By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff

For many transgender individuals in Las Vegas, navigating healthcare can feel like a constant uphill battle. Major healthcare providers often refuse to offer gender-affirming care even while providing comparable hormonal treatments to cisgender patients. That gap has left far too many members of the transgender community without the medical support they need and deserve.

Dr. Michael Uzmann, founder of A1Endocrinology, has made it his mission to change that. With years of experience treating more than 950 transgender patients, Dr. Uzmann brings expertise, compassion, and advocacy to a community that is frequently left behind by traditional healthcare systems.

Listening First, Treating with Evidence

“The most substantial barrier locally is that the large HMOs do not offer gender-affirming care,” Dr. Uzmann explains. “They’ll take care of a patient for diabetes or hypothyroidism in an Endocrine clinic, but refuse any form of hormonal therapy while happily delivering hormonal care to an elderly woman in menopause or a man who needs testosterone therapy. We address this issue by doing what others will not, obtaining the data and making decisions based on peer-reviewed evidence, tailored to a patient’s own needs.”

At the heart of his philosophy is the understanding that gender identity is not binary and that every individual’s journey is unique. “What matters most is hearing a patient, explaining what is and isn’t possible from a medical standpoint, and advocating for their perspective so long as it is not medically harmful.”

Beyond Prescriptions: Guiding Patients Through the System

A1Endocrinology goes further than writing prescriptions. Dr. Uzmann and his team help patients navigate the maze of insurance approvals, referrals, and even legal gender-marker changes. “Like any aspect of medicine, the patient isn’t a doctor or a nurse, and navigating the medical field often feels like you’re flying blind. Part of being an expert is sharing what you know, and that includes all of the above,” he says.

Creating a safe and affirming environment is also a cornerstone of care. “At A1Endocrinology, I have made sure all staff are fully aware of the appropriate way to address patients, and I think that shows,” he notes, acknowledging that in other practices, lack of staff training has often led to harmful experiences for patients.

Life-Changing Care at Any Age

For Dr. Uzmann, the impact of gender-affirming care is profound. “I have been lucky to help patients as young as 12 all the way up to a trans-female who started estrogen at age 78 because she didn’t want to upset a cis-female wife of 50 years by admitting she had been ‘in the closet’ for decades,” he shares.

Unlike most medical visits that revolve around disease management, gender-affirming care offers a chance to help patients reach personal milestones that transform their lives. “When someone comes to me for gender-affirming care, they have a goal, and when I help them achieve their desired outcome, it is frequently a truly life-changing experience for patient and provider alike.”

Looking Ahead: Advocacy and Access

As Nevada grapples with limited resources for transgender healthcare, Dr. Uzmann is clear about the changes he hopes to see. “The HMOs need to step up and be advocates for more than their bottom line. To tell an Endocrinologist that they can see a trans person with diabetes for their blood sugars but not hormone therapy is ridiculous at best and bigoted at worst. As there is only one surgeon in town that offers gender-affirming surgery, it would also be amazing to see more growth in that area.”

A Message for Transgender Awareness Week

With Transgender Awareness Week approaching, Dr. Uzmann encourages the community to stay resilient and informed. “Unfortunately, we do not yet live in a world of equality, and under the current administration that seems, perhaps, further away than ever. Self-advocacy will always play an essential role in any healthcare situation, but in the case of gender-affirming care, the most important thing is understanding the resources available. Whether it be The Center, therapists like Kai de Becker at Mosaic Counseling, plastic surgeon John Brosious, or a clinic like ours at A1Endocrinology, there are allies that want to help.”

In a city where access to care has too often been marked by refusal, Dr. Uzmann’s work stands as both a lifeline and a beacon of hope for Las Vegas’ transgender community. His message is simple but powerful: compassionate, evidence-based care can change lives, and every patient deserves nothing less.

This article was originally published in the 2025 Holiday Issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, and can be read in its original format here.