Steph C. Chando, PhD, LCSW, MSW, MEd (she/they) 

Dr. Steph Chando (they/she) is a sex- and death-positive social worker and sexuality educator. They currently serve as the Decedent Affairs Program Manager at a local healthcare institution. Prior to this, Steph held the position of Director of Case Management and Social Work at Pennsylvania Hospital. For most of their career, Steph cared for individuals and families as a hospice and palliative care social worker. Steph graduated from SP2 with her Master of Social Work degree in 2008. They received their PhD in Human Sexuality from Widener University in 2022, focusing on sexuality at end of life. Dr. Chando has facilitated workshops for healthcare professionals, presented at multiple sexuality and palliative care conferences, and taught undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education courses, including Supporting LGBTQ+ Individuals Across the Lifespan at SP2.

T.J. Gehman

T.J. Gehman, MSW, LSW (he/him), is a social worker in the Emergency Department and Observation Unit at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and a 2024 MSW graduate of Penn SP2. His work focuses on crisis intervention, rapid psychosocial assessment, and complex discharge planning. He helps patients facing substance use, housing instability, abuse, neglect, or exploitation access care, treatment, resources, and support. T.J. previously interned in outpatient addiction recovery at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and in outpatient HIV care at Jefferson Einstein Hospital. Before entering social work, he studied classical voice performance and spent several years in retail leadership. He is currently pursuing advanced clinical training in psychodynamic psychotherapy while working toward LCSW licensure. He is particularly interested in how identity, faith, and clinical practice intersect in real-world settings.

LZ Mathews, LCSW, Program Manager & Patient Navigator (they/them/their)

LZ Mathews is a clinical social worker, artist, and writer who is the Program Manager and Patient Navigator at Penn Medicine’s Program for LGBTQ+ Health. LZ helps patients access affirming care, advocates for institutional change, and co-facilitates a system-wide Gender Affirming Providers group. They also collaborate with the Penn Medicine Listening Lab, which uses listening and storytelling as forms of care and healing. Outside of work, LZ self-publishes their graphic memoir, “A Fat Folx Guide to Expanding,” and enjoys art, nature, community, and history.