Our Team
The Trans Health & Wellness Center has moved from a board of cisgender persons to a board of governance that better reflects the community that it serves. The board’s purpose is to review policy, improve quality of care for patients, and review financial records to ensure compliance. In keeping with the staff that we employ at each of our locations, the new board is comprised of those who are either Transgender, Gender Non-conforming, or Intersex.
Due to the lack of support for Trans-led organizations across the nation, it is more difficult to receive donations than would be the case were it still led by a cisgender board. Transphobia and a general lack of understanding adversely impact the relationships within the broader LGBTQ community, inhibiting avenues for success in fulfilling our mission. This is why raising funds has become all-the-more urgent; as we seek to help those in need amongst Southern California’s TGI population. The board of governance will continue to be convened to ensure the success of the organization. We thank you for being a part of our important endeavor.
Karla Madrazo
She/Her/Hers
Chair/President
My pronouns are She/Her and I’m a chair as long as I understand. She has been supporting addicts/alcoholics for around 10 years and facilitates her own AA meetings in San Diego. She has been a special guest speaker at several events in Mexico, About the LGBTQ+ community I have spoke when requested in several events in Mexico and is an avid activist for LGBTQ+ rights in both Mexico and the United States.
Jaime Woods
She/Her/Hers
Secretary
Jaimie has devoted her life to community outreach. She has served with the Home League Women’s Ministry of the Salvation Army, as an event coordinator at the Unity Fellowship Church (U.C. San Diego), as a group facilitator for Touch Of Love, and as a special events planner for San Diego Pride. She has also served as a member of the Tracy O’Brian Youth Scholarship board for SD-Pride; and is on Estep’s board at U.C. San Diego.
Currently a student at Southwestern College, Jamie has experience in relapse recovery counseling and is a certified Peer Support Specialist. Her passion is assisting and empowering others—especially those in marginalized communities. She has many interests—including mentoring, community- and relationship-building, as well as helping those in substance abuse recovery. As a vocal performing artist, she has sung in the Voice of Our City choir and at U.C. San Diego. She is proud to be the Outreach Ambassador and Volunteer Leader for the Transgender Health and Wellness Center.
Jenny Meza
She/Her/Hers
Treasurer
Jenny finished her studies in Méxicali Baja California Norte, graduated as a professional technician in quality control at CETIS and working at Bodegas rural Conasupo as a supervisor and manager on duty. Jenny then moved to the United States and started as an employee in a landscaping company and was promoted to general supervisor. Jenny continued studying and finished her GED and applied for a new job in the city of Indio as a supervisor in the public areas of the city, doing this while continuing studies for citizenship of the United States. Jenny continues her studies and works as a general building contractor. She loves serving as an Evangelist, which she graduated as minister and helps with a group called Beyond the Four Walls. She must travel frequently to help with Beyond the Four Walls. Jenny is honored to serve as treasurer for Transgender Health & Wellness Center. Transgender Health & Wellness Center speaks to her heart as she is a transgender woman. Her lived experience helps her see the needs of other gender groups.
Executive Team
Thomi Clinton
She/Her/Hers
CEO, founder, and community elder Transgender Health & Wellness Center
Thomi Clinton has been on the forefront of national and regional efforts to secure health care and support services for transgender communities for decades. She is considered an Elder in the Inland Empire by many of the large non-profits and county and city agencies. She has served in an advisory capacity on national policy under two different administrations: the Biden Administration’s LGBTQ+ Health Policy, and the Bush Administration’s Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA. Ms. Clinton founded the nonprofit Transgender Community Coalition which contributed to the City of Palm Springs being awarded the best tourist location for LGBTQ+ persons by Expedia. Transgender Health & Wellness Center in 2018 with only $10,000. This now network of Southern California Centers has over a million-dollar budget and employs the most Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming and Intersex (TGI) people of any Southern California nonprofit. She has also worked with Riverside County police departments to implement training and policies to protect TGI people. As a critical consultant on TGI health and wellness policies for the Inland Empire Health Plan, Borrego Health, and DAP Health, she is a regional and national leader and popular speaker on policies related to TGI health and wellness.
Scott Nass, MD MPA FAAFP AAHIVS
He/Him/His
Director of Medical Services
Scott Nass is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and HIV Specialist™ whose clinical practice focuses on enabling affirming care for transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex people. He is certified in the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care and currently holds the position of Chief Medical Officer for the Transgender Health and Wellness Center in Palm Springs, Riverside, and San Diego.
He is immediate past president for GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, where he has served on the board of directors since 2014, and a member of the Medical Advisory Group for interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth. He also serves as Regional Medical Director for Aledade, Inc., where he helps independent primary care practices and community health centers achieve positive patient outcomes through a health equity approach.
Previously, he was Family Medicine residency program director for Eisenhower Health, where he was responsible for the development of curricula and treatment protocols, and a core faculty member with Emanate Health, where he practiced and taught within a Federally Qualified Health Center.
Dr. Nass earned his MD at Charles R. Drew University and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA following an MPA at Indiana University-Bloomington. He went on to complete Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center, followed by fellowships in faculty development at UNC-Chapel Hill, health equity leadership at The George Washington University, and primary care psychiatry at UC-Irvine. He holds academic appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Van Ethan Levy
Director of Behavior Health
They/Elle
Van (they / elle) is a queer, non binary, trans, socialized as female, nBPOC (not Black Person of Color), who is autistic and has dynamic disabilities amongst many more historically excluded identities. They are dually licensed as a Marriage & Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Van is passionate about holding space for all intersections of one’s identity(ies). Van is dedicated to social justice & believes it is vital to cultivate an awareness of our own internal strengths, specifically our resilience as we continue to grow and discover ourselves. Van believes it is important to trust and validate our experience(s) & journey(s). Van aims to use a trauma informed lens and hopes to help you learn ways to help support yourself in the best way possible. Van also provides trainings on trans and non binary identities, is author of the interactive book Exploring My Identity(ies) (2020), produced a Documentary called Do Something: Trans & Non Binary Identities (2021), put on an international conference called Do Something: Identity(ies) (2022) (with the recordings available for purchase) and developed No More GateKeeping app that provides trauma-informed questions for the provider to use during the assessment with the clients and populates a letter, and the founder of No More GateKeeping national list of providers who all agree to provide assessments & write letters in one assessment.
Jocelyn Kennedy:
She/Her/Hers
Director of Operations
Born in California and raised in New Hampshire, Jocelyn first moved to the Coachella Valley nearly 30 years ago. Studying history at UCLA showed her how transitory and hard-earned human rights and dignity can be, and her early attempts to transition taught her how inadequate and often hostile the healthcare system can be at meeting the needs of TGI+ people. This has informed a deep desire to improve the adequacy of care and resources available to the TGI+ community, one which she has been fortunate enough to pursue in her years with the Transgender Health & Wellness Center. She oversees our policy committee for the Transgender Health & Wellness Center.
Renae Punzalan:
She/Her/Hers
Director of Outreach
Renae is the Director of Outreach of the Transgender Health & Wellness Center in Palm Springs. Born and raised in Guam, she is a native Chamorro. She relocated to Los Angeles, California to pursue her dreams as a dancer and writer. While there, she worked as a freelance Entertainment Journalist with Reuters Television, interviewing celebrities from the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Robert Downey Jr. Her LGBTQ advocacy began in Guam. and continued in Los Angeles, where she volunteered with various organizations like Gender Justice L.A. and the L.A. LGBT Center. In 2020, she relocated to the Coachella Valley to join the cast of AsiaSF Palm Springs, an all-Trans cabaret dinner show. Her mission as an artist and activist is to empower Transgender and gender non-binary people; and to work to ensure the advancement of underserved and marginalized communities. Renae oversees our Outreach Committee for the Transgender Health & Wellness Center.
Michael Bay:
He/Him/His
Chief Financial Officer
Born in California and was raised in Downey, California. Mike is our Chief Financial Officer. He has his bachelor’s degree in business management from Whittier City College. Mike is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and an advocate for homelessness. He has two dogs named Savannah and Tessa. Mike spent over 25 years in the corporate world and worked for a major food ingredient distributor. Michael oversees our finance committee with the Transgender Health & Wellness Center.
City of Palm Springs
Briana Garcia:
She/Her/Hers
Register Nurse for Palm Springs
Born in California and raised in Coachella. Briana is the Registered Nurse for the Palm Springs TH&WC location. She is an avid reader and volunteers at the Coachella Library.
Nell Smith:
She/Her/Hers
Senior Crises Case Manager Primarily Inland Empire
Nell is a case manager and housing coordinator for the Transgender Health & Wellness Center. Originally from the Philippines, she spent her years growing up in Oahu, where she attended the University of Hawaii. Nell later transferred to California State University at Dominguez Hills, where she completed a bachelors in communications, and eventually earned a masters in behavioral science. Nell oversees our homeless programs committee for Transgender Health & Wellness Center.
After graduating from college, Nell was a professional journalist (and editor-in-chief) at the online travel publication, eTurboNews. The experience afforded her the opportunity to travel to 70 countries. Having a global perspective equipped her for her vocation helping Trans people realize their dreams—serving her community with an open mind and open heart.
Daniella Pineda:
She/Her/Hers
Trans Navigator for Palm Springs
Daniella was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. in 2005 when she was seven years old. She grew up in Beaumont, California, where she graduated from High School in 2017. Her hobbies include dancing and interior design.
Daniella graduated from Crafton Hills College with honors, earning an associates degree in both communications and sociology. Her goal is to pursue a career in social work, where she aspires to make an impact in the Trans community.
At the Transgender Health and Wellness, Daniella aims to continue the legacy that Thomi Clinton has created. Her role as Trans Navigator is to maintain and manage the Palm Springs front office, ensuring the proper functioning of the location, and realizing the vision of the organization. For Daniella, Trans wellness means hope. With the help of the center, she has been able to help others in their journey while becoming the person she was always meant to be.
Jaime Parris:
She/Her/Hers
Electrologist
Born in Georgia and raised in Western United States. Jaime is an avid movie watcher and enjoys learning new information. She is one of the Palm Springs TH&WC electrologist and she graduated from electrology school in 2022. She is a person with a disability and a disability advocate. She identifies as a Lesbian and has written and performed comedy. She loves to write.
Samantha Yoshida:
She/Her/Hers
Senior Electrologist for Palm Springs
Born in California and was raised in the Bay area. Samantha is Japanese and Caucasian decent. She has a wife and four kids. She graduated electrology school in 2021. She identifies as a lesbian and support lesbian and gender rights. She and her wife enjoy supporting the LGBTQ+ youth and has a 12-year-old daughter that identifies as transgender female. Her 13-year-old daughter identifies as Queer and Lesbian. She is a gamer, and her favorite game is Zelda. She has three cats named River, Damsel and Lilly, and a bearded dragon named Vecna (named after her favorite show Stranger Things).
Archie Harper:
She/Her/Hers
Electrologist
Archie moved to Palm Springs seeking better opportunity after a long hardship in Central California. She settled with her partner in Morongo Valley to start their new life where she discovered Transgender Community Coalition which is now Transgender Health & Wellness Center. She began her new life volunteering which allowed her to connect to the Transgender community in Palm Springs. She worked in the hotel and restaurant industry until she was nominated to by the Transgender Health & Wellness Center to go to the Electrologist Academy to start her new career as an electrologist. She is an avid animal lover and loves gemstones. She loves nature and hiking and is known for her dance moves on the dance floor.
Marylin Hannan:
She/Her/Hers
Outreach Coordinator
Born in San Diego and raised in multiple states. She is our Outreach Coordinator for the County of Riverside offices. She enjoys politics and policy development and is a big advocate for LGBTQ+ human rights and outreach to marginalized communities. She has degrees in theater, mechanics, and cosmetology. She is a person with disabilities and a disability advocate.
Marisol Leos:
She/Her/Hers
Grants Manager
Born in Texas and was raised in Indio, California. Marisol is our grants manager for the organization. Marisol began her career as a grant’s writer and researcher with CommonSpirit Health before expanding her scope of work into management and compliance at the Transgender Health and Wellness Center. She has extensive experience in the coordination and implementation of federal and private grants throughout their life cycle. Her areas of focus include behavioral health, healthcare, and supportive services. She oversees our Grant Committee for the Transgender Health & Wellness Center.
Elizabeth Angulo
She/Her/Hers
Medical Billing and Accounting
She was born in Pomona, California and raised in Coachella Valley. She has two daughters, a son and one granddaughter. Her fury-friend is a German Shepard named Armani. She loves makeup and try new delicacies. She loves to travel and see new and exciting things.
City of San Diego
Laurie Merritt
She/Her/Hers
Senior Register Nurse
She was born in West Bend, Wisconsin and raised in Wisconsin and Texas, and she moved to California in 2011. She went to Nursing School in Carolina. She began to volunteer as a laser nurse for Transgender Health & Wellness Center in 2019 and now is a full employee that oversees our nurses as all locations. She is an avid plant nurd and animal lover and advocate. She has three fur-kids, with two left, all are rescues named Sadie (14), DaisyMaye (4) and beloved Hurley (14) whom she lost recently. She has over 30 years of nursing experience ranging from critical care to home health. She loves working at the Transgender Health & Wellness Center because it is the only job she truly loves and doesn’t feel like work. She oversees our Health Equity Committee which reviews and creates policies and procedures for TH&WC with other licensed medical professionals.
CeCe Collins:
She/Her/Hers
Register Nurse
Cece Collins works with the TH&WC providing complimentary laser hair removal services. Volunteering to spend over 200 hours giving this essential gender-affirming care to clients with economic or social barriers to access care. She has been a Registered Nurse for 14 years and works at the Veterans Affairs Hospitals in many different areas including Emergency, Oncology, and Critical-Care. She has certifications in Chemotherapy (Oncology Nurses Society), and Critical care with a subspecialty in cardiac medicine (CCRN-CMC). Through this experience with thousands of patients, she sees that lives can be saved in many ways other than basic resuscitation alone and is proud to provide gender affirming care while expanding Trans visibility; role-modelling a thriving, successful, professional. After a life-long struggle with self-acceptance, she found a community in San Diego. Other Transgender healthcare-professionals demonstrated the importance of visibility and helped her first transition from shame to pride. And, although she has less than 1 year of undergoing medical transition, she is committed to giving back as a caregiver to the community, to extend her success to others struggling in their own ways. Pride, visibility, and community are the tools for building understanding, acceptance and greater community integration. Nothing makes her prouder than the work she does for the TH&WC.
Celesa Le:
She/Her/Hers
Senior Electrologist for San Diego
Celesta Le has been a licensed electrologist for 7 years. In her free time she enjoys hiking, traveling and scuba/snorkeling. She became interested in electrology after having permanent hair removal on her face. She graduated from the EAU Claire Institute of Electrology in Wisconsin and eventually made her way to San Diego. She has a particular interest in medical based electrolysis for transgender/gender non-conforming patients as well as individuals with PCOS.
She is passionate about fighting the insurance companies that often impose difficult barriers to transgender and gender non conforming people to access gender affirming care.
Julia Koh
She/Her/Hers
Trans Navigator for San Diego
Born in Germany and raised Chicago. Julie is the San Diego TH&WC Trans Navigator. She is in Masters Courses for Counseling and Psychology. She enjoys dance classes, she likes to hang out with her dog named Toshi, and play video games. She assists with our insurance disputes and appeals for the Transgender Health & Wellness Center.
Ariel A.
She/Her/Hers
Electrologist
Born in San Diego and raised in Mexico City. She is a Bilingual Trans Latina and has a degree business management and skin care therapy. She is one of San Diego TH&WC’s electrologist. She enjoys dancing and is currently focusing on undocumented persons access to gender affirming care. She enjoys grant writing and outreach with TH&WC to increase services for those in need.
Valencia Lopez
She/Her/Hers
Electrologist
Born in Washington DC and raised in Maryland. She is a Bilingual Trans Latina and Indigenous. She is an avid activist for LGBTQ+ community. She loves to apply makeup and help others be beautiful with their makeup skills. She enjoys fashions shows. She is an advocate for Indigenous people.
VAATX has requested her photo to not be posted as she transitions but, we found something adorable that matches her personality.
VAATX
They/Them
Electrologist
Born and raised Arizona free spirit. I got my electrolysis license in 2022, and have been with TH&WC for the entirety of my career to date. In my off time I’m usually at the beach or playing Xbox
Xanath Escobedo
(Pronounced Shah-nah)
Trans Health Navigator
She/Her/Hers
Xanath is a second-generation Trans Latina. Born in north Texas, she was raised between the U.S. and her mother’s home-state of Veracruz, Mexico. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the beach, visiting art exhibits, and spending quality time with her friends. Her passion is to serve Trans, Latino, and other underserved segments of society. Having worked at migrant shelters and street clinics, Xanath is an experienced advocate. Not only is she a compassionate member of the Trans community, she is a hard worker—dedicated to the empowerment of marginalized communities.
City of Riverside
Shama Patel
She/Her/Hers
Register Nurse for Riverside Offices
Born and raised in California. Presently Registered Nurse. Going to school to become Nurse Practitioner. Her goal is to provide long lasting relationships with the patients and quality care. Her favorite food is Mexican and loves to watch basketball. She loves to cook a wide variety of foods and takes care of her grandma.
Bijon Caputo
She/Her/Hers
Senior Trans Navigator
She was born and raised in the Inland Empire. She is our Senior Trans Navigator. She has hotel and hospitality management background and strives to provide a positive experience at the Riverside Offices. She loves her fur-babies, two cats (Grizwald and Grommash) and a dog (Velka). The is an avid dungeons and dragons game player and loves art.
Mads Irving
They/Them
Mental Health Trans Navigator
Mads (they) is white, queer, nonbinary, and neurodivergent and is the mental health trans navigator here at TH&WC. They are passionate about community work, support, collaboration, and social justice. They are also a dancer and filmmaker and love to make art under a queer neurodivergent lens. They did work with P.L.A.C.E. Performance from 2021-2023, which is a non-profit based in Riverside dedicated to creating performance opportunities for upcoming artists in the Inland Empire. They also briefly worked with The Service Center for Independent Life to help facilitate their Social Connection Workshop for autistic adults. They are really happy to be a part of TH&WC and look forward to continue helping serve our community.
Mackenzie Lussier
She/Her/Hers
Crises Case Manager
Mackenzie Lussier was born and raised in San Diego, California. She moved to Riverside in the early 2000s and began attending school studying Anthropology. During this time, she was also working at the Riverside Superior Court, moving up to becoming a senior clerical lead worker, before the housing crash of 2007.
This led to a career pivot and finishing up her bachelor’s degree. She began working in museum education, eventually transitioning to formal education to secure more stable pay and income. During the process of gaining a teaching credential, she came out as a trans woman.
Then the pandemic happened. It was during this time that she created her media company as she self-taught herself editing and video production. For two years, she was the managing producer of a weekly broadcast of a worship service (and continues to serve as the production director for a weekly live broadcast to today), as well as many special events that could only be shared by video during the pandemic days. It was at this time that she started her small production company “Sundried Video Productions.”
As the pandemic wound down, she faced some discriminatory barriers in her student teaching that lead her to make a career pivot once again. Now she is happily working in outreach for Transgender Health and Wellness Center where she gets to serve her own community and help prevent some of the barriers she faced while being a visible mentor and role model for trans and queer youth.
She currently holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology with a specialization in Archaeology and Museum Education & Management, and a Master of Arts in Education specialized in Universal Design for Learning and Media Integration in Education.
Mackenzie’s hobbies include miniature building and painting, table-top gaming, camping, videography, and film.
Lilly Rangle
She/Her/Hers
Senior Electrologist for the Riverside Locations
Born in Los Angeles and raised in raised in Mexico and is our Senior Electrologist. She enjoys 3D Printing and sewing. She loves to hike and helps the community. With her employment she assists her mother father in Mexico.
Ida Dagher
She/Her/Hers
Electrologist
Born in Syria and then lived in California. She loves to cook, and is a people person. Her primary focus is her family and her job.
Lina Nunez
She/Her/Hers
Electrologist
Born and raised in Orange County. She enjoys raising her two little girls. She loves to cook and try new recipes. She enjoys trying different cultural foods. She enjoys bike riding and hiking.
Amber Butak
She/Her/Hers
Electrologist
She was born in Redlands and raised in Yucaipa, California. She is an avid book reader with a favorite series being The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir and The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. She enjoys active forms of weightlifting, hiking and indoor boulder climbing.
Jennifer Figueredo
She/Her/Hers
Electrologist
Born and raised in Los Angeles County. She speaks fluent English and enjoys being a mom to her children. She enjoys helping others and she is also a licensed Esthetician. She considers herself a lifetime learner and enjoys learning new things.