Newswise — LOS ANGELES (June 19, 2024) -- He’s a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman who has provided medical care to troops in the clinic and to troops fresh off the combat field.
The landscape may change, but the compassion and kindness that Elijah, 31, brings to frontline medical care are constant. Elijah, who asked that only his first name be published to avoid potential discrimination, said he first learned his go-the-extra-mile approach from his father, who also served as a hospital corpsman in the Navy. And then, Elijah said, he learned even more from the care he received at Cedars-Sinai, as a patient of Maurice Garcia, MD .
Garcia, a pioneer in gender-affirming surgery, is director of the medical center’s Transgender Surgery and Health Program . In April, Garcia helped Elijah complete a seven-year surgical transition from female to male—and to a more authentic life. “Patients often tell us that surgery profoundly improved their quality of life,” said Garcia, professor of Urology.
“Being able to provide that experience is a wonderful feeling.” Elijah’s experience as a Garcia patient inspired Elijah’s philosophy on how to treat his own patients—service members and their families. “I experienced what care should be at Cedars-Sinai, and that’s how I try to do my job,” Elijah said.
“I’ll go out of my way to help people feel at ease, to let them know I’m advocating for them. I’m respectful and kind. That’s one way I can give back, in gratitude .