Available Services

Click on the drop-down menu to learn more information about the services provided by our medical acre team through Student Health and Counseling:

Allergy Injections

• Student Health and Counseling offers allergy sera administration (allergy injections) for those students already on an allergy desensitization program.
• Students can call 215-746-WELL (9355) and speak with an allergy nurse. Students new to our allergy clinic need an allergy intake appointment with a provider and an appointment with the allergy nurse to drop off their sera and review their allergist’s signed administration orders (see checklist below).
• Student Health and Counseling does not accept walk-in allergy appointment or mailed sera.
• Students with a history of anaphylaxis after administration of allergy sera are instructed to have allergy sera administered at an allergist office for their safety. 
• Students must return to their allergist annually and after prolonged interruption in the buildup or maintenance of their allergy injection schedule.
• Students need to be aware of sera expiration dates and sera volume. Students are responsible for ordering and delivering their new sera to Student Health and Counseling. All new sera require corresponding new signed allergist orders. Expired sera will not be administered. 

Allergist Order Checklist
Students should bring the following checklist to their allergist office in preparation for their allergy injection administration at Student Health and Counseling: Allergist Order Checklist

Gynecologic Care

Student Health and Counseling provides a range of services, including but not limited to gynecological care, contraception counseling and prescriptions, including emergency contraception; preventive care, and STI testing. All services are confidential. Appointments for gynecological and reproductive care are available to Penn’s gender diverse community.

Besides routine check-ups or to obtain contraception, you are welcome to schedule an appointment if you have any of the following symptoms or concerns:

• Abnormal or heavy vaginal discharge that itches, burns, has an odor, or causes you discomfort
• Heavy vaginal bleeding, missed periods or irregular menstrual cycles
• Bleeding between periods (spotting or break through bleeding)
• Painful intercourse
• Menstrual cramps that cause you to miss school or work
• Any signs of pregnancy
• Side effects or problems from your birth control method
• Breast pain, lump, or discharge from the nipple
• Urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms

Helpful Resources:

• What's the best contraceptive for me?
• Emergency contraception FAQs
• Family Center at Penn
• On-campus lactation spaces
• Penn Women's Center
• LGBT Center

Prescriptions

• All contraception and medication refills need to be obtained either during a Gynecologic Care appointment or by calling 215-746-WELL (9355). If you need a new prescription, you will need to first make an appointment.
• Picking up refills: Please call in advance to set up a time to pick up contraceptive refills. Your order can be picked up at the Gynecologic Care Center on the next business day during regular business hours. Please note that any prescriptions picked up when the cashier is closed will be automatically billed to your bursar account.
• Traveling? Please be sure to plan your contraceptive needs a few weeks prior to your departure. Don’t wait until the last minute!

Immunizations

Student Health and Counseling offers flu vaccines, vaccines needed for travel, and all of the vaccines needed to be compliant with University requirements. Call the Immunization and Insurance Navigators at 215-746-WELL (9355).

Call the number above to schedule an appointment.

LGBTQ Care

Student Health and Counseling is devoted to providing an inclusive environment and supporting a diverse Penn community. Our nondiscrimination policy ensures high-quality services regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity (as does all of Penn). Wellness at Penn is nationally recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index.

Our LGBTQ+ Health Working Group oversees planning and protocols specific to the needs of LGB/Q and Transgender patients. Our team has special expertise in the area of LGBTQ+ Health, but all staff are given essential training on LGBTQ+ inclusive care. 

What has Penn Student Health done to support LGBTQ+ Health?

• We provide staff education on LGB/Q and transgender issues.
• We partner frequently with the Penn LGBT Center and the Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health.
• We conduct research on issues relevant to LGBTQ+ communities
• We educate others across campus and outside Penn about LGB/Q and transgender health issues
• We have hired “out” clinical staff.
• We helped advocate for transgender health inclusion in the student health insurance plan.

Remember:

• All services are confidential.
• There are no copayments required for medical visits, regardless of which health insurance plan you have.
• All full-time students are eligible to be seen (you’ve already paid for it through your University Clinical Fee). Part-time students may pay the annual (or semester) fee if they wish to be seen here.

Trans healthcare includes:

• Comprehensive, multidisciplinary services including primary care, gynecologic care, and wellness services
• Gender-affirming hormone therapy
• Gender-affirming gynecological and sexual health care, including cervical cancer screening/pelvic exams
• Referrals for gender-affirming surgery
• Referrals to specialists and other trans competent providers in the Philadelphia area

What should I expect at my first visit if I’m interested in hormone therapy?

• We utilize the informed consent model of care for hormone therapy — this means that all of your care will be provided by a medical professional who specializes in transgender healthcare. We may refer you to our counseling services at your request, or for additional support and resources.
• Be prepared for your appointment to last at least 30-60 minutes.
• Your provider will inquire about past medical and surgical history, family medical history, current medications, and allergies.
• Your provider will perform a basic physical exam and may order laboratory tests.
• Your provider will ask about your gender experience and goals of transition, if any.
• Your provider will go over available options for gender affirming hormones. We will review the permanent and reversible effects of the medicines you may be prescribed, possible side-effects and how medical transition may affect your body.
• You will be given plenty of time and many opportunities to ask questions about your medical transition.
• You will be given a copy of the informed consent form to take home and review.

What should I expect during follow-up appointments?

• Your provider will see you for a follow-up appointments at regular intervals, and on an as-needed basis.
• Prior to starting gender affirming hormones, the provider will review your lab results (if drawn), we will review the informed consent for gender-affirming hormone therapy again and you will be asked to sign it.
• Your provider will then prescribe your hormones.
• If you require injections, the provider or a nurse will teach you a safe injection technique. Click the links below for more information!
  • Intramuscular Technique
  • Subcutaneous Technique

At all of these appointments, your provider will continue to promote health and wellness. This is something we do for all of our patients. You will be counseled on healthy diet and exercise habits, appropriate immunizations, STI & HIV testing, and pregnancy prevention (if applicable).

Call 215-746-WELL (9355) to schedule an appointment.

Nutrition

Nutrition Services offered at Student Health include:

• General nutrition information, including how to eat a healthy diet as a busy student.
• Specific nutrition counseling for medical issues like celiac disease, lactose-intolerance, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.
• Specialized nutrition counseling for patients who have disordered eating patterns, have been diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia or have other concerns relating to these issues. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association for more information and resources for disordered eating.
• An initial nutrition evaluation is a 60-minute appointment, and follow-up visits are 30-minutes.

Call 215-746-WELL (9355) to schedule an appointment.

Primary Care

Our primary care providers offer care for all your general health needs, including but not limited to: 

• Sick visits, minor injuries, and illnesses
• Chronic health problems
• Physical exams
• General physicals and driver license physicals
• Pre-employment and pre-sports physicals
• Coordination of outside care and specialist referrals
• Screening and preventive health services
• Sexual and reproductive health concerns, including 
  • Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI)
  • PrEP (pre-exposure HIV prophylaxis)
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (PEP)
  • Contraception counseling and prescriptions
• LGBTQ healthcare, including transgender healthcare and hormone therapy
• Concussion care
• Management of eating disorders
• Consultation in advance of international travel
• Clinical and lab-related exposures (needle and scalpel injuries, animal bites and scratches, etc.)

We encourage you to see the same provider if possible. Other primary care providers can see you if your clinician is not available, but seeing the same provider for most of your healthcare is the best way to establish a relationship with an individual who fully understands your needs. You may request a specific provider if you have a preference and you may change providers at any time.

Appointments may be scheduled in advance or for the same day. Please call during office hours, and we will work to accommodate your scheduling needs. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will be asked to reschedule. If you arrive without an appointment, we will offer the next available appointment (which might be a different day). When medically urgent, a triage nurse will evaluate you if you cannot wait for an appointment with a provider.

Call 215-746-WELL (9355) to schedule an appointment.

Sexual Health

Student Health and Counseling offers specialized care for sexual health, including: 

• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and HIV Testing: STI screening is recommended for ALL sexually active individuals, even without symptoms. The majority of STIs go unnoticed and don’t show signs or symptoms until months or even years later, which is why regular screening is important. As a reminder, the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) covers sexual health counseling and/or screening, so there is no direct cost for these services. For students NOT on PSIP, we offer low-cost STI screening ranging from $10-$30 per test.
• Sexual Health Education: Our Public Health and Wellbeing team provides an online sexual health education program. This 6-week self-help program can help you improve your sexual health and sexual relationships with information, tips, and resources emailed directly to you every week. All Penn students are invited to participate.
• Sexual Assault Treatment and Support: There are many resources available at Penn for students who experience sexual violence, relationship violence, or stalking. For more information about resources, policies, and reporting options, visit Penn Violence Prevention.
  • Student Health and Counseling can provide medical evaluations, mental health support, and treatment to victims/survivors of sexual and relationship violence, regardless of whether they make a report or seek additional resources. Both male and female providers can perform examinations, discuss testing and treatment of sexually transmissible infections, provide emergency contraception if necessary, and arrange for referrals and follow up. All services are confidential. Office visits are covered in full by the Clinical Fee and the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP). Charges for lab tests related to a sexual assault are waived.
  • Forensic Rape Examinations: Student Health and Counseling does not perform forensic rape examinations, however, students are referred to the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC), which is designated to provide forensic rape examinations to victims of sexual assault. Members of the Penn community can receive transportation and accompaniment to PSARC by Special Services in the Division of Public Safety. It is recommended that students who wish to pursue legal action, or may want to pursue legal action in the future, receive this examination, which includes a collection of evidence. During this examination, victims can receive treatment for injuries and sexually transmitted infections as well as emergency contraception.  In order to preserve evidence, victims are advised not to smoke, eat, drink, bathe, douche, brush their teeth, or change their clothes prior to receiving the exam. However, doing any of the above does not mean an exam cannot be performed. While it is highly recommended that victims receive an exam within 72 hours of an assault, there is no official time limit after which an exam cannot be performed.

*Please note that forensic rape examinations cannot be performed at any local hospital unless the victim is being treated there for injuries that are so severe they are considered medically unstable.

For a full list of confidential resources and reporting options, visit Penn Violence Prevention.

Call 215-746-WELL (9355) to schedule an appointment.

Sports Medicine

Sports medicine services range from medical evaluation prior to initiating an exercise program, to diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic injuries. Emphasis is placed on safety through injury prevention, optimizing performance, and safely returning to the classroom or activity after injury or illness.

The sports medicine physicians complement the available services at Student Health and Counseling by offering treatment and rehabilitation modalities on-site that include casting, splinting, bracing, and injections. The sports medicine physicians also work closely with trainers, physical therapists, orthopedic and podiatric surgeons, nutritionists, and other medical specialists to help individuals reach and maintain their activity goals.

Our sports medicine physicians see patients every day of the week. In the event of an acute injury (a sprained ankle for example), a student may be given an appointment with one of the sports medicine providers or with a primary care provider. If deemed necessary, a follow-up visit can be arranged for a sports medicine evaluation. If a student is experiencing a chronic issue (knee pain with running for example), then they can schedule a sports medicine evaluation in advance.

New patient visits for Sports Medicine are 30 minutes. Follow-up visits are 15 minutes. 

Call 215-746-WELL (9355) to schedule an appointment.

Travel Medicine

Student Health and Counseling offers pre-travel consultations, travel immunizations, completion of study abroad and other travel related forms, and post-travel evaluation of new symptoms or following an extended stay in high risk location. 

• Group Travel: Travel Services offers group counseling sessions. A certified travel nurse or primary care provider will review your group’s itinerary and make recommendations for immunizations, medications, and other health and safety risks.
• Study Abroad: A study abroad appointment is a 15 minute appointment with a nurse or primary care provider designed to review health and safety risks associated with study abroad. Counseling services will be provided as needed. The Penn Study Abroad form will be completed at the end of the visit. This visit does not include a physical exam. If you have forms other than the Penn Study Abroad form please notify the scheduler so you are given sufficient time for all your forms to be completed. If you are traveling to an area other than Europe you should ask for an extended appointment to allow time for a full travel consultation.
• Preparing for an Appointment: Please bring a copy of your complete travel itinerary and records of any travel vaccines you have received in the past to your appointment. We will also ask questions regarding any ongoing medical conditions and any current medications.
• Destinations: In general, travel to Europe, Canada and the US does not require a travel consultation. Go to CDC.gov/travel for information regarding health risks associated with travel to your specific destination.
• Medications: Prescription medications should be carried in carry-on luggage in original prescription containers with the prescription information on the label. If narcotics and other controlled substances such as stimulant drugs or sleeping pills are brought on your trip you should have a letter of medical necessity to protect you from having your medication confiscated at customs.

Call 215-746-WELL (9355) to schedule an appointment.

Contact the Medical Care Team

Hours of Operation

• Monday: 8 am – 8 pm (last appointment at 7:30)
• Tuesday: 8 am – 8 pm (last appointment at 7:30)
• Wednesday: 8 am – 8 pm (last appointment at 7:30)
• Thursday: 10 am – 6 pm (last appointment at 5:30)
• Friday: 8 am – 5 pm (last appointment at 4:30)
• Saturday: 10 am – 3 pm (last appointment at 2:30)
• Sunday: Closed 

24/7 Support
Call 215-746-WELL (9355) for information, support, to schedule an appointment, and to speak with an on-call provider. 

Location
3535 Market Street, Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104