Meet Our 2024 ESPRIT Winner: Asha Lyons

“Gender affirmative care is a form of suicide prevention,” says Asha Lyons, Licensed Social Worker in the VNS Health Home Care Gender Affirmation Program (GAP). “Patients tend to be afraid, and I have the opportunity to save lives.”

A 2024 ESPRIT Award winner for Home Care, Asha makes sure her clients get the care they need to feel better after gender affirming surgery, connects them to the information and resources they need to navigate next steps and get emergency care if needed, and ensures they have a safe space to heal. “I feel lucky to be the voice for my patients and demonstrate the VNS Health values honored by this award—Empathy, Integrity and Agility,” she says. “As a trans woman, it’s my mission that patients have affirmative and supportive care.”

The work Asha does day in and day out is grounded in empathy, a deep compassion, and a first-hand understanding of what it means to make such a transformative change. Many of her clients are disowned by family or terminated from jobs when they choose gender affirming surgeries. “There’s a lot of uncertainty during the dark times,” she says, “and I try to bring the light to this journey.”

One of her nominating colleagues highlighted the many ways Asha acts as the voice for her patients: “Serving in an innovative program dedicated to underserved transgender and nonbinary patients, she has demonstrated a profound commitment to enhancing the lives of those in marginalized communities,” the colleague wrote. “Her ability to connect patients with local organizations for additional support has not only expanded the reach of her services but also culminated in an invitation to the Governor’s Mansion, showcasing her influence and dedication to advocacy.”

Asha, who has been with VNS Health for more than two years, works hard to make a difference not only in the lives of her patients but also in the lives of her VNS Health colleagues across the organization, by helping them cultivate empathy for our GAP patients. She provides specialized training for Home Care nurses, rehabilitation therapists and social workers so that they can provide culturally competent home care services to GAP patients. Of her manager Dr. Shannon Whittington, Clinical Director of the Gender Affirmation Program, Asha calls theirs a “student-teacher” relationship and adds that she is “incredibly thankful” to have such a teacher and mentor. 

Asha produces a monthly GAP newsletter to further understanding of the program, and is always available to help colleagues deepen their practice with their GAP patients. In addition, she has taken on the responsibility of training and supervising interns who are majoring in Health Services Administration and Public Health, to ensure they have a foundational understanding and empathy for all, including LGBTQ+ people in need.

Asha is, as one of her nominators says, “a formidable mental health advocate … [whose] agility in navigating complex systems allows her to secure emergency shelter for individuals in crisis leveraging her extensive network effectively. Her unwavering commitment to her work and the profound impact she has made in her community make her exceptionally deserving of this award.”

To go back to the overview of the 2024 VNS Health Award Winners, click here.