NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Relaunches Pride Health Center with Renewed Commitment and Enhanced Care for NYC’s LGBTQ+ Community
In 2014, Metropolitan Hospital became the first municipal hospital in New York City to open a dedicated health center for LGBTQ+ patients
Jul 22, 2025
New York, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan announced today the relaunch of its Pride Health Center, renewing its commitment to compassionate, affirming, and culturally responsive care for New York City’s LGBTQ+ community. Founded in 2014, the Pride Health Center at Metropolitan Hospital was the first dedicated health center for LGBTQ+ patients in a New York City municipal hospital, pioneering a standard for community-based, inclusive care. Since 2013—one year before the Center’s founding—Metropolitan Hospital has received recognition by the Human Rights Campaign as a “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality,” marking another trailblazing milestone as the first facility in the NYC Health + Hospitals system to earn this honor.
From its inception, the Pride Health Center has been a trusted sanctuary for thousands across the Tri-State area, providing compassionate, affirming, and culturally responsive care. In addition to clinical care, the Pride Health Center has helped connect its patients to essential resources including food, housing, employment, clothing, and social networks to enhance the resilience of migrants and immigrants.
This relaunch builds on over a decade of dedicated service and expands offerings to include enhanced specialty services, highlighted by the new Metropolitan Cosmetic Surgery Center. The new Center features board-certified surgeons, including Dr. Aron Kressel, who has performed over 260 gender-affirming surgeries and works across both the Cosmetic Surgery and Pride Health Centers.
Today, the Pride Health Center offers a comprehensive range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of the LGBTQ+ community, including:
- Gender Affirming Surgeries (including facial feminization & masculinization)
- Gynecologic Care
- Hormone Therapy
- Immunizations
- Mental Health Care
- Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP)
- Primary Care
- Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment including Doxy PEP
- Transgender Health Care
- Young Adult Care
NYC Health + Hospitals is rooted in a strong committment to equity. This commitment, guided by the health system’s ICARE Values—Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence—serves as a framework that helps Metropolitan Hospital continue to foster a culture where every patient feels seen, safe, and supported. These values reinforce the institution’s commitment to creating a welcoming, affirming environment for LGBTQ+ patients, while also cultivating a more connected and mission-driven workforce.
By reaffirming its commitment, Metropolitan Hospital strengthens its role as a beacon of inclusive health care, ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals across New York City continue to receive the care they need—no exceptions.
“Metropolitan has always been a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer, Julian S. John. “This relaunch strengthens our legacy of providing inclusive, affirming, high-quality care that meets the evolving needs of our patients. With the integration of the Pride Health Center, the new Cosmetic Surgery Center, and our broader network of specialty services all under one roof, Metropolitan has positioned itself as a singular destination for seamless, holistic LGBTQ+ health and wellness.”
“Our surgical aim is to make exceptional, gender-affirming care accessible within the East Harlem community. The addition of the Cosmetic Surgery Center brings the specialized expertise typically found in private practice together with the accessibility and welcoming environment of a community hospital. The Pride Health Center at Metropolitan has set the standard, and our new Cosmetic Surgery Center follows this vision, blending surgical precision with compassion to honor every patient’s unique journey,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief of Plastic Surgery, Aron Kressel, MD.
“Reimagining the Pride Health Center allows us to deepen our commitment to delivering affirming, expert care across all ambulatory services tailored for the LGBTQ+ community,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief of Ambulatory Services, Anjna Ganatra, MD. “Beyond clinical excellence, we are pioneering new models of care that integrate community voices and lived experiences, ensuring that our services evolve in true partnership with those we serve. This collaborative spirit is at the heart of everything we do, making Metropolitan not just a place for treatment, but a place of belonging and healing.”
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MEDIA CONTACT: Domonique Chaplin (chaplind@nychhc.org), 212 423-7782.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is a 338-bed facility serving East Harlem and surrounding communities. Known historically as the primary health care provider in El Barrio, Metropolitan delivers high-quality, compassionate care to over 350,000 clinic patients and more than 50,000 emergency room visitors annually. The hospital is a designated Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Center of Excellence and a recognized “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign. Metropolitan has earned numerous honors, including the AORN, Beacon, Lantern, and Pathway to Excellence with Distinction awards, a Leapfrog “A” Grade for patient safety, and national recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals list. With a legacy spanning 150 years, Metropolitan maintains the nation’s oldest municipal hospital-medical school affiliation through its longstanding partnership with New York Medical College. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/metropolitan.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
