Women’s Community Clinic joins Lyon Martin Health Services and Lee Woodward Counseling Center for Women at 1735 Mission Street clinic
SAN FRANCISCO – HealthRIGHT 360 announced today that Women’s Community Clinic will move to 1735 Mission Street on Tuesday, May 8, where it will join Lyon-Martin Health Services and Lee Woodward Counseling Center for Women to provide comprehensive health services to women and transgender people. The new allied clinic will be co-directed by Mental Health Director Silvia Sandoval, LCSW, Clinic Operations Director Beth Midanik-Blum and Medical Director Tri Do, M.D.
“With the relocation of the Women’s Community Clinic, HealthRIGHT 360 is creating a multi-use health care center for all women that includes top drawer reproductive and sexual health services, primary care, mental health and substance use counseling in one convenient location in the Mission.” said Barbara Garcia, San Francisco Director of Health. “Adding the Women’s Community Clinic to the location served by Lyon-Martin Health Services and Lee Woodward Counseling Center for Women will expand access to culturally competent-care for women, queer and transgender San Franciscans.”
The 1735 Mission Street facility will allow Women’s Community Clinic, Lyon-Martin Health Services and Lee Woodward Counseling Center for Women to expand service offerings and provide comprehensive and welcoming care to heterosexual and bisexual women, transgender people and lesbians in one space, accessible by MUNI and BART. The comprehensive services offered include primary care, reproductive health, trans health, substance use counseling and culturally relevant-mental health care. The Women’s Community Clinic’s unique Workforce Development and Outreach programs will also continue at the new site.
“These are volatile times in health care. By bringing together the gender-centric services of Women’s Community Clinic, Lyon-Martin Health Services and Lee Woodward Counseling Center for Women in one location, we are not only strengthening their delivery, we are also enhancing the financial sustainability of these three programs.” said HealthRIGHT 360 CEO, Vitka Eisen. “This is also an opportunity to further promote an environment of inclusivity and create a safe haven where reproductive health care and choice are safeguarded.”
Silvia Sandoval, LCSW, has been serving Lyon-Martin’s mental health clients since November 2016. She has a master’s degree in social work and is a Ph.D. candidate at Smith College for Social Work. With more than 17 years of clinical experience, Ms. Sandoval has spent most of her career serving disenfranchised communities and people of color in the nonprofit sector.
Beth Midanik-Blum has been with the Women’s Community Clinic since January 2017. She came to the organization from Planned Parenthood and brings to the alliance over a decade of experience in integrated women’s health care, quality improvement and clinic management.
“Since 1999, the Women’s Community Clinic has provided client-centered, culturally-inclusive health services to underserved women and girls. We are excited to bring our expertise in reproductive care, workforce development and outreach work to benefit the new alliance and all of its clients.” Said Ms. Midanik-Blum.
Tri Do M.D. is an internal medicine physician with a fellowship in HIV/AIDS research and a long history of service to LGBTQ communities and medically underserved populations. He also has a master’s degree in public health, is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a professor at UCSF. He has served as chief medical officer of the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center and as a clinical instructor at San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Do has also consulted for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and United Nations. He spent 11 years with the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, including service as board chair and president.
After 12 years with Lyon-Martin, including four years as executive director, Dawn Harbatkin M.D.is now taking on a new opportunity as the medical director at HealthRIGHT 360’s San Mateo Medication Assisted Treatment Clinic. Under Dr. Harbatkin’s leadership, Lyon-Martin acquired national recognition as an advocate for competent and culturally relevant services for transgender and genderqueer people, who now make up 59 percent of the clinic’s clients. She also helped develop innovative programs like Women’s Health and Mindfulness, a community health intervention for LBTQ adults over 40 years old of large body size.
“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead a clinic that is a national model of care for transgender people and cisgender women, populations that too often struggle to find appropriate and welcoming health care services and for whom Lyon-Martin has been a refuge.” said Dr. Harbatkin. “I’ll take on my new role in San Mateo knowing that the allied clinic couldn’t be in more capable hands. Silvia, Tri, and Beth are caring and committed leaders, devoted to serving and supporting our communities.”
For more information about services available at the new combined facility, hours of operation and the latest updates, clients can visit www.healthright360.org/1735Mission.
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About HealthRIGHT 360
For 50 years, HealthRIGHT 360 has provided primary medical care, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, re-entry and supportive services to those who can least afford it so they can rise and make positive change – for themselves, their families and their community. HealthRIGHT 360’s family of programs includes Asian American Recovery Services, Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Lyon-Martin Health Services, North County Serenity House, Rock Medicine, Prototypes, Tenderloin Health Services, Walden House, Women’s Community Clinic and Women’s Recovery Association. HealthRIGHT 360 is a vital part of California’s health care landscape.
