Rebecca Allison

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Rebecca Allison
Born(1946-12-21)December 21, 1946
Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedAugust 11, 2024(2024-08-11) (aged 77)
Alma mater University of Mississippi Medical Center
Occupation Cardiologist
EmployerPrivate Practice
Known forTransgender Activism

Rebecca Anne Allison (December 21, 1946 - August 11, 2024 [1] ) was an American cardiologist and transgender activist. She served as president of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) [2] and as Chair of the American Medical Association's Advisory Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues. [3]

Contents

Life

Allison was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, to Errol Ward Atkinson and Mabel Blackwell Atkinson. She transitioned in 1993 while living in Jackson, Mississippi. She died on August 11, 2024. [4]

Career

Allison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1971. After practicing internal medicine, she returned to school in 1985 to study cardiology, working in that field beginning in 1987. Later, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, for a position with CIGNA and served as their chief of cardiology from 1998 to 2012, when she entered private practice. Phoenix Magazine named Allison one of the "Top Doctors" in Phoenix for 2006, 2007, and 2008. [5] Allison retired from medical practice in 2018.

Activism

In 1998, Allison created an online resource site focusing on the medical, legal, and spiritual needs of transgender people. The website included a compilation of statutes for amending sex on a birth certificate, [6] a brochure on facial feminization surgery, [7] criticism of the controversial 2003 book The Man Who Would Be Queen by J. Michael Bailey, [8] and a section on spirituality. Allison's website was cited by several publications on LGBT health care and LGBT rights. [9] [10] [11] [12] She was president of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, as well as Chair of the American Medical Association Advisory Committee on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues, [13] and assisted in the passage of AMA Resolution 22, "Removing Financial Barriers to Care for Transgender Patients." [14] Allison was also active in Soulforce and organized the Phoenix Transgender Day of Remembrance annually with her partner Margaux Schaffer.

Selected publications

References

  1. ↑ "Rebecca Allison (Dr. Becky) and transgender people" . Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  2. ↑ Rochman, Sue (November 20, 2007). What's up, doc? Would removing transgender from the list of mental disorders do more harm than good? Archived 2021-04-17 at the Wayback Machine The Advocate
  3. ↑ Proulx, Marie-Jo (July 19, 2006). AMA Growing Receptive to LGBT Needs. Archived 2019-04-01 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "Rebecca Allison (Dr. Becky) and transgender people" . Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  5. ↑ Staff report (April 2008). Top Doctors: Cardiovascular Disease. Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine Phoenix Magazine
  6. ↑ Dotinga, Randy (November 29, 2006). Sex Change, No Surgery Required. Archived 2013-06-16 at the Wayback Machine Wired News
  7. ↑ Van Marle, Karin (2006). Sex, Gender, Becoming: Post-Apartheid Reflections. PULP, ISBN   978-0-9585097-5-6
  8. ↑ Staff report (June 25, 2003). Trans Group Attacks New Book on 'Queens.' Archived 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Windy City Times
  9. ↑ Lev, Arlene Istar (2004). Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working with Gender-Variant People and Their Families. Haworth Press, ISBN   978-0-7890-2117-5
  10. ↑ Makadon HJ, Mayer KH, Potter J, Goldhammer H (2007). The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health. ISBN   978-1-930513-95-2
  11. ↑ Hunter ND, Joslin CG, McGowan SM (2004). The Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People. Southern Illinois University Press, ISBN   978-0-8093-2518-4
  12. ↑ Sember, Brette McWhorter (2006). Gay & Lesbian Rights: A Guide for GLBT Singles, Couples and Families. Sphinx Publishing, ISBN   978-1-57248-550-1
  13. ↑ Nielsen, Nancy H., ed. (June 19, 2008). Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues. [ permanent dead link ]AMA eVoice
  14. ↑ American Medical Association (2008). AMA Resolution 122: Removing Financial Barriers to Care for Transgender Patients.
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