New Year, New Care: Bastyr University Clinic Launches Gender‑Affirming Primary Care

As we welcome a new year at Bastyr Center for Natural Health, we’re excited to announce an important expansion of our services: comprehensive gender‑affirming primary care for people of all ages. This offering reflects our commitment to whole‑person, integrative medicine.

Beginning this January, our clinic will provide gender‑affirming primary care delivered by two of our resident physicians: Dr. Ritchie Lee (he/they) and Dr. Jess Mariluch (she/her). Both clinicians bring extensive training in gender‑affirming medicine, trauma‑informed care, and LGBTQ+ health. As new doctors and residents, they combine up-to-date clinical knowledge with the curiosity, humility, and dedication that define Bastyr’s approach to healing.

Why Gender‑Affirming Care Matters

Gender‑affirming care goes beyond medical interventions; it supports people in living authentically and comfortably in their bodies. Research consistently shows that gender‑affirming care:

• Improves mental health and reduces distress

• Supports healthy development in youth and adults

• Strengthens resilience and self-confidence

• Enhances overall quality of life

• Builds trust between patients and the healthcare system

For many transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people, accessing affirming care can be life-changing—and even life-saving. Gender‑affirming care works best when integrated into primary care, where patients can build long-term relationships with clinicians who understand their needs, identities, and goals.

Primary Care That Understands LGBTQ+ Communities

LGBTQ+ patients often face barriers in healthcare, from unintentional assumptions to outright discrimination. These experiences can lead to delayed care, missed screenings, and avoidable complications.

Having a primary care provider experienced in LGBTQ+ health means:

• You don’t have to explain or defend your identity

• Your provider understands how gender, sexuality, and health intersect

• Your care plan reflects your lived experience

• You can access preventive care without fear or discomfort

• Your whole self is welcomed, respected, and supported

At Bastyr, we believe primary care should be a place of safety and empowerment. Our residents are trained in both the clinical and social, cultural, and emotional dimensions of LGBTQ+ health.

What Gender‑Affirming Primary Care Includes

Our service integrates gender‑affirming care into comprehensive primary care. Patients can expect:

• Care for all ages

• Gender‑affirming hormone therapy

• Support for social transition

• Preventive screenings tailored to anatomy and identity

• Sexual and reproductive health services

• Mental health referrals and collaborative care

• Trauma-informed, consent-based clinical practice

• A welcoming environment for families and caregivers

Whether someone is exploring their gender, actively transitioning, or seeking a primary care home that understands them, our clinic is ready to support their journey.

Whole‑Person Care for Overlapping Conditions

Many LGBTQ+ patients experience overlapping health conditions that require thoughtful, individualized care. Conditions such as hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), chronic pain, autonomic dysregulation, and neurodivergence often coexist, shaping mobility, fatigue, sensory needs, and stress responses.

Our primary care team integrates musculoskeletal assessment, nervous-system support, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and trauma-informed communication. By understanding how gender, identity, and co-conditions interact, we create care plans that are both affirming and sustainable.

Take the Next Step in Your Care

Ready to experience comprehensive, affirming primary care? Schedule an appointment at Bastyr Center for Natural Health today and connect with a care team that understands you, your identity, and your health needs.

About the Author
Dr. Ritchie Lee is a first-year resident at Bastyr Center for Natural Medicine