About

About Us

Corinne Heinen, MD, FAAFP (she/her)
Clinical Director, UW Medicine Transgender / Gender Non-Binary Health Program

Clinical Professor, Family Medicine & Internal Medicine

Director, UWSOM LGBTQ Health Student Pathway

A Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare

All UWM hospitals are designated Leaders in LGBTQ+ Healthcare, receiving top scores for
12 consecutive years on the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), an annual survey done by HRC on equity and inclusion for
LGBTQ+ patients, families and employees at health care facilities in the United States.

Strategies

1. Creation of an integrated program to connect existing UW Medicine healthcare service capabilities.
2. Establishment of primary care medical homes for TGNB patient healthcare, and the entry point to/from medical and surgical specialty services.
3. Building gender affirming care expertise into the UWM network; Educating all UWM staff on gender and sexual diversity concepts, LGBTQ+ disparities, and inclusive care delivery while also providing additional clinical trainings on evidence based best practices and standards of care for TGNB patients.
4. Prioritizing community engagement through the creation of a Community Advisory Council and ongoing Community Conversation events to ensure program development and the expansion of services align with the needs of the TGNB community.
5. Informing, developing, and supporting policies across the UWM network aimed at creating inclusive working, learning, and healing spaces.

Current Goals

1. Improve TGNB patients’ experience within the UW Medicine system.
2. Improve TGNB patients’ utilization of UW Medicine’s existing services.
3. Increase the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity across the UW Medicine system’s patient EHRs.
4. Build gender-affirming care clinical expertise and support into our primary care network; Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) management, referrals for gender-affirming specialty care, and knowledge of other health needs specific to TGNB patients.
5. Decrease healthcare disparities by expanding access to informed and inclusive gender affirming care.
6. Increase gender-affirming care services throughout the UW Medicine system, expanding upon existing gender-affirming surgical offerings and ancillary care.

Future Goals

1. Continue to expand on our current goals and efforts to the left.
2. Development of a Community Advisory board to help guide and inform program development.
3. Development of a volunteer program populated by TGNB community members for TGNB patient support and education.
4. Recruitment and Retention of TGNB and LGBQ+ providers and staff, reinforcing our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.