinics who want to improve their medical services for transgender patients and assist in implementing those changes over the course of a year. Partnerships are under way with community clinics in multiple counties.
- Provide trainings to community members and service providers on patient rights, insurance advocacy and culturally competent care.
- Convene a Community Advisory Panel of trans patients and community members to build trans community leadership.
- Deepen participation in California LGBTQ Health & Human Services Network, an advocacy coalition educating state policymakers on LGBTQ health needs.
Project HEALTH aims to ensure that transgender individuals feel invited and well cared for at a clinic close to their homes. Project HEALTH is proud to bring together transgender communities and their healthcare workers — building trust and ensuring the respectful care that trans people need and deserve.
About our Funding Partners
About Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and healthcare issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and healthcare of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and healthcare of those it serves. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.
About Community Clinics Initiative
The Community Clinics Initiative (CCI), a unique collaboration between Tides Foundation and The California Endowment, provides resources, evidence-based programming and evaluation, education and training to support community health centers and clinics. Through information sharing and major grants, CCI acts as a catalyst to strengthen California's community clinics and health centers to improve health outcomes in underserved communities.
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