Babs Siperstein PROUD Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset recently welcomed Dr. James Kostek, a family practitioner with RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, as its new medical director.
Opened in 2017, the PROUD Center was the first in New Jersey to offer specialized primary care services for the LGBTQ+ adults.
Kostek is board-certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment. He has extensive experience working in LGBTQ+ health care and is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
He is a graduate of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, New York, and completed his residency at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, where he served as chief resident. For the last several years, he served as the lead physician at Village Family Medicine in South Orange. He is also a member of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.
Kostek said he is committed to providing a holistic approach to care to help ensure the best health outcomes for his patients.
“I take time to get to know about all facets of a patient’s life that may impact their health and well-being, so I can develop a personalized plan of care,” he said. “It is crucial to consider their unique life experiences, social dynamics and financial circumstances to assist them in attaining their health goals.”
Kostek joins a multidisciplinary team at the PROUD Center, which includes an advance practice nurse, patient navigator and behavioral health specialist. Offering appointments five days a week for patients 18 and older, the center’s services include comprehensive primary care; hormone therapy and monitoring; HIV prevention; annual wellness visits; same-day sick visits; behavioral health services; health education; support groups; career workshops; and referrals for specialty services, including gender affirmation surgery.
“The Babs Siperstein PROUD Center has built a reputation as a leader in LGBTQ+ health care in New Jersey,” Patrick Delaney, chief administrative officer, RWJUH Somerset, said. “Dr. Kostek’s medical expertise and patient-centered approach will help us continue to lead the way in providing culturally competent care in a safe, supportive environment.”
