Whistleblower says WashU Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital closing down

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A former employee at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital says it's closing down.

The whistle blower is Jamie Reed, who tells KMOX sister station 97.1 FM the head doctor in charge of the Transgender Center at Children's Hospital is leaving and Washington University is quietly shutting down the facility.

"I had a couple of sources who've shared some information with me and what I do know for sure is the primary endocrinologist in the pediatric center has left Children's Hospital and moving to Colorado and will continue to work in pediatric gender medicine there," said Reed on the Mark Reardon Show Tuesday.

Reed says a source told her that there was board meeting last week where there were discussions of the center and the departure of the doctor.

"It was determined it was best to close this as a center where they would be funneling patients in through this specific kind of treatment modality," said Reed.

KMOX News reached out to Washington University for confirmation.

"The scope of care provided at the Center changed last year after Missouri passed a new law on the subject." The university said in a statement. "Since then, we have continued to support our transgender patients appropriately and in accordance with the law. We have no plans to change that approach."

When asked if that means the pediatric care center is closed or closing for good, Washington University has not responded back to KMOX.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey releases statement on the supposed closure of the Transgender Center.

"This is a huge win for the rule of law and for the safety of our children. As a father of four, and as Attorney General, I want Missouri to be the safest state in the nation for children." said Bailey. "The closure of any clinic who has mutilated children is a major step towards that goal. I will not stop until the clandestine network of clinics mutilating children is permanently dismantled and bad actors are held accountable."

The Washington University Transgender Center opened in 2017, with the goal of providing health care for transgender and non-binary people in a welcoming, affirming environment.

But the center has become under the center of scrutiny since 2023 after Reed claimed in February 2023 in an affidavit that the center mainly provided gender-affirming care and does little to address mental health issues that patients also faced. Reed also claimed center prescribed hormone therapy to patients as young as 13-years-old.

Bailey and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley both launched investigations after the affidavit was released.

In September 2023, the center stopped prescribing puberty blockers or hormones to minors for the purpose of gender transition after a Missouri law regarding transgender care was enacted where it had a provision placing more liability on physicians than other treatments.