This year’s Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) at Plume was one for the books! We gathered an incredible panel of voices in trans healthcare—those who have shaped it, those who are navigating it today, and those who will lead it into the future. This event wasn’t just a discussion; it was a testament to resilience, history, and the future of trans medicine.
A Conversation Spanning Generations
Moderated by our very own co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jerrica Kirkley, this panel brought together three powerhouse figures in trans healthcare:
- Dr. Marci Bowers (she/her): Marci Bowers, M.D. is a renowned pioneer in gender-affirming surgery, recognized as the first trans woman—and the first woman worldwide—to perform transgender surgeries. Based in Burlingame, California, Dr. Bowers is a pelvic and gynecologic surgeon with over 30 years of experience. She has performed more than 2,100 primary MTF gender-affirming vaginoplasties and over 3,400 gender-affirming surgeries in total. Dr.Bowers has also been instrumental in establishing transgender surgical education programs at institutions including Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv (2014), Mt. Sinai in New York (2016), Denver Health (2018), the University of Toronto (2019), Northwell Health (2020), and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She recently served as President-elect of WPATH and has been on the boards of GLAAD and the Transgender Law Center. Marci has earned various accolades, including being dubbed the “Transgender Surgery Rock Star” by the Denver Post, the “Georgia O’Keeffe of Genitalia” (unknown), and the “Beyoncé of Bottom Surgery” by KPFK-FM in North Hollywood.
- Mardi Pieronek (she/her): Growing up Trans in the late 1970s, Mardi Pieronek was a performance artist, drag performer, and sex worker. In 1991, Mardi came into 12-step recovery from all her dis-eases of more. That is when her inner work began. It is her hope that sharing her “ESH” (experience, strength, and hope) will help others. Mardi lives on beautiful Vancouver Island with her husband and their 2 fur Babies.
- Charlie Adams (he/him): Charlie, a proud transgender man and fourth-year medical student at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, is renowned for his unwavering dedication to advocating for transgender rights and health equity. He has amassed over 45k Instagram followers who follow along as he educates folks on LGBTQ+ health equity and transgender advocacy.
We’re so grateful to the incredible panelists for sharing their expertise, experiences, and hopes for the future of trans healthcare. Their insights remind us of the importance of pushing for inclusive, accessible, and compassionate care for all. At Plume, we’re honored to be part of this conversation and committed to supporting the trans community every day, not just on TDOV. We’re currently working to make this event a series with a rotating panel, so stay tuned for more information! We are excited about the work we can continue doing to create a more equitable and brighter future for trans healthcare.
