Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters

Health Systems Independent/No System, King's Daughters Health System

Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters

501(c)(3)

601 Children's Lane
Norfolk, VA

41

Total Sex Change Patients

info icon Total unique children who underwent gender-affirming procedures or hormone/puberty blocker therapy.
1

Total Surgery Patients

info icon Total unique children who underwent gender-affirming surgical procedures.
40

Total Hormone and Puberty Blocker Patients

info icon Total unique children who were prescribed puberty blockers or received gender-affirming hormone therapy.
247

Total Prescriptions Written

info icon Total number of scripts for puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones.
$16,520

Total Submitted Charges

info icon Total amount submitted by providers or pharmacies to insurance for services, treatments, or prescriptions, before any reviews or adjustments. Includes medical procedures and prescription charges but may not reflect the final amount after negotiations.

The Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hospital. CHKD’s website states that it offers “transgender support,” but does not perform surgeries on patients. According to the Virginia Department Of Health, a CHKD provider offers “a wide spectrum of facial masculinization/feminization surgical procedures for adults of any age and youth over age 13.” Claims data confirms that the CHKD billed for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors.

For more information on the specific procedure and diagnostic codes and other methodology used to make these determination, read our white paper here.

Key Findings

CHKD provides “transgender support” for its patients, including through hormonal management. It states that it “does not perform gender-affirming surgeries on patients.” However, it does evaluate minor patients for medical interventions.

The Virginia Department of Health publishes and maintains a “Virginia Transgender Resource and Referral List” (last updated on March 6, 2024). According to the list, CHKD employed Dr. Prashant Charugundla, who offered “a wide spectrum of facial masculinization/feminization surgical procedures for adults of any age and youth over age 13.”

According to a phone call published online by Virginia Women Take Action in November 2023, CHKD allegedly agreed to schedule a top surgery for a fictional 13-year-old girl.

CHKD has been criticized for publishing online material from the organizations One Safe Zone and Advocates for Youth. One Safe Zone proclaims that they “are queer people reclaiming our spirits from weaponized religion.” Advocates for Youth has been described as an “extreme organization with controversial views about sex”. Its views have led it to be suspended from Oceanside Unified School District’s sex health curriculum.

Sex Change Treatments Offered

“Transgender Support”

CHKD provides “transgender support” for its patients.

“At Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, we are committed to providing comprehensive and affirming care to our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning patients and families. We want to welcome you to our health system, and close any gaps you may have experienced in primary or specialty care. We know that LGBTQ+ patients face unique health challenges, including but not limited to, higher rates of depression, suicide, homelessness, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV infection. Our goal is to provide an inclusive, non-judgmental clinical atmosphere while offering educational and confidential services related to reproductive and sexual health, and also mental health.”

CHKD’s website states that the hospital “does not perform gender-affirming surgeries on patients.”

CHKD states for minors being evaluated for sex change treatments, “parental (or legal guardian) signoff is required as part of the process.”

According to the Virginia Department of Health CHKD’s Dr. Prashant Charugundla offered “a wide spectrum of facial masculinization/feminization surgical procedures for adults of any age and youth over age 13.”

As of September 2024, Dr. Charugundla does not appear to practice at CHKD any longer. 

Dr. Melinda Penn offers hormone therapy.

Dr. Penn’s views on gender-affirming care maybe viewed here starting on page 37 of the PDF.

 

Definitions

SEX CHANGE PATIENTS: Total unique children who underwent “gender-affirming” surgical procedures or hormone/puberty blocker therapy.

TOTAL SURGERY PATIENTS: Total unique children who underwent “gender-affirming” surgical procedures.

TOTAL HORMONE AND PUBERTY BLOCKERS PATIENTS: Total unique children who were prescribed puberty blockers or received gender-affirming hormone therapy.

TOTAL PRESCRIPTIONS WRITTEN: Total number of prescriptions written by a provider for puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones for children.

TOTAL SUBMITTED CHARGES: This is the initial amount a healthcare provider or pharmacy submits to the insurance company for a specific service, treatment, or prescription before the insurance company reviews and adjusts the payment. This value includes both the pharmacy-submitted cost of prescription drug claims and the line-item charges associated with medical procedures. Please note that this amount does not necessarily reflect the full cost of the procedure or prescription, as it is subject to adjustments and negotiations by the insurance company.

 

Leadership

Executive Leadership

Name Title Compensation
Amy Sampson President and CEO N/A
Nicole Legum President of The King’s Daughters N/A
Deborah Barnes SVP of Information Services and CIO N/A
Dr. Christopher Foley SVP and Chief Clinical Operations Officer N/A
Dr. Carl Petersen Chief of Mental Health Operations N/A
Kamil Cak VP, Experience of Care N/A
Dr. Robert Obermeyer VP, Chief of Surgery N/A

The current leadership/titles are based on the CHKD leadership website, but the compensation information is from the CHKD 2022 Form 990, filed 5/15/23.

Compensation reflects the tax year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022.

Board of Trustees

Name Title Compensation
Akhil Jain Chair $0
Edward Whitmore Treasurer $0
Kim Georges Secretary N/A
R. Justin Fulton Vice Chairman $0
Dennis Ryan CFO/Assistant Secretary $2,165,943
Kathryn Abshire VP Finance/Assistant Secretary $318,815

The current leadership/titles are based on the CHKD leadership website, but the compensation information is from the CHKD 2022 Form 990, filed 5/15/23.

Compensation reflects the tax year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022.

CHKD appears to elect its Board of Trustees but it is unclear how often elections are held and how long terms may last.

In the News

Stay up to date with the latest news and updates.

National File

Exclusive: Virginia Hospital Mutilates Children, Agrees to Perform ‘Top Surgery’…

11/01/2023

“The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk, Virginia agreed to schedule a ‘top surgery’, also known as…

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Restoration of America

Children’s Hospitals are the Tip of the Spear for Chemical…

08/01/2023

CHKD has been criticized for publishing online material from the organizations One Safe Zone and Advocates for Youth.

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