Our Gender Confirmation Team

Dr. Schechter is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at The University of Illinois at Chicago, attending surgeon at Rush University, and Director of the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery at Weiss Memorial Hospital. He serves on the board of The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), helped to author the 7th Edition of The Standards of Care, and serves as co-lead for the Surgery and Post-Operative Care section of the 8th Edition of The Standards of Care.  He authored the first surgical atlas concerning Surgical Management of Transgender Individuals and is a founding member and president-elect of The American Society for Gender Surgeons.  Dr. Schechter is recognized by Castle Connolly as a “Top Doctor.”

Dr. Schechter received his medical degree, with honors, from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed his residency in general and plastic surgery as well as a fellowship in reconstructive microsurgery at the University of Chicago Hospitals.  While at the University of Chicago, Dr. Schechter was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and graduated as The Outstanding Student in Surgery.

Practice Location
4700 N. Marine Drive
Suite 515
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 564-6507

Education
Medical School: University of Chicago Hospitals
Residency: University of Chicago Hospitals
Fellowship: University of Chicago Hospitals

Specialties
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Plastic Surgery

In the News

• Loren Schechter, M.D., recently explained transgender surgery and what to expect with gender confirmation surgery. Read the article on Cosmopolitan.com
• Loren Schechter, M.D., weighs in on the harmful impact of limiting the definition of gender to anatomy at birth. Watch the interview on ABC Channel 7.

• Loren S. Schechter, M.D., served as a surgical expert in the federal case that ordered Wisconsin to cover gender reassignment surgeries. Read the story below.
  Journal Sentinel (USA Today)
  Chicago Tribune

• Loren Schechter, M.D., discusses transgender surgery and the uncertainty of Medicare coverage. Read the article on Bloomberg Law.

• Loren Schechter, M.D., discusses the need to transform transgender care in America on Huffington Post. Performing more gender confirmation surgeries at academic centers will help fill this education gap for medical students. Read the article.

• Loren Schechter, M.D., Director of the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery at Weiss Memorial Hospital has been appointed Scientific Advisor on the forthcoming Gender Transition Exhibit at the International Museum of Surgical Science.

• Watch the news segments below to witness the difficult but amazing journey one mother and son make as they transition to father and daughter. Learn more about Dr. Loren Schechter and the Gender Confirmation Program at Weiss:
  • 60 Minutes: PART ONE
  • 60 Minutes: PART TWO
  • Good Morning America
  • Nightline

• Loren Schechter, M.D., Medical Director of the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery at Weiss, discusses transgender youth in Chicago Health Magazine. Read the article.

• The New York Times profiles Kricket Nimmons and highlights the transgender movement in the U.S. Dr. Loren Schechter, Medical Director for The Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery at Weiss, is featured in the article, discussing the growing acceptance of gender confirmation surgeries. Read the article.

• Loren Schechter, M.D., Medical Director of the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery at Weiss moderated the first ever panel about gender confirmation surgery at Plastic Surgery the Meeting. Read the article on Boston Magazine online.

Loren Schechter, M.D., performed the first gender confirmation surgery covered by Medicare in the United States. Watch the video and read the story featured on NBC News.

Alexandra Millman, MD, is a urologist undergoing specialized training as a Genital Reconstructive Fellow at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery at Weiss Memorial Hospital. She earned her medical degree from the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and completed her residency there as well. Dr. Millman also holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Dr. Millman has published multiple peer reviewed articles, as well as book chapters. She regularly presents at and attends medical conferences and holds active memberships in a number of professional organizations, including the American Urological Association (AUA), the International Continence Society (ICS), the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

Practice Location
Weiss Memorial Hospital
4646 N. Marine Drive
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 564-7238

University of Illinois Hospital
1740 W Taylor Street
Chicago, IL, 60612

Education
Medical School: University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Graduate School, Master of Science in Public Health: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Residency: University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Specialty
Urology

David Morris, M.D., is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in craniofacial surgery. Dr. Morris’ surgical practice focuses on developmental or acquired deformities and disproportions of the facial skeleton. His research interests include virtual planning for craniomaxillofacial procedures and multidisciplinary outcomes following orthognathic surgery. He has been a part of both the University of Illinois at Chicago Craniofacial Center and Shriners Hospital for Children, Chicago since 2007. Dr. Morris performs facial feminization surgeries for the Gender Confirmation Surgery program at Weiss.

Practice Location
The Craniofacial Center
University of Illinois at Chicago
811 S. Paulina
Chicago, IL 60612

Education
Medical School: Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago
General Surgery Residency: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Plastic Surgery Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago
Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Specialty
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Board Certification
Plastic Surgery

Marcella Santos, PA-C, is a physician assistant for The Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS) at Weiss Memorial Hospital. Marcella holds a Master of Science degree in physician assistant practice and has completed multiple clinical clerkships for a well-rounded medical experience.

She plays a vital role on the surgical team, assisting during procedures and helping patients during their hospital stays. Marcella describes the best part of her job as having the opportunity to be a part of each patient’s journey. Her goal is to offer the best care possible while being a compassionate provider for every patient.

LeAnna Becker, PT, DPT, is the Director of Rehabilitation at Weiss Memorial Hospital. LeAnna has been a physical therapist at Weiss for nearly 10 years and has been working with the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS) at Weiss for the last year. She helps coordinate the inpatient and outpatient therapy services for pre-operative and post-operative patients from the GCS program.

LeAnna’s goal is to provide a more holistic GCS program by expanding outpatient therapy services to Weiss’ community members. Currently, the GCS team includes acute care physical and occupational therapists, pelvic floor physical therapists, and outpatient occupational therapists, all dedicated to our GCS patients’ full recovery.  In the future, LeAnna would like to develop a transgender voice modification clinic led by a speech language pathologist.

“I really love that we promote access to excellent healthcare services for transgender community members. I also appreciate the opportunity to provide supportive services that improve outcomes and quality of life for those who choose to have surgical procedures,” emphasizes LeAnna.

LeAnna reveals the most rewarding aspects of her job are two-fold. First, she enjoys collaborating with an engaged, excited team of people who are committed to providing the best care possible to the community. Second, she is honored to be part of a program that provides a safe, comfortable experience for patients and family members who have entrusted Weiss’ GCS team with their care.

“Being involved with the GCS Program at Weiss has allowed me to work with some of the brightest and most engaged minds within the transgender healthcare community,” states LeAnna.  “Everyone on our team is humbled by the opportunity to improve the quality of life of transgender patients throughout the nation and the world.

Steven Rosenberg, is the Social Worker for the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS) at Weiss. He performs pre-operative assessments for patients needing post hospital care. Steven spends time with each patient talking through the transition process and giving emotional support when needed.Steven joined the GCS program earlier this year, but has worked for Weiss for many years. “I am enjoying the challenge of my new role. My goal is to make a difference in the lives of our patients,” states Steven.

“The best part of my job is seeing how happy patients are with their new life. I am excited that our patients now feel complete,” emphasizes Steven.