As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I understand the importance of people in our community being seen and heard, and this is especially true in a healthcare setting. I am excited to bring the pride + services to the forefront of healthcare for Atrius patients.

My philosophy in caring for members of our community is that each person is unique and has healthcare needs that are unique to them. I think it is important to understand my patients as a whole person in order to provide the best comprehensive care for them.

When a patient comes to see me, they can expect a personalized experience where we collaborate on what their health care goals are and work together to achieve their optimal health.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community myself, I feel driven to provide high quality care for patients of all gender identities and sexual orientations. As this community has far too long been stigmatized and mistreated by the medical community, I am thrilled to contribute to changing this cycle as part of the Pride+ program at Atrius Health.

A gynecologic exam can often be found to be invasive, at best, or traumatic, at worst. However, I endeavor to ensure all patients feel as safe and comfortable as possible in my office. Some of the ways I seek to accomplish this, especially with my LGBTQIA+ patients, are to defer the exam until the patient feels ready and offer medication to help with anxiety and/or pain if needed.

When patients come to see me, they can expect to find a provider focused on meeting their individual needs in an open, empathetic and evidence-based manner, free of unnecessary restrictions or gatekeeping that has previously plagued this community.

Please speak with your Pride+ Care provider to be referred to Dr. Muscanell.

Whitney Polich is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her training at Boston College School of Social Work with a clinical specialty in trauma and LGBTQ+ patient populations. Prior to joining the Pride+ Care team, Whitney worked in private clinical practice, as well as medical social work – allowing for a breadth of experience across therapeutic settings. During her time in the field, she has developed a clinical specialty in the treatment of LGBTQ+ patients, particularly as it relates to experiences of trauma, mental health challenges and the exploration of one’s gender and sexual identities.

Whitney orients her clinical practice on the values of social justice, queer liberation and intersectional feminism with the aim of creating a space that feels safe and nourishing for clients. Whitney’s clinical practice pulls from several modalities including trauma processing, somatic therapies, narrative techniques, emotion focused CBT, attachment-based treatment and insight oriented models. With warmth, humor, and deep empathy, Whitney seeks to provide client the opportunity to heal past wounds, while foster a spirit of resiliency and recovery.

“Serving the Boston LGBTQ+ community through the Pride + program is an incredible honor! As an LGBTQ+ identified clinician I have witnessed and personally experienced the challenges and joys that are unique to our community. LGBTQ+ affirming mental health practices are essential to not only the individual wellness of LGBTQ+ identified folks, but the thriving of the queer community overall. In collaboration with the rest of the Pride+ team, I look forward to offering comprehensive healthcare tailored to the needs of LGBTQ+ patients. I am so glad you are here and look forward to helping you on your journey!”

Please speak with your Pride+ Care provider to be referred to Whitney.

River Armstrong is completing their Master’s of Public Health at Boston University with a focus in community program development and LGBTQ+ health. They are passionate about community collaboration, program development, and reflective evaluation as tools to understand and address systemic barriers that impede accessible and equitable care. River brings their experience supporting the healthcare and social needs of transgender and gender diverse populations at Boston Medical Center’s GenderCare Center and the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition.

“As the Pride+ Care Program Manager, my goal is to bridge the gaps between patients, clinicians, and our Atrius organization to create a more affirming and accessible healthcare system. I believe transparent communication and listening to our patients is key to a successful program. Whether it’s answering your Pride+ Care questions or connecting you to the right department, I am here to support you in having a great experience with our program.”

Bhavana Khanna completed her Master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Health Education and Health Communication. She is passionate about ensuring quality and informative care for LGBTQ+ patients by enhancing patient-provider communication. Bhavana brings combined experience in HIV prevention, sexual health education, and interpersonal communication from her work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maryland Department of Health.

“I am excited to start my role as the Pride+ Care Facilitator and work together with an incredible team to provide compassionate and inclusive care to patients who need it the most. My role involves providing insurance, financial, housing, and other resources and information to patients in the Pride+ Care program, while also working with clinicians to coordinate quality care and health service. This program has great potential to improve how Atrius health approaches LGBTQ+ care, as well as to pave the way for other programs."