Services

The Schacht Center for Health and Wellness offers gender affirming care to students across the gender spectrum. We use an informed consent model to initiate and/or continue hormone therapy and offer continuity of care during your time at Smith. Our practice includes comprehensive primary care including but not limited to: counseling, wellness and psychiatric services, injection teaching with registered nurses, laboratory monitoring, access to sharps containers and a gender affirming apparel library, as well as letters and referrals for gender affirming surgeries, vocal therapy, name changes and specialized services. The Schacht Center sees students of all genders and identities for routine and urgent medical and mental health care, including support groups and counseling therapy. Our staff reflect a range of gender identities and participate in both ongoing training and engagement with student feedback to demonstrate our commitment to continued improvement in supporting our rich and diverse student body.

Services we provide include:

• Initiation of hormone replacement therapy
• Hormone replacement therapy maintenance (ongoing labs, etc.)
• Referral letters for gender affirming surgery

What should I expect at my first medical gender affirming care appointment?
Your visit will be scheduled for an initial consultation with a medical provider at the Schacht Center. Your first appointment will focus on your provider getting to know you, your gender experience, and your gender affirmation goals. Care is taken to ensure that your gendering affirming care plan is medically safe for you by reviewing your personal and family medical history. Medications will not necessarily be prescribed at your first visit. We are here to work with you and meet your needs.

What follow-up will I receive?
If you choose to take hormones, you will be expected to maintain regular follow up appointments with your medical provider. You should expect to have laboratory monitoring to ensure that your hormone treatment is safe. Medication and laboratory costs are subject to your specific insurance coverage. We work with students on all healthcare plans, and recommend you speak directly with your individual health care plan.

How do I schedule an appointment?
Appointments are scheduled by calling 413-585-2800 during office hours. When you speak with a staff member, please request a gender affirming medical appointment.

How do I change my name at Smith?
Students may change their first name at Smith College (including Moodle, email, etc.) without changing their name legally. To request a transcript with a chosen name, one must change their name legally and update and submit the request to the Office of the Registrar.

On-Campus Resources:

• Nutritionist: Our staff dietician has a special interest in eating disorders and marginalized patient populations and can help with an individualized patient-centered meal plan
• Smith Equity and Inclusion Office
• Smith Resource Center for Sexuality and Gender
• Office of Equity & Inclusion Resources
• Schacht Center Binder Library
  Education around safe binding, fittings and funding resources

Local LGBTQIA+ Resources:

• LGBT Coalition of Western Mass
• The Stonewall Center: University of Massachusetts
     A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual    (LGBTQIA+) Resource Center
• Local Guide to Restrooms

Queer and Gender Nonconforming Healthcare (uses informed consent model):

• Transhealth Northampton
     Florence MA (413) 341-9400
• Emily Lash, MD; Miranda Balkin, MD; Katherine A. Jarrell, MD
     Oxbow Primary Care
     15 Atwood Drive, Suite 201, Northampton, MA 01060
     (413) 586-9313
     *On the PVTA Bus Route: BUS B48
• Chalice Santorelli, MSN, FNP
     Northampton Family Medicine
     22 Atwood Drive, Northampton, MA 01060
     (413) 584-2178
     *On the PVTA Bus Route: BUS B48
• Planned Parenthood
     3550 Main Street, Suite 201, Springfield, MA 01107
     (800) 258-4448
• Baystate Transgender/Adult Clinic
     140 High Street C Level, Springfield, MA 01105
     (413) 794-2511
• Advocates for Trans Equality
• Fenway Health
• UCSF Transgender Care

At the Schacht Center for Health and Wellness, we work to provide students with the best possible support around their reproductive health. We recognize that students of all identities deserve equitable access to the services that meet their unique needs. We provide services that are within the scope of our practice, and work to provide referrals to community providers we trust who can perform services outside of our scope of practice.

Resources Available Through Schacht

• Barrier contraception, including latex and non-latex condoms, internal condoms, dental dams and lube is distributed to houses at the beginning of the semester
• Emergency contraceptives (free of charge, regardless of insurance)
• Birth control consultations and prescriptions (to be filled at a local pharmacy)
• Removal of most IUDs or implants
• Referrals for IUDs, implants, or surgical birth control
• Referrals and care coordination for abortions

Our Partners
As a primary care clinic, there are some services the Schacht Center is unable to provide. However, we work closely with community providers to ensure continuity of care and have the highest levels of confidence in the partners we refer students to. Our most common referrals for reproductive care services are to the following providers. If transportation to medical appointments is a barrier to accessing care, please contact the Schacht Center.

• Cooley Dickinson Medical Group OBGYN & Midwifery
  Cooley Dickinson Medical Group ObGYN & Midwifery provides comprehensive and sensitive health care services, including pregnancy, childbirth, gynecologic care and breast health services, testing for STI's, treatment for gynecologic problems, and more. For appointments at their four locations, call 413-586-9866
  30 Locust Street & 22 Atwood Drive, Northampton
  10 Denniston Place, Yellow House, Cooley Dickinson Hospital campus, Northampton
  170 University Drive, Amherst
• Baystate Women’s Health OB/GYN
  Baystate Women’s Health OB/GYN in Northampton offers comprehensive obstetrics & gynecology services including routine and preventive care, reproductive healthcare, testing for STIs, diagnosis for gynecological problems, and more.
  325B King Street Suite 104, Northampton
  413-586-2496
• Tapestry Health
  Tapestry Health provides confidential and affordable STI and pregnancy testing and culturally competent, gender-aware healthcare. Please call ahead—walk-in care is not available.
  76 Carlton Drive, Northampton
  413-586-2539
• Planned Parenthood: Western Massachusetts Health Center
  Planned Parenthood is one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care, and the nation’s largest provider of sex education.
  3550 Main Street, Suite 201, Springfield, MA 01107
  413-732-1620
  Planned Parenthood Emergency Contraception Resources
  Planned Parenthood Telehealth Abortion Services

Some reasons for visits may include (but are not limited to):

• sore throat
• cough fever
• headaches
• fatigue
• abdominal pain
• chest pain
• back pain
• strains/sprains
• asthma
• vomiting/diarrhea
• sexually transmitted infection screening/concerns
• HIV testing
• cuts/lacerations
• urinary tract infection (UTI)
• eye infection
• acne/rash/dermatology
• gynecology: vaginal infection, menstrual problems, pregnancy testing
• anxiety/stress
• depression
• prescription refills
• referrals to specialists any health related concerns

Confidential HIV and STI testing is available at Medical Services during regular clinic hours by appointment.

The CDC provides comprehensive information about travel health.

• Travel physicals
• Travel vaccines (billed through insurance; see fees section for cost). Your insurance may require that travel related vaccines be provided at a special travel clinic. Most travel-related vaccines can be provided locally at CVS Minute Clinic, 366 King Street, Northampton (413-586-8315).

Vaccines are available by appointment. Students with private insurance should contact their insurance FIRST regarding coverage. The Smith College Student Health Insurance plan covers the cost of most vaccines.

Vaccinations offered at Health Services include (but are not limited to):

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• HPV 9 (Gardasil 9)
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Meningitis (MACWY or MCV4)
• Meningitis B (Bexsero)
• Meningitis B (Trumenba)
• MMR
• Polio (IPV)
• Rabies
• TD
• TDAP
• Typhoid
• Varicella
• Yellow Fever (call for availability)

We are pleased to offer laboratory services through LabCorp Reference Laboratory Services. Students or employees can call 413-585-2800 during business hours to schedule an appointment. A copy of the physician orders (or electronic orders submitted to LabCorp) will be needed for any labs ordered by providers outside of the Schacht Center.

Students with private insurance should contact their insurance company with any questions about coverage. LabCorp will submit claims directly to the student’s insurance company. Laboratory services at the Schacht Center may not be fully covered by private insurance. Deductibles and out-of-network fees may apply.

Students with the Student Health Insurance Plan should be aware that an annual deductible fee applies to any laboratory service.