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lives in Hampton Bays with his husband. For Dr. Lella, the opportunity to serve the LGBTQ+ community is one he cherishes—and he also knows firsthand the value of having a primary care doctor who understands the needs and parlance of his patients. “I saw a doctor who had no idea what PrEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis] was, and this was in the not-too-distant past,” he recalls, a look of shock in his blue eyes, referring to the anti-viral drugs used for HIV prevention. “That just kind of ruins your relationship with your health care provider. We want it to be a friendly relationship,” he notes, stressing that the center aims to foster a welcoming environment where patients can feel comfortable discussing their sexual history or whatever is going on in their lives. “There’s no need to walk on eggshells here.” New services will also include more specialized medicine for the transgender community, whether it be hormonal therapy or counseling services. “We hope it will evolve into one-stop shopping for the whole community,” says Chaloner. To understand the needs of the community more fully, Stony Brook Medicine has put forth a historic LGBTQ+ survey, the first of its kind on Long Island, which will further help shape the health offerings at the center. While they’ve already hit their target goal of 900 respondents, the survey is open through the month of September, with the hopes of getting even more participants, including returning students. (It can be accessed here: https://www. stonybrookmedicine.edu/LGBTQ/survey.) “There was no good data about the needs of the LGBTQ Long Island community,” notes Chaloner. “I believe that good health care begins with good information.” 182 W Montauk Hwy., Building B, Suite D, Hampton Bays; 631.287.5990; https://southampton.stonybrookmedicine. edu/services/LGBTQ-and-HIV-healthcare
When patients enter the new Edie Windsor Healthcare Center in Hampton Bays, the first thing they’ll see is a mural by a local lesbian artist, Rachel Wilkins, titled “Shoulders of Giants,” depicting historic figures in the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Among the gay icons proudly portrayed (including Stonewall activist Marsha P. Johnson and gay rights pioneer Barbara Gittings) is the center’s namesake, Edith “Edie” Windsor, who took the battle for marriage equality all the way to the Supreme Court, winning the landmark case. Rechristening the health care center (formerly the David E. Rogers, M.D. Center) after the nowdeceased Windsor, who had a home in Southampton and was a big presence there, marks a shift from HIVfocused health services toward an expanded range of services for the community, including general medicine and mental health services in addition to its existing HIV care. “I’m a gay man myself, and I feel very strongly about making sure the LGBTQ+ community has good health care—and that everybody feels they can be cared for and treated with the utmost respect and sensitivity,” says Robert Chaloner, chief administrative officer for Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. “We’re thrilled that we’re able to create this environment that identifies as specifically serving the LGBTQ+ community, where people can walk in and not worry about what they might encounter.” The center also has a new location, moving from Southampton to Hampton Bays, making it convenient for people traveling from up Island or the North Fork to get to, but still offering easy access to Hamptons residents. The biggest change is the introduction of primary care, which is being led by Eric Lella, D.O., an osteopath who 50
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The Edie Windsor Healthcare Center brings an expanded range of medical services to Long Island’s LGBTQ+ residents. BY RAY ROGERS
