Felix Spector (September 18, 1917–December 5, 2007) was an American physician who specialized in orchiectomy. Spector was one of the first American surgeons to use the informed consent model of care for transgender and gender diverse people, the eunuch community in particular.
Background
Spector graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1942. Spector moved to California and later returned to Philadelphia in 1957, where he began performing orchiectomies during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was arrested in the 1960s for performing abortions and was charged with falsifying pharmacy records, billing irregularities, and performing a castration of “grossly inferior quality.”
Spector was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease late in life and in 2002 was forced to give up his practice in Philadelphia when the medical board declared him an “immediate danger to the public health and safety.” Via the Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs:
Name: FELIX SPECTOR
Address: PHILADELPHIA PA 19147
Type: Osteopathic Physician & Surgeon Secondary
Type: N/A
Number: OS000181L
Profession: Osteopathic Medicine
Status: Suspension
Obtained By: Application
Issue Date: 1/9/1957
Expires: 10/31/2002
Last Renewed: 10/26/2000
Standing: This license is not in good standing based on the license status ‘Suspension’.
Disciplinary action history: Disciplinary action history exists. Please contact the Prothonotary Office at (717)772-2686.
The Philadelphia Experiment: Orchiectomy with Dr. Felix Spector by anonymous (undated) http://www.annelawrence.com/philadelphia.html
Anonymous (May 2003):
“Physician with suspended license”
I emailed Anne [Lawrence] detailing my personal experiences with Dr. Spector previously; but she her site remained noncommittal regarding him. I have forwarded this information to her as well.
(He seemed quite old to still be in practice, had a noticeable tremor in his hands and was still performing surgery, had a filthy office & touched me inappropriately during examination. I had just moved to Philly then and knew of no other resources, I should just have left his office after my first visit – but he didn’t provide more than a week or two of medication at time & I needed time to find resources. Several others have reported similar experiences – I tell you my experiences in confidence)
Included essays on Feminization through hormones, on Castration, and contact information.
Dr. Ousterhout retired in 2014, and his practice was taken over by Jordan Deschamps-Braly.
Douglas K. Ousterhout (born August 30, 1935) is an American plastic surgeon who popularized facial feminization surgery for transgender women through a series of innovative techniques starting in 1982 until his retirement in 2014. For over 30 years “Dr. O,” as he was affectionately called, performed facial feminization for many trans people, including Lynn Conway, Donna Rose, Nicole Hamilton, and myself.
Jordan Deschamps-Braly trained directly with Dr. O for years before taking over his practice. I recommend making Dr. Deschamps-Braly your primary consideration for any work you’d like to have done.
Dr. O purchased a vineyard after retiring and produces Ousterhout Wine.
My experiences
I had facial feminization surgery in 1996, and it still remains the best investment I have ever made. Period. Since I wrote about my experiences, many other women have shared their experiences and results. I’m very proud to have raised awareness of the life-changing potential of this option.
Excellent 185-page consumer overview of available procedures, with many illustrations and images. I highly recommend it for anyone considering these procedures, as it is the definitive consumer guide. It includes an introduction by Donna Rose, who, like me, had life-changing results from these procedures. Both of us are among the many patients who consented to having our results included in the book.
Ousterhout DK, Deschamps-Braly JC. Special Edition on Transgender Facial Surgery. J Craniofac Surg. 2019 Jul;30(5):1326-1327. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000005387. No abstract available.PMID: 31299711
Ousterhout DK. Facial Feminization Surgery: The Forehead. Surgical Techniques and Analysis of Results. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Oct;136(4):560e-1e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000001425. No abstract available.PMID: 25938955
Ousterhout DK. Dr. Paul Tessier and facial skeletal masculinization. Ann Plast Surg. 2011 Dec;67(6):S10-5. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0b013e31821835cb.PMID: 22123544
Jamie A. Koufman (born November 2, 1947) is an American surgeon who specializes in voice issues. She is Founder and Director of the Voice Institute of New York.
Background
Koufman grew up in the Boston area. She attended Boston University, then earned a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University in 1969. She earned her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1973. She did her surgery residency at Hartford Hospital. She then did a Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery at Tufts/BUSM.
She was licensed in North Carolina in 1978 and took a staff position at North Carolina Baptist Hospital and a teaching position at Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University. In 1981, she was named Director, Center for Voice and Swallowing Disorders at Wake Forest.
She founded the Voice Institute of New York in 2006.
Halstead, Richard (October 10, 2015). Mill Valley doctor begins performing gender reassignment surgeries at Marin General Hospital. Marin Independent Journal.
Murray Harris Kimmel (May 28, 1930 – October 28, 2013) was an American urologist who served our community.
Background
He attended Central High School in Philadelphia. He earned his medical degree at Temple University School of Medicine and completed his residency in urology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 1959. He was certified by the American Board of Urology and practiced at Parkway Medical Associates in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He retired around 2009 due to illness and died in 2013.
Kimmel offered hormone prescriptions, orchiectomy, and other gender-related health care. He was known for providing services to clients who had been turned down by others.
Former contact information
2301 Pennsylvania Avenue (Parkway at 23rd Street) Philadelphia, PA 19130
Office 215-563-0847
Fax 215-563-4881
Consumer reports
Castration in Philadelphia with Dr. Murray Kimmel by Jennifer Bentley (2002) http://www.annelawrence. com/kimmelaccount.html
My Orchiectomy Experience in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Brianne (2002) http://www.geocities.com/brianne669/page1
Orchiectomy In Philadelphia with Dr. Murray Kimmel by Samantha (2006) http://www.electrolysisfinder.com/~samantha/Kimmel-orchi.html
Harold Morgan Reed (born October 25, 1940) is an American reconstructive urologist and cosmetic surgeon known for his pioneering work with transgender and gender diverse people.
Reed was a diplomat of the American Board of Urology and a board certified surgeon. He was a Member of WPATH (formerly HBIGDA) and performed bottom surgery.
Gary J. Alter is an American plastic surgeon who has been a longtime supporter of our community. He has headquarters in Beverly Hills as well as offices in New York and Dubai. I suggest giving him strong consideration for your needs, as he is very experienced. I personally know several satisfied patients. He was also a major supporter of our first all-transgender performance of The Vagina Monologues in 2004. I am honored to know him personally.
Background
Alter graduated from UCLA School of Medicine in 1973 before additional training at Baylor and The Mayo Clinic. He was one of the first physicians with Board Certification by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Urology.
He has an office-based practice. Alter is known for genital plastic surgery, especially genital reconstruction. He has invented many original surgical procedures adopted by other plastic surgeons in the field, including the “Alter Central-Wedge labiaplasty technique”.
Alter is a frequent subject of media coverage. In addition to appearing in almost every major print media outlet, he was featured on E! Entertainment’s programs Dr. 90210 and Botched. He has been highlighted on Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother (documentary) and on the TLC show Strange Sex. He has appeared on the Discovery Health Network, TLC, CNN, the Larry King Show, and was a recurrent guest on “Red Eye” on the Fox News Channel.
Indigo Pages on Gary Alter http://myria.home.mindspring.com/Indigo/Surgeons/Alter/AlterF2M.html
My SRS Experience with Dr. Gary Alter by “Rachel,” ed. by Anne Lawrence (2000) http://www.annelawrence.com/altersrsnarrative.html
My L.A. Experience with Dr. Alter by Lisa Kassner (1997) http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Heights/5445/alterexp1.html
Annette Catherine Cholon Siegel (born January 8, 1966) is an American plastic surgeon who served the trans community from 2002 to 2006. In 2006 Cholon retired to spend more time with her family.
Her colleague, Peter K. Davis, continued the surgical practice in Palo Alto, California:
Cholon earned her medical degree from Stanford University in 1993, then did her plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Hospital.
According to the American Medical Association’s site, Dr. Cholon’s specialties included: Breast Enlargement, Breast Lift, Breast Reconstruction, Breast Reduction, Botox, Facelift Surgery, Conventional Liposuction, Liposuction, Neck Lift, Lip Augmentation
After she retired, she and her husband, venture capitalist Mark Siegel, created the Mark and Annette Siegel Fund to support graduate students in MIT’s physics department.
Archival contact information
Cholon Aesthetics 1225 Crane Street, Suite 120, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: 650-326-7100
Fax: 650-323-8540
References
MIT Technology Review (May 7, 2007). Mark and Annette Siegel. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/407865/mark-and-annette-siegel/
J. William Futrell is an American plastic surgeon. His Transgender Surgical and Medical Center (TSMC) was in operation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania beginning in 1998 through 1999. This innovative clinic was developed by pioneering transgender medical professional Sheila Kirk.
J. William Futrell, MD, F.A.C.S.-Chief and Professor of the University Pittsburgh Medical Center, Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Department. One of the nation’s most respected plastic surgeons. Dr. Futrell has vast experience in MTF/FTM GRS, feminization and masculinzation of the face and related MTF/FTM surgeries.
