XVII Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association Symposium
31 October - 4 November 2001, Galveston, Texas, U.S.A.

The Gender Treatment Program at University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals in Galveston, Texas

HUANG, TED U.S.A.
Co-authors: Walter Meyer M.D., Evangeline Emory, M.D., Collier Cole, Ph.D., Eric Avery, M.D., Robert White, M.D. & Alice Webb

It is accurate to state that physicians at the University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals have been engaged in the care of gender dysphoric patients over the past 40 years. In 1965, the Johns Hopkins Hospital opened its facility to care for gender dysphoric patients. The first male to female gender reassignment surgery was said to have been performed a year later. Although there was no formal effort made to care for transsexuals by anybody in Texas in the early 1960's, several patients with gender dysphoria were seen in Galveston. Of these patients, a 23 year-old male to female transsexual underwent gender reassignment surgery in 1966, under the care of Dr. Ed Knowling, the operating surgeon, and Dr. Steve Lewis, the late Professor and the Chief of Plastic Surgery at UTMB Hospitals. Unlike other reassignment surgeries, the event which took place in Galveston was quiet and was without journalistic fanfare. Although no patients underwent surgical treatment for the next 6 years, there was an increase in the numbers of gender dysphoric patients requesting care through the University. In response to this, a team, composed of Robert White, M.D. as the psychiatrist-in-charge, Steve Lewis, M.D., plastic surgeon, Ted Huang, M.D., plastic surgeon, and Charles Powell, M.D., gynecologist-in-charge was formed in 1971. A year later, a 29 year-old male transsexual underwent the second MTF gender reassignment surgery in Galveston.

In about 1976 the UTMB Department of Community and Social Psychiatry, under the direction of Dan Creson, M.D., sponsored a symposium on human sexuality and lifestyles. At the suggestion of Dr. Walter Meyer III, Paul Walker, Ph.D., a medical psychologist working with John Money of Johns Hopkins Hospitals' gender treatment program, was asked to speak about gender identity and transsexualism . The team was impressed with Dr. Walker's knowledge and it was decided by the Dept. of Psychiatry that a new clinic would be formed, under the umbrella of Community and Social Psychiatry. Dr. Collier Cole was a psychology intern working with that group. Shortly there after the Janus Information Facility funded by the Erickson Educational Foundation was opened in Galveston. This facility provided worldwide information concerning transsexualism and its treatment to anyone attempting to find answers to this rare phenomenon. UTMB provided space for the facility and paid its mailing expenses. Both Paul Walker and Alice Webb left the Galveston Program in 1980 and moved to San Francisco. The Gender Clinic affiliated with UTMB was closed, and reemerged in downtown Galveston as the Rosenberg Clinic operated by Collier Cole, Ph.D and Lee E. Emory, M.D.

Members of this original group have been very active in HBIGDA. Drs. Walker, Meyer and Webb signed the incorporation papers. of HBIGDA. Later Paul Walker became the first President. Walter Meyer III served as Secretary Treasurer. Alice Webb was the second Executive Director of HBIGDA and then President.  

Now there are two facilities currently in operation in Galveston. While Drs. Collier Cole and Lee E. Emory are engaged in caring for individuals in a private sector, Eric Avery, M.D. And Walter Meyer III M.D., operate a care facility under the auspices of The Department of Psychiatry at UTMB. Approximately 450 individuals a year with gender dysphoria have been cared for at these two facilities. The physicians at the UTMB hospitals as well as the entire Galveston community are proud to host the international biennial Symposium of The Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, Inc.