Patients come to Dr Grundy because they are seeking the help of a Gender Specialist who is not only highly qualified, but also empathic, honest, and non-judgemental in their approach.

She offers expert advice and vital support every step of the way – from diagnostic assessments, to medical follow-ups, and second opinions for genital reconstructive surgery, for example.

As rewarding as she finds the role, it is of course not without its challenges. Dr Grundy all too often hears about the difficulties, discrimination, abuse, and marginalisation that many patients sadly endure on their path towards coming out and starting their transition. For this reason, Dr Grundy places great emphasis on the importance of safeguarding the mental health of her patients. She understands that those who identify as transgender frequently experience issues associated with having to deny their authentic selves for so long. Her approach is therefore holistic, and her ultimate goal is to ensure her patients feel confident, safe, and secure in who they truly are.

An Australian, he studied at University in Adelaide and then moved to Sydney where he received his Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).

Dr McFarlane then worked in the same medical practice in inner-city Sydney for 22 years, developing a special interest in sexual health and travel health.

Dr McFarlane moved to the UK in 2013 and since undergoing training with experienced Gender Specialist Dr Lyndsey Myskow, he has been supporting the Waterside Clinic addition to working within the gender field for the NHS.

Dr Vracar studied at Birmingham University then at King’s College London, and she credits this training in inner-city London as giving her a broad and diverse learning experience in both hospital medicine and primary care.

Dr Vracar completed her University Medical Elective in Uganda, where she focused on Women’s Health and women’s experiences of obstetric fistula. Her time here saw her push herself, make life-long friends, and get stuck-in with the local community.

After completing further training here in Edinburgh, Dr Vracar became a GP in 2019 and underwent training as a Gender Specialist with Dr Chong – the highlights of which she said were noticing the positive, long-awaited changes in patients who embark on medical transition, and being there as a source of affirmation for trans and gender-queer folk.

Dr Vracar is a huge believer in treating every person as a whole and addressing all physical, emotional and psychological needs. Patients return to her because of her meticulous, supportive, and personalised approach.

Dr Mahendra began her medical career journey at the University of Nottingham, before completing her GP training in the West of Scotland.

But after seeing the difficulties faced by transgender patients, the effects of long NHS waiting times, a general lack of awareness, and the inadequacy of the GP training curriculum regarding caring for these patients, Dr Mahendra felt compelled to go further to make a positive difference.

She therefore decided to train to become a Gender Specialist – a highly rewarding vocation but one that is not without its challenges. Hearing the negative experiences some patients have endured and how it has impacted their mental health can make for tough listening. But Dr Mahendra finds motivation in seeing people’s self-confidence and mental health improve as they progress along their transition journey.

Dr Mahendra believes she is able to offer a high standard of personalised care at Waterside Clinic because the practice’s longer appointment times give her greater opportunity to really get to know patients and understand their issues.

Born in Birmingham, Dr Shaw attended Medical School at Leeds University and completed his psychiatric training in Merseyside, before moving to the North-East of England in 2000. Here, he worked as an NHS Consultant before becoming a Gender Specialist in 2016.

Throughout his career, Dr Shaw has held a firm belief that medicine has a crucial part to play in social inclusion and social justice, and this is exemplified in his important gender identity work. One of the most common issues he deals with is gender dysphoria regarding aspects of an individual’s physical characteristics. Dr Shaw is committed to working closely with every patient to find safe and effective ways to reduce their dysphoria. And for him, the most rewarding part of his job is helping people achieve a greater sense of comfort and ease with their physical selves and watching them grow in confidence.

Dr Shaw provides a range of services for Waterside Clinic, including the assessment and diagnosis of gender dysphoria, advice on hormone treatment and, where appropriate, prescribing hormone treatment. He also makes referrals for gender affirming surgery.

Dr Brydon trained at the University of Aberdeen, then completed his GP training in the Scottish Borders, where he continues to practice.

In addition to his GP role, he has several years of experience of working in Gender Identity in the NHS. He is committed to providing an empathic and person-centred approach, striving to address the unmet medical needs of members of the trans community.

Dr Singer is an HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist, having trained at the University of Liverpool. Prior to pursuing Clinical Psychology, her academic background was in Sociology and Philosophy which is where she developed an interest in Gender. 

She has worked in the NHS since 2004, mostly in complex mental health settings such as Community Mental Health Teams. Since 2021 she has worked in two NHS Gender Identity Services and started to work for Waterside in the summer of 2024. At present she is offering second diagnostic appointments and second opinions for surgery.

She is a full member of the British Association of Gender Specialists (BAGIS) and a member of the BPS Gender Diversity Specialist Register. She is also on the HM Courts and Tribunals Gender Specialist Register and has completed the Royal College of Physician’s Professional Certificate in Core Capabilities in Adult Gender Identity Healthcare and their Certificate in Advanced Capabilities in Adult Gender Identity Healthcare.

Outside of work she enjoys perusing the charity shops for vintage clothes and jewellery, listening to music (rock, pop and indie) and spending time with her partner and their 3 cats.

Dr Waterman has been working with LGBTQI+ people in the NHS and privately since 2014.
He takes a compassionate and individualised approach to his work, and enjoys supporting
trans and gender queer people to explore and increase their understanding of themselves,
and celebrate their individuality, in order to live fully, on their own terms, as their authentic
selves.

Dr Waterman is an HCPC registered, Chartered Clinical Psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and the section for Gender, Sexuality & Relationship Diversity. In addition to his experience in transgender health and working with the LGBTQI+
community, Dr Waterman has worked in complex trauma, child & adolescent mental health, medical psychology and HIV, adult community mental health, acute liaison, memory assessment, older people’s community mental health, adult eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).