2025 Participant Biographies

For more than 15 years, increasing access to gender affirmation surgery has been a driving force of Dr. Sven Gunther’s education and training. For Dr. Gunther, it is more than a profession but a calling: to provide compassionate and comprehensive care throughout patients’ journeys to find themselves. Dr. Gunther understands that this journey touches nearly every aspect of a person’s life including self-identity, social and romantic interactions. Dr. Gunther brings his unique training and artistic eye to the operating room with a focus not only on function but also aesthetics.

Dr. Gunther graduated valedictorian, with an associate degree in chemistry from San Diego Mesa College. He graduated summa cum laude from University of California San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and cell biology. Dr. Gunther attended medical school at the University California Davis School of Medicine as a Regents’ Scholar, one of a select group of students with demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and exceptional promise. He also received a master’s degree in clinical research during which he obtained a research training grant for his research on wound healing.

He went on to graduate at the top of his medical school class and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical society, a reflection of the principles of lasting commitment to professionalism, leadership, scholarship, research, and community service. One of Dr Gunther’s greatest personal achievements during medical school was founding and co-directing a free hormone clinic for transgender and gender non-conforming patients.

Dr Gunther attended Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center for his plastic surgery residency, Here, he trained with multiple world-renowned surgeons in the study of gender affirming top surgery, facial aesthetics, rhinoplasty and facial feminization. Dr. Gunther was fortunate to spend his last year of training at Oregon Health & Science University, focusing on all aspects for gender affirming surgery including phalloplasty, vaginoplasty, chest masculinizing surgery, breast augmentation and facial feminization. Dr Gunther has been an active member in WPATH since 2018.

When not in the operating room, Dr. Gunther enjoys tending to his orchid and plant collection and trying to get various birds to eat from his hand. He is an avid runner, hiker, and a culinary experimenter best known for his pasta making skills.