San Francisco VA Health Care System

SFVAHCS marchers at the Pride Parade. Want to help us celebrate LGBT Pride Month? Contact Milton Martin at Milton.martin@va.gov or Lauren Moody at Lauren.moody@va.gov for more information about participating in the San Francisco Pride Parade the weekend of June 27-28.

The San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) is committed to providing top quality care to all Veterans, including all Veterans in our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

We recognize diverse populations have distinctive needs, and we train our staff in culturally and clinically competent care for LGBT Veterans. SFVAHCS is focused on providing the most respectful health care environment possible.

Our LGBT Staff and Allies Special Emphasis Program is actively involved in recruiting LGBT Veterans and distributing information about VA health care services available through outreach at community events, round table community discussions, pride festivals and parades.

Our Medical Center offers individual and group psychotherapy for Veterans identifying as LGBT. Additional services include family and couples therapy. Counseling is also available for Veterans who wish to explore their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, including information related to services for gender transitioning.

On Wednesdays, the San Francisco Downtown VA Clinic at 401 3rd Street (at Harrison) offers a health and wellness group for gay, bisexual and questioning men from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. At our main Medical Center (4150 Clement Street, San Francisco) in Bldg. 8 there is a transgender health and wellness group held on the 1st, 3rd and the occasional 5th Thursdays of each month from 5 - 6:30 p.m. These groups are safe places to discuss personal issues and connect with other Veterans. For more information contact our psychology fellow in interprofessional LGBT health care, Michael Burnias, PsyD, at (415) 221-4810, ext. 3107.

“We take pride in our LGBT community,” says Dr. Burnias. “Our LGBT Veterans face unique challenges, and it is our duty to educate ourselves and meet these demands.”

At our main Medical Center location (4150 Clement Street, San Francisco) there’s a gay/bisexual men’s psychotherapy group held weekly for men interested in working on personal growth in a group format. Contact Rob Daroff, MD, at (415) 221-4810, ext. 4366 for more information.

To make an appointment for individual LGBTQ counseling, contact staff psychologist Angela Waldrop, PhD, at (415) 221-4810, ext. 6308, or Michael Burnias, PsyD, at ext. 3107.

Want to help us celebrate LGBT Pride Month? Contact Milton Martin at Milton.martin@va.gov or Lauren Moody at Lauren.moody@va.gov for more information about participating in the San Francisco Pride Parade the weekend of June 27-28.

For more information about our LGBT Program, click here. For a list of additional community resources for LGBT Veterans, click here.