Social Worker

Department Overview

The Transgender Health Program (THP) Social Worker is a member of a multi-disciplinary team that ensures affirming, high quality and trauma informed care is provided to transgender and gender non-conforming patients across the life span. This position has the primary responsibility for assessing, short term solution focused counseling, information/referral dissemination, crisis intervention, patient advocacy and associated services to patients, families, and involved parties/agencies. The efforts are directed at assisting the patient/family in all areas of medical care for transgender and gender diverse patients seeking at OHSU. These include patients accessing primary, specialty, and/or surgical care.


The THP Social Worker works closely with other THP staff members to deliver training/education/consultation throughout OHSU and within the community. The THP Social Worker may also assume responsibility of providing supervision to MSW interns. The THP Social Worker is a point of contact for patients of all ages accessing medical and surgical care with the THP. The THP Social Worker works in close coordination with the multi-disciplinary care team.

Function/Duties of Position

Psychosocial Assessment

• Conducts intakes and assessments on patients accessing gender affirming medical/surgical care at OHSU
• Conducts interviews with patients, patients' families, and other appropriate resources to gather information necessary in identifying/ evaluating the psychosocial, cultural, and financial conditions of patients and how best to support them in attaining their health goals;
• Educates and supports patients in being prepared for surgery in terms of documentation requirements, after care plans, surgical pre-requisites, and ongoing support
• Provides in-depth consultation to community professionals, agency staff, or other persons seeking guidance in meeting patient needs,
• May complete daily rounds and conduct chart reviews to determine patient needs units;
• Participate in treatment team meetings with various health care staff,
• Serve as a resource for inpatients units caring for transgender patients.

Patient Services

• Assesses patient/family support needs, advocacy, and associated services and medical care;
• Refers patient/family to OHSU and outside resources for assistance (such as financial, transportation, insurance, housing, medicine, etc.) and
• Assists patient in gaining access to resources;
• Serves as advocate for the patient within the medical setting and the community,
• Maintains knowledge of community resources for patient care;
• Assist with navigation of insurance approvals, denials, and appeals providing education and advocacy when necessary
• Coordinate with multi-disciplinary team
• Provide accompaniment to patient appointments as needed
• Help patients access needed mental health letters of support for medical/surgical care
• Help patients secure needed supports for medical, procedural, or peri- operative care

Counseling

• Provides short- term counseling to patients and/or their families;
• Provides supportive counseling to reinforce patients' strengths and assist them in dealing with chronic/acute stress associated
• Help patient locate mental health and other resources in their community
• Works in close coordination with THP Psychologist on complex patient care
• Conduct patient education to provide information to patients on all gender affirming care treatment options, including surgery and what to anticipate on a social, emotional and physical level from pursing these options
• May participate in emergency or on-call situations by providing crisis intervention services to patients

Other Duties as Assigned

Required Qualifications

• A Master's Social Work (MSW) required.
• Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Knowledge of adult biopsychosocial issues affecting the transgender populations, including but not limited to substance abuse, poverty, health risks, and legal issues.
• Knowledge of Medicaid and commercial plans and benefits Knowledge of surgeries, what a prepared patient is and a supportive after care plan
• Proficient with Microsoft applications (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, ability to work in interdisciplinary team to meet the needs of an individual.
• Experience with pediatric and/or adult transgender and gender diverse populations
• Public speaking to a diverse audience

Preferred Qualifications

• Health care experience preferred.
• 5 years' work experience in healthcare disciplines, including but not limited to:
  • care coordination,
  • case management,
  • counseling or community mental health,
  • acute or chronic illness,
  • patient health or psycho education
  • assessment of psychosocial complexity;
  • caring for pediatric and/or adult underserved populations and the families
  • care delivery within the Portland area safety-net.
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR) experience, WPATH (World Professional Association of Transgender Health) standards, Knowledge of insurance, billing, and Oregon law relevant to transgender care and grant writing experience.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English

Additional Details

Ability to work general business office hours, hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM. Occasional need to come in early or stay late to accommodate patient or physician needs. Occasional Holiday and weekend work as required for regulatory purposes.

Benefits:

• Healthcare Options - Covered 100% for full-time employees and 88% for dependents, and $25K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from
• Vacation- up to 200 hours per year depending on length of service
• Sick Leave- up to 96 hours per year
• 8 paid holidays per year
• Substantial Tri-met and C-Tran discounts
• Additional Programs including: Tuition Reimbursement and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Posted 6/5/2026 10am

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center.

In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

All are welcome.

OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply.

To request reasonable accommodation, contact View email address on click.appcast.io