Newly released documents from the Department of Justice (DOJ) reveal that Dr. Jess Ting, a prominent figure in transgender medical procedures, sought funding from the late financier Jeffrey Epstein for a documentary focused on his work. In a 2016 email, Dr. Ting, who serves as an assistant professor of surgery at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, expressed excitement about his role as director of the institution’s transgender medicine and surgery program.
The email correspondence indicates that Dr. Ting was not only enthusiastic about the documentary but also accepted an invitation to visit Epstein’s private island three years prior. The documents showcase a request for financial support to produce a film highlighting the innovative aspects of his new transgender clinic.
In the email, Dr. Ting stated, “That’s right — Mount Sinai, being the progressive place that it is, saw [an] opportunity and need to take a leadership position in the area of Transgender Health and created the first full-spectrum academic program in the US focused on transgender surgery and care.” He suggested that the documentary would serve as a significant contribution to public understanding of transgender health issues.
Dr. Ting, who has worked at Mount Sinai since 2001, previously conducted the hospital’s first transgender-related vaginoplasty—a complex surgical procedure. He proposed to Epstein, “If I could just be really forward, I was wondering if you would be interested in supporting this documentary? If so, the producer, director and I would love to come and give you the pitch in person. This is an exciting, groundbreaking project — both the center and the documentary — that will do good for the world. I hope you can be a part of it.”
The documentary titled “Born to Be,” which documents Dr. Ting’s work with transgender patients, was eventually released in 2019. However, it remains unclear whether Epstein contributed financially to the project. The email exchanges also revealed that Epstein had previously granted Mount Sinai a sum of $50,000 for breast cancer research, a request made by Dr. Ting in 2013.
Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, was under federal investigation for an alleged sex trafficking operation prior to his death in August 2019. His passing was ruled a suicide by hanging while in custody.
The emails indicate that an unidentified assistant of Epstein’s invited Dr. Ting to enjoy a day on the financier’s island in a 2013 correspondence. The assistant offered to arrange transportation from St. John, stating, “Jeffrey would like you to enjoy a day on his island during your vacation! We can have you and your family picked up… to play with his ‘toys’ and have some lunch.” Dr. Ting described the invitation as “extremely generous,” and engaged in discussions about coordinating a visit, although it is unclear if the trip ever occurred.
The release of these documents falls under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, enacted during the administration of former President Donald Trump. The correspondence sheds light on the connections between medical professionals and Epstein, though Dr. Ting has not been implicated in any of Epstein’s alleged criminal activities.
The implications of this correspondence raise questions about the intersections of healthcare, funding, and ethical considerations in the medical field, particularly in relation to figures with controversial backgrounds. As the narrative continues to unfold, scrutiny of these relationships may influence public discourse surrounding funding sources in healthcare.
