NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - A non-profit healthcare organization in Hampshire County is accepting new pediatric patients for primary and specialty care for the first time since May 2024. Transhealth in Northampton has recently hired Dr. Ashley Brown as the organization's new Co-Primary Care Direc tor and pediatrician. Dr. Brown worked and lived in Iowa until the state implemented a ban on medical healthcare for trans youth. Advocates looking for “actual strategy” for Bay State LGBTQ+ community Brown said she is committed to providing gender-affirming care for trans youth, bringing a special perspective to the practice as a trans woman herself. “My job as a pediatrician--which is the best job in the world-- is to keep kids healthy and safe, and to partner with families to support the physical and social-emotional growth of their children,” Brown said. “I am fully committed to taking care of all children, including trans and gender-diverse children, using the most up-to-date standards of care, and that’s exactly what I am doing at Transhealth.” Transhealth was founded in 2021 and is the only independent, non-profit healthcare organization in the United States devoted exclusively to serving the trans and gender-diverse community. The organization said it has doubled down on services for its most vulnerable patients. “In an age where trans people are being vilified and weaponized, we refuse to retreat and are doubling down on making sure that trans and gender-diverse youth have the medically necessary healthcare they need and deserve,” said Transhealth CEO Jo Erwin, RN, BSN (any pronouns). “When trans and gender-diverse young people receive best practice, evidence-based care and support, they thrive. It’s that simple.” For more information, visit transhealth.org. Local News Headlines Feds: Connecticut man made down payment on contract murder during Vermont drug buy Former Chief of Staff to Lawrence Mayor sentenced to prison for child pornography charges Mountain Road in Easthampton to close for water main repairs Photos show living conditions of Connecticut man allegedly held captive for over 20 years WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less