Howard Brown Health announced a new CEO on Tuesday – a former public health officer who comes after the tumor time for the organization and at the beginning of a president who is already facing challenges for transgender patients .
Dr. Travis Gels will serve as the CEO of Howard Brown, which has eight clinics in Chicago and specializes in taking care of patients who are LGBTQ+ and people living with HIV. A search committee selected Gels from 200 candidates.
Recently, Gels was the Chief Health Officer in Hazel Health, a school-based telehland provider. He has also worked as a public health officer in Maryland and Columbia districts. At the beginning of her career, Gels trained Luri Children Hospital and Northwestern University at Finburg School of Medicine, where she specialized in Kishore and HIV Medicine.
Gails said in a news release about his appointment, “We are in an important moment, where we can raise our voice – not only in Chicago but across the country – working to deal with those systemic obstacles Those who are still present in healthcare. ”
Gayle will start serving as CEO on 3 March.
His term follows the controversy in Howard Brown, and coincides with the onset of President Donald Trump’s term.
Trump has worked to destroy programs and security for those who are transgender in recent weeks. He issued an executive order, which announced that the federal government would recognize only two sexes, and another executive order, saying that many types of federal funds could not be used to confirm gender for minors. , And that the institutions receiving federal research grants cannot confirm gender. Care of minors.
Howard Brown is a federally qualified health center, which means that it receives federal funds for the care of low -income patients. A spokesperson of Howard Brown said in a statement on Tuesday: “The order has no immediate effect on our operation, and we will monitor the development growing with our partners. We are continuing to provide gender-suggestion care to all patients that rely on our services and are committed to improving the health of trans and gender diverse communities. ,
Tim Wang, director of policy and advocacy for Howard Brown, told The Tribune at the end of last year that the loss of federal funding would “be a big hole in our operating budget.” Howard Brown treats about 38,000 patients a year, and about a quarter of it is on Medicare or Medicade.
Howard Brown has also struggled with financial struggles with unions of workers in recent years. In May, Howard Brown announced that he planned to shut down two of his Chicago clinics, which is expected after a lack of budget of $ 6.6 million; Due to the departure of the only providers of the clinic; And because the clinic leases were above.
In November, Howard Brown agreed to pay $ 1.3 million to the workers that the National Labor Relations Board alleged that it was illegally closed. The settlement agreement resolved a complaint that the health center had illegally closed more than 50 workers without bargaining with their union. Howard Brown Workers represented by Illinois Nurses Association went on strike twice in 2023 before reaching an contract agreement in May.
Dr. Robin Gay is serving as an interim CEO of Howard Brown for approximately a year and will support the new CEO during the leadership transition before re -starting his role as Howard Brown’s chief dental officer.