Trinidad Gender Reassignment Surgeon to speak at Colorado State University - Pueblo  

Pueblo- Internationally renowned gender reassignment surgeon Dr. Marci Bowers of Trinidad will discuss gender identity issues at Colorado State University – Pueblo next month as part of a presentation and public forum sponsored by the CSU-Pueblo College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Southern Colorado Equality Alliance. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7 in the Hasan School of Business Auditorium on the CSU-Pueblo campus. A reception will follow the presentation, which is open to the public at no charge. Bowers will spend Thursday, Sept. 8 giving presentations in a variety of classes on campus.
 
Bowers is considered an innovator and a pioneer in the field as the first transgendered individual to now be performing transgender surgery. She divides her time between practices at Trinidad (CO) Reproductive Healthcare and Seattle (WA) Reproductive Healthcare. She accepted a position in Trinidad in 2003 to help fill a critical gap in the local medical community, which had lacked a board certified OB/GYN for several years after the retirement of Dr. Stanley Biber. Bowers is a protégé and former patient of Biber. Bower, a transsexual herself, has performed more than 30 such surgeries, nearly 20 since the retirement of Biber in July of 2003.
In a Trans World News interview on-line, Bowers spoke about the uniqueness of her current position.
 
” I am truly honored to becoming such an innovator....I just felt that it was time to leave the relative comfort of my stealth Ob/Gyn life for this important advance. . .I see a significant 'sensitivity gap' and hope that my presence will close that significantly. I also hope that my presence on 'center stage' will bring a measure of respect to the entire community as they see a balanced, well-adjusted, loving and functional woman physician who just so happens to also hold a trans history,” she said.
 
From 1990-2002, Bowers worked at the Polyclinic in Seattle and from 1995-1997 served as chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Seattle’s Swedish (Providence) Medical Center. She earned her medical degree in 1980 from the University of Minnesota, where she was president of her Medical School Class and the Medical Student Council. She served her residency in OB/GYN at the University of Washington (Seattle).
 
Bowers was named one of America’s Best Doctors by the 2002-2003 American Research Council and is a 2003 Member-Elect to the prestigious European Academy of Sciences – joining a select group of just over 500 international members, including some 38 Nobel Laureates.
The Southern Colorado Equality Alliance is a 501 © (3) organization that promotes full rights for all GLBTI people.
 
Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.