Stanley Biber
Encyclopedia
Stanley H. Biber was an American
physician
who was a pioneer in sex reassignment surgery
, performing thousands of procedures during his long career.
as the older of two children and the only son of a father who owned a furniture store and a mother interested in social causes.
After giving up plans to become a pianist and rabbi
, Biber served as a civilian employee with the Office of Strategic Services
during World War II
, stationed in Alaska and the Northwest Territory. After the war, he returned to Iowa and enrolled in school, with plans to become a psychiatrist
.
medical school
in 1948. He began performing surgery while in residency at a hospital in the Panama Canal Zone
. Biber then joined the Army, where he was the chief surgeon of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
unit in the Korean War
. He finished his service at what is now Fort Carson, Colorado
, and in 1954 took a job at a United Mine Workers
clinic in Trinidad, Colorado
.
Biber performed his first sex change operation in 1969 after a transsexual woman
asked him if he would be willing and able to do so. At first, he did not know how, but he learned by studying diagrams from Johns Hopkins
. He kept his first few surgeries secret from the Catholic nuns who operated the hospital, due to concerns that they would react negatively. Trinidad subsequently became known as the "Sex Change Capital of the World" because of his renown.
Biber also trained dozens of other surgeons in gender reversal techniques and maintained a regular surgical practice of delivering babies, removing tonsils, and replacing knee and hip joints.
insurance premiums had risen to levels which he could not afford, probably because of his advanced age. Marci Bowers
, a gynecologist and transsexual woman herself, took over his SRS
practice. Biber was hospitalized in January 2006 with complications from pneumonia
, to which he succumbed on January 16 while hospitalized. Biber was 82 at the time of his death. Bowers said, shortly afterwards, that she never expected to "fill his shoes".
". In the opening scene, school-teacher Mr. Garrison
believes that he is a woman on the inside, and decides to undergo a sex change operation, which is performed by a "Dr. Biber" of the Trinidad
Medical Center.
The 2009 documentary, Trinidad, is about the town of Trinidad and its relationship with transgender people. Dr. Stanley Biber is mentioned often in the film along with Marci Bowers
. The documentary has appeared on the Showtime movie network.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who was a pioneer in sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
, performing thousands of procedures during his long career.
Early life
Biber was born to a Jewish family in Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
as the older of two children and the only son of a father who owned a furniture store and a mother interested in social causes.
After giving up plans to become a pianist and rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, Biber served as a civilian employee with the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, stationed in Alaska and the Northwest Territory. After the war, he returned to Iowa and enrolled in school, with plans to become a psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
.
Career as a physician
Biber graduated from the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
in 1948. He began performing surgery while in residency at a hospital in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
. Biber then joined the Army, where he was the chief surgeon of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
The Mobile Army Surgical Hospital refers to a United States Army medical unit serving as a fully functional hospital in a combat area of operations. The units were first established in August 1945, and were deployed during the Korean War and later conflicts. The U.S...
unit in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He finished his service at what is now Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson is a United States Army installation located near Colorado Springs, primarily in El Paso County, Colorado. It is north of Pueblo, Colorado in Pueblo County. The 137,000 acre installation extends south into Pueblo and Fremont counties...
, and in 1954 took a job at a United Mine Workers
United Mine Workers
The United Mine Workers of America is a North American labor union best known for representing coal miners and coal technicians. Today, the Union also represents health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing workers and public employees in the United States and Canada...
clinic in Trinidad, Colorado
Trinidad, Colorado
The historic City of Trinidad is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Las Animas County, Colorado, United States...
.
Biber performed his first sex change operation in 1969 after a transsexual woman
Trans woman
A trans woman is a male-to-female transsexual or transgender person and the term trans woman is preferred by some individuals over various medical terms. Other non-medical terms include t-girl, tg-girl and ts-girl...
asked him if he would be willing and able to do so. At first, he did not know how, but he learned by studying diagrams from Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
. He kept his first few surgeries secret from the Catholic nuns who operated the hospital, due to concerns that they would react negatively. Trinidad subsequently became known as the "Sex Change Capital of the World" because of his renown.
Biber also trained dozens of other surgeons in gender reversal techniques and maintained a regular surgical practice of delivering babies, removing tonsils, and replacing knee and hip joints.
Retirement and late life
Biber retired in 2003, at age 80, because his malpracticeMedical malpractice
Medical malpractice is professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error. Standards and...
insurance premiums had risen to levels which he could not afford, probably because of his advanced age. Marci Bowers
Marci Bowers
Marci L. Bowers is an American gynecologist who operated a surgical practice in Trinidad, Colorado. She has moved her practice to California in December 2010. Bowers is viewed as an innovator in the field of transgender surgery, as well as a pioneer, being the first transsexual woman to be...
, a gynecologist and transsexual woman herself, took over his SRS
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
practice. Biber was hospitalized in January 2006 with complications from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, to which he succumbed on January 16 while hospitalized. Biber was 82 at the time of his death. Bowers said, shortly afterwards, that she never expected to "fill his shoes".
Popular culture
On March 9, 2005, the television show South Park first aired the episode "Mr. Garrison's Fancy New VaginaMr. Garrison's Fancy New Vagina
"Mr. Garrison's Fancy New Vagina" is the first episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series South Park. "Mr. Garrison's Fancy New Vagina" first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 9, 2005. In the episode, Mr...
". In the opening scene, school-teacher Mr. Garrison
Herbert Garrison
Mr. Herbert Garrison is a recurring character in the American animated television series South Park. He is voiced by Trey Parker. For the first eight seasons of the series, the character was known as Mr. Garrison but underwent sex reassignment surgery in the season 9 episode "Mr. Garrison's Fancy...
believes that he is a woman on the inside, and decides to undergo a sex change operation, which is performed by a "Dr. Biber" of the Trinidad
Trinidad, Colorado
The historic City of Trinidad is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Las Animas County, Colorado, United States...
Medical Center.
The 2009 documentary, Trinidad, is about the town of Trinidad and its relationship with transgender people. Dr. Stanley Biber is mentioned often in the film along with Marci Bowers
Marci Bowers
Marci L. Bowers is an American gynecologist who operated a surgical practice in Trinidad, Colorado. She has moved her practice to California in December 2010. Bowers is viewed as an innovator in the field of transgender surgery, as well as a pioneer, being the first transsexual woman to be...
. The documentary has appeared on the Showtime movie network.
External links
- Stanley Biber profile and links via Transsexual Road Map
- Article on Dr. Biber via PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....