VCU Health resumes gender-affirming care — but only for some

by Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury
February 25, 2025

After pausing gender-affirming care for minors amid legal uncertainty, The Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Health has resumed services — at least for existing patients.

New patients, however, are out of luck. The hospital won’t take on any new cases as legal battles continue over an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at cracking down on such care. 

Last week, the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors grappled with the same dilemma in a closed-door meeting before ultimately landing on the same decision as VCU.

Meanwhile, Norfolk-based Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters has kept its care paused by the time of this publication. 

Public hospitals have been in a limbo since Trump’s order threatened to pull federal funding from those providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth. Federal judges have blocked the order, but appeals keep hospitals on edge. 

UVa’s Board of Visitors made it clear that financial risk still looms large, stating in its resolution that there “remains a significant legal uncertainty and institutional risk.”

Beyond the legal fight, doctors are bracing for another crisis — the impact on mental health.

Emails between doctors reveal hospital staff scrambling to prepare for an anticipated surge in emergency department visits and mental health crises due to the disruption in care. The correspondence, shared with The Mercury, was obtained by Sen. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, through a Freedom of Information Act request. 

“I know many of us are anticipating a large spike in children who are in acute mental health crises,” wrote Dr. Frank Petruzella, division chief of emergency pediatric medicine, in an email sent shortly after Trump’s order. 

Petruzella urged colleagues to act fast, calling for an emergency meeting to assess how many patients were at risk and to develop a contingency plan.

“I think we should try to get this group together in the next few days to try to get an idea of the potential scope of patients at risk, as well as to develop a contingency plan for how best to help these children,” he wrote. 

Petruzella also warned that some cases could be so severe that sending patients home might not be safe. Medical staff, he said, should brace for a surge in consultation calls from families and providers seeking urgent guidance.

With transgender youth already at a hightened risk for self harm and suicidal ideation, Roem told The Mercury last week that she was heartened to see “kids-first” conversations taking place. 

Although VCU Health will not offer transgender care for new patients, it has outlined a plan to offer education, counseling, and mental health services.

In an updated statement on its website Tuesday, the institution affirmed its commitment, writing, “We are grateful for your support as we navigate these times and continue to advocate with a focus on the health of our patients and providers.”

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