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A Conversation With Dr. Sheila Kirk

By Angela Gardner
TGF Assistant Editor

I first met Dr. Sheila Kirk in the early 1980s at a Joyce Dewhurst Pocono Weekend. I remember her as a gracious lady who complimented me on my dress. It may have been around that very event that Sheila became involved with the transgender community. She is still a gracious lady, and recently she kindly took some time from her busy schedule to answer some questions for TGForum. You can reach Sheila Kirk, M.D via Email

TGF: When did you first realize that you were not "alone"? That there were others who shared your same heart and spirit?

S.K.: It was slightly before attending a Joyce Dewhurst Poconos weekend (this was before JoAnn Roberts took over the event) that I began to reach out and find other transgendered organizations and people. When I attended that Poconos weekend, I meet several sisters who lived in Boston. They had established the very early origins of what was later to be known as IFGE. This was in the early 1980's and I was stimulated to begin contributing medical articles to IFGE's 1st publication. I began to have the realization that my medical experience and knowledge could be used to help my sisters and brothers in the Trans Community. It was during these years that I conceived the plan to establish a medical facility that would be staffed by Trans people, and have as its sole purpose medical and surgical care for our community. After a great deal of time searching for the right location in various parts of the country, in a wonderful and unexpected twist of fate, I found that Pittsburgh (where I had a successful ob/gyn practice for many years) was the best locale to establish this center! In this city existed the optimal facilities, and medical & surgical talent who could help me to institute this much-needed center.

TGF: Tell us more about this center.

S.K.: It is called the Transgender Surgical & Medical Care Center or TSMC for short. We are a full service center that specializes in MTF/FTM GRS and related surgeries. We have also pioneered techniques in rib removal, baldness correction and facial feminization. My colleagues and myself are experienced, skilled surgeons in trans surgery, and we utilize the latest proven technologies and advanced surgical techniques to create for our patients the most realistic cosmetic appearance, function and sensitivity. What sets us apart from other GRS surgeons is that as a transgendered person, I have intimate insight, personal concern and unyielding commitment to provide to our community the best possible care and management.

TGF: This has been a time of several "1sts" for you. You were elected to the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria board--the first trans physician to be elected, you established the first full service surgical & medical center founded by a Trans and you are the first Trans person to perform GRS surgery in our community. How does this make you feel?

S.K.: I am, of course, honored to have been the first physician to break through the sometimes imposing and rigid barriers of the medical & surgical establishment to serve my community on the HBIGDA board. And I am thankful for those who voted to elect me. My appointment has allowed our community to have a voice in establishing policy and procedure that hopefully will encourage better communication and understanding of our healthcare needs. Being the first to perform GRS and related surgeries for my community only reinforces to me that we have a lot more work to do to completely empower us in our medical and surgical options. We must not only be surgical/medical consumers but we must also be afforded the right to be our own surgical/medical providers.

TGF: You are happily married to a GG who supports you and your endeavors. Please comment on the dynamics of your relationship.

S.K.: My union and Life Partnership with Pamela is the pinnacle of my personal life. We share so much in common it's as if our thoughts, even unexpressed, are almost always one. Her support of my Transgender Spirit is only a part of what makes my life fulfilled and joyous. We work together intimately and with huge success in what we do in, and for, the Trans community. I know I am extremely fortunate in this, and I am every grateful every day that we are in each other's lives.

TGF: What do you see coming for the TG community in the near future?

S.K.: Through the years, I've witnessed a phenomenal change in society's awareness and knowledge of our community. And I believe the potential for so much more is very real. However, we are the ones that have obligation to give to society much more accuracy in their understanding and appreciation of us. As I see it this can only come about by us giving, and supporting each other with much more appreciation and understanding.

TGF: Can you elaborate on that?

S.K.: At this time it is very important that individuals in our community who have leadership position and visibility, utilize their skills whether it be in medicine, politics and law, as well as other areas, to bring empowerment and a unified spirit to our own community. To put it bluntly, if we get our act together, we can present very creditably and forcefully our value to the activities and progress of the world. This is not idealism, this is a very practical and obtainable goal, and vital to the survival of our community and the world we exist in. We should start now, and it should start with each and every one of us no matter where we are in our development.

TGF: What special projects would you care to tell our readers about?

S.K.: Because I am a surgeon and physician, I always have an orientation to research and what it can do to further our good health and success. Several of my research projects are in progress and a large number of projects that I would like to put into study are getting into motion. My post-op MTF survey is flourishing and is providing important data. I want to study the effects of certain medications in the MTF & FTM communities, for instance Propecia. We need to conduct studies in reference to cardiovascular health in both of our community's populations. There is not enough in the medical literature to establish good data, sadly so much that we have to rely on now is anecdotal information. I hope other transgendered medical specialists with orientation toward research will begin to implement some of these studies with me, and independently.

 

Dr. Kirk, who writes a regular monthly column here at TGF will also be available to talk to you in our Chat Room on Sept 15, 7-9 EDT.

 

 

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