Our mission is to end the practice of Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM/C) worldwide by providing free surgical care in the form of Clitoral Restoration Surgery that restores sexual function and dignity to women, teach the next generation of surgeons how to perform these procedures, and educate the public about the emotional, mental and physical health impact of FGM/C. Dr Marci Bowers and her team of physicians from the US, Canada, and Kenya are committed to providing restorative surgical care for women who have experienced genital cutting with hopes to improve sexual function, restore a sense of dignity, bodily integrity, and self-worth to women affected.
Dr. Bowers is one of the few surgeons worldwide who perform surgical reversal of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In 2007 and 2009, Dr. Bowers traveled to France and received training from renowned physician Dr. Pierre Foldes. Using delicate surgical techniques, Dr. Bowers removes scar tissue, corrects and reverses infibulation, and works to restore sensation. She performs these surgeries at no cost to patients (although there is an operating room and anesthesia fee). The surgical procedure is relatively simple and short in duration (under one hour) with most patients experiencing improved cosmetic appearance, sensation, reduction in pain and infection. Many patients have reported being orgasmic for the first time in their lives after healing from the surgery.
Dr. Bowers traveled to Kenya in 2017 and 2018 to train local surgeons to perform Clitoral Restoration Surgery. The Kenya program is up and running and surgeons are available and ready to treat patients. In March of 2014, Dr. Bowers traveled to Africa to train surgeons at the Hospital Kamkaso “Pleasure Hospital” in Burkina Faso, where victims of FGM will be able to have identity-restoring surgery once the hospital is rightfully granted its licensure.
For women considering this surgical procedure, there are many considerations. We attempt to be culturally respectful but forcefully disapproving of the cultural practices that lead to FGM. There appears to be a current of resistance against FGM in Africa with larger cities, countries (Kenya in 2013), and individuals beginning to say no to the practice. As women (and men!) communicate about the devastating effects on intimacy, relationships, and health due to FGM, the tide seems to be turning. Much of this education is leading to growing awareness of the consequences, that these so-called ‘purifying’ rituals do harm rather than good, I believe the tide is turning. Communication via cellphone and internet is helping to spread truth about this practice. That there is also a surgical procedure which can help to reverse FGM is also empowering to the people of Africa. Our goal in bringing the surgical procedure to Africa is to allow women to control their own destiny, to regain their sense of identity as women and as sexual human beings.
Unfortunately, there remains enormous work to do. Even Burkina Faso, which has had wide support for the FGM reversal procedure and outlawed the practice of FGM in 1996, there are still pockets of stubbornness and ignorance—as evidenced by our hospital denial and medical privilege revocation in 2014. Female sexuality is still devalued and traditions remain strong. Worse, the major source of perpetuation of the FGM practice are the towns and villages where the majority of Africans live. It is in these small villages where information can be manipulated and myths perpetuated. Unfortunately, it is often the ‘cutters’, women who benefit economically from performing FGM, who continue to promote FGM as beneficial to young women and girls. These beneficial claims vary wildly from desirability to purification to improved health—all false and misleading. Quite the contrary as women after FGM grow to have medical and obstetrical complications, urinary tract infections, misery during sex and intimacy and ruined relationships—-all due to FGM. Education, honesty and sincerity are the keys to bringing a better future to the women of Africa. Our role is expected to be supportive and short as the People of Africa assume control of their collective futures.
Dr. Bowers is a pelvic and gynecologic surgeon with more than 32 years’ experience. She is a University of Minnesota Medical School graduate where she was class and student body president. After residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington, she practiced in Seattle at the Polyclinic and Swedish Medical Center.
Dr. Bowers left Seattle in 2003 to apprentice with the legendary Dr. Stanley Biber, considered the “Father of Transgender Surgery.” In 2010, Marci relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area community of Burlingame, CA. She has now performed more than 2250 primary MTF Vaginoplasties and 3900 Gender Affirming Surgeries overall. In 2014, Dr. Bowers was hired to renew transgender surgery at Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel. Subsequently, she initiated trans surgical education programs at Mt. Sinai (New York/2016), Denver Health (2018), the University of Toronto Women’s College Hospital (2019), Northwell Health (2020), and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (2020). The Mt. Sinai Transgender Surgical Fellowship is the first of its’ kind. Dr. Bowers performed WPATH’s first 2 “live surgery” vaginoplasties at Mt. Sinai in 2018 and 2019.
Dr. Bowers is the WPATH President-elect and currently serves on the Trevor Project Board of Directors having served previous terms with GLAAD and the Transgender Law Center. Her gender diverse work has been highlighted by appearances on Oprah, CBS Sunday Morning, Discovery Health and the TLC reality series, “I am Jazz”. She was interviewed in 2021 by Leslie Stahl for the CBS News program 60 Minutes. Dr. Bowers is recognized as one of the 100 most influential LGBT people on the Guardian’s World Pride Power List and one of Huffington Post’s 50 Transgender Icons, was called the Transgender Surgery Rock Star (Denver Post), the Georgia O’keefe of Genitalia (unknown) and the Beyonce of Bottom Surgery (KPFK-FM North Hollywood).
Dr. Jasmine Pedroso, MD MPH, FACOG, grew up in San Diego, California as the daughter of Filipino immigrants. After receiving degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and the Harvard School of Public Health, she returned to California to attend medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed her resid
Dr. Jasmine Pedroso, MD MPH, FACOG, grew up in San Diego, California as the daughter of Filipino immigrants. After receiving degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and the Harvard School of Public Health, she returned to California to attend medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She then received more specialized surgical training through the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery in Las Vegas.
During her seven years in Las Vegas, Jasmine served as Associate Program Director of the Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Las Vegas Minimally Invasive Surgery, Clinical Director of the Women’s Pelvic Health Center, Clinical Professor for both the HCA-Sunrise Health and University of Nevada, Las Vegas Residency Programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Touro University Nevada School of Medicine, and has received multiple awards for surgical prowess, teaching, publications, and contributions to women's health. She currently practices in San Francisco where she serves as national head of Gynecology for the renowned fertility start-up Kindbody.
Jasmine has a special interest in the most minimally-invasive, technologically advanced, cosmetic, and fertility-preserving and fertility-enhancing approaches to chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, female sexual dysfunction, fibroids, incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. She is especially passionate about women’s health advocacy and increasing access to minimally invasive surgery for underserved communities both nationally and internationally, having done work in the Philippines, Cambodia, Uganda, Mexico, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and most recently Kenya.
Outside of the operating room, Jasmine loves spending time with her husband and two young children, attending political rallies and music festivals, exploring art galleries and the latest new restaurants, and perusing through vintage shops and farmers markets. As an OB/GYN and as a minimally invasive surgeon with Kindbody, Jasmine will undoubtedly continue to uplift women everywhere; to teach and serve, as best she can, the millions of women who still needlessly suffer around the world.
Dr. Angela Deane is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Minimally Invasive Surgeon at North York General Hospital. She has a special expertise in caring for those affected by female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and is working to improve medical care through education and multidiscipli
Dr. Angela Deane is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Minimally Invasive Surgeon at North York General Hospital. She has a special expertise in caring for those affected by female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and is working to improve medical care through education and multidisciplinary collaboration within the Canadian healthcare system. She has worked internationally performing reconstructive surgery for those who have experienced the most severe forms of FGM/C.
“ Meeting and caring for those impacted by FGM/C has been the most impactful experince of my career, it is incredibly rewarding to offer such a transformative surgery as a part of one’s healing journey. My hope is that this surgery will no longer be needed one day, that the practice of FGM/C will end, we must continue to work together and empower the communities at the centre to end this practice."
Dr. Chaudry is a Consultant Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive surgeon, with a keen interest in Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery (CRS)
Beyond the operating room, he has a passion for raising awareness about the importance of CRS. He has a special interest in Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery to address a unique and often neglected conditi
Dr. Chaudry is a Consultant Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive surgeon, with a keen interest in Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery (CRS)
Beyond the operating room, he has a passion for raising awareness about the importance of CRS. He has a special interest in Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery to address a unique and often neglected condition. He has a wealth of experience having operated on numerous patients with FGM.
Copyright © 2024 Marci Foundation - All Rights Reserved.