Nilar Thwin, MD, is now Director of Maimonides’ LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic. Her deep experience and expertise working with psychiatric patients of all ages makes her an invaluable asset to the team, which serves a diverse population of children, adolescents, and adults, operating as a subspecialty within the ambulatory clinic of the Department of Psychiatry.
A board-certified psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Thwin began her journey in medicine at the University of Medicine Mandalay, Myanmar, followed by residencies in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry in Great Britain and the United States. She completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship training at Zucker’s School of Medicine/Northwell.
At Maimonides, she has served over the past two years as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Attending Physician and as the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist of the LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic.
Expanding and Enriching LGBTQIA+ Services
Dr. Thwin knows just how vital mental health services are for LGBTQIA+ individuals, and she recognizes the success of this clinic hinges on four main priorities:
- A multidisciplinary approach that allows for holistic care through collaboration between psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and trainees.
- An affirming environment to maintain a safe, nonjudgmental space where LGBTQIA+ individuals can openly discuss their mental health concerns and receive support.
- Community engagement that builds and strengthens connections within the LGBTQIA+ community, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.
- Education and training opportunities for staff members and trainees to stay updated on the latest research and best practices in LGBTQIA+ mental health care.
Dr. Thwin plans to build upon these principles with new initiatives to benefit both patients and providers. One priority is to strengthen collaboration with other departments and clinics within the medical center to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care for LGBTQIA+ patients. This includes working with Maimonides’ medical training and education resources to ensure optimal multidisciplinary training in LGBTQIA+ mental health for trainees including medical students, psychiatry residents, psychology externs/interns, and social work interns.
She sees opportunities to develop programs for LGBTQIA+ cultural competency training, mental health service accessibility improvements, research, advocacy, and strengthening partnerships with the community.
Passion Strengthened by Personal Connections
Throughout her training, Dr. Thwin has treated many LGBTQIA+ patients, making her uniquely suited to lead this specialty mental health clinic. Her interest in this subspecialty developed during her psychiatry residencies, where she encountered many LGBTQIA+ patients in crisis and realized the need for specialized support.
Since then, her passion has grown and informed her career, leading her to this current position. Her experience with her family has also made her work and appointment all the more special.
“The reason I entered this field of work is rooted in both personal and professional motivations,” said Dr. Thwin.“Personally, I have a daughter who identifies as bisexual and supporting her through her journey of self-discovery and coming out further solidified my commitment to providing compassionate and affirming care to LGBTQIA+ individuals.”
For more information, to refer a patient, or make an appointment with the LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic, visit the Clinic webpage or call (718) 283-2727.
Appointments with Dr. Thwin can be made online or by phone at (718) 283-7864.
