Michelle Forcier is an American pediatrician who specializes in sexual health and gender identity for adolescents.
Background
Michelle Marie Forcier earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University in 1987, followed by a medical degree from University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 1992. In 1997 Forcier earned a master’s degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health. Forcier did a pediatric residency at University of Utah, followed by fellowships at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Planned Parenthood Central North Carolina, and Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine.
Forcier is or has been licensed in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Illinois, South Carolina, Alabama, and Utah. Forcier has taught at Duke University, University of North Carolina, and Northwestern University. Since 2009 Forcier has taught at Brown University.
Forcier is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Forcier married pediatrician Geoffrey Abbott “Geoff” Allen (born 1961). They have one child.
Transgender care and public-facing work
Forcier is known to many from an appearance in the 2022 anti-trans propaganda piece What Is a Woman? In it, Forcier earnestly explains why affirming models of care for minors are the American medical consensus. Many people who enjoy anti-trans extremist Matt Walsh’s bad-faith interview tactics found the exchange entertaining.
Forcier was named in lawsuits filed by ex-trans activists Layton Ulery and Isabelle Ayala. Forcier was voluntarily dismissed from the Ulery lawsuit by the plaintiff in May 2025. The Ayala case was dismissed in June 2025.
References
Rogers, Kristen (March 15, 2024). What to know about puberty blockers. CNN https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/15/health/puberty-blockers-explained-nhs-wellness
Ring, Trudy (July 27, 2023). Three Who Were in Matt Walsh’s Anti-Trans Film Say They Were Deceived. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/transgender/matt-walsh-what-is-a-woman-deceptive
Norton, Amy (January 19, 2023). Hormonal Therapies Are Boosting the Mental Health of Trans Youth. U.S. News & World Report https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-01-19/hormonal-therapies-are-boosting-the-mental-health-of-trans-youth
Knox, Liam (September 25, 2022). Attack on Vanderbilt Clinic Has Ripple Effects. Inside Higher Ed https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/09/26/trans-health-clinic-weathers-political-firestorm
Petrow, Steven (March 7, 2017). Civilities: Taking all your questions about transgender teens with Brown U. expert Dr. Michelle Forcier and Steven Petrow. Washington Post https://live.washingtonpost.com/civilities-with-steven-petrow-20170307.html
Crandall, Brian (June 7, 2016). RI doctor leads effort on caring for transgender children. WJAR https://turnto10.com/news/local/ri-doctor-leads-effort-on-caring-for-transgender-children
Rupp, William (August 20, 2011). ‘This Old House’ Picks ‘Happy Renters.’ Patch https://patch.com/rhode-island/barrington/this-old-house-picks-happy-renters
Coverage in anti-trans press
Staff report (June 9, 2025). UpToDate is Out-of-Date on Child Sex Change Interventions. Do No Harm https://donoharmmedicine.org/2025/06/09/uptodate-is-out-of-date-on-child-sex-change-interventions/
Solas, Nicole (February 20, 2024). Detransitioners Sue Rhode Island Medical Provider And Persistent Public School Agitator. Daily Wire https://www.dailywire.com/news/detransitioners-sue-rhode-island-medical-provider-and-persistent-public-school-agitator
Ryan, Benjamin (December 5, 2023). Lawsuits by Regretful ‘Detransitioners’ Take Aim at Medical Establishment’s Support for Gender-Transition Treatments for Minors. New York Sun https://www.nysun.com/article/lawsuits-by-regretful-detransitioners-take-aim-at-medical-establishments-support-for-gender-transition-treatments-for-minors
Sapir, Leor (October 31, 2023). Is the AAP Placing Its Own Members at Risk? New lawsuits and a panel on gender and sexuality at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recent conference signal trouble for pediatricians who rely on its guidance. City Journal https://www.city-journal.org/article/is-the-aap-placing-its-own-members-at-risk
Lamb, Matt (October 26, 2023). Two women damaged by ‘gender transitions’ sue prominent pro-transgender doctors. LifeSite News https://assets.lifesitenews.com/news/women-gender-transitions-sue-doctors/?utm_source=most_recent&utm_campaign=catholic
Perkins, Faith (October 26, 2023). Gender detransitioner sues prominent doctors she says pushed her into it. The Lion https://readlion.com/another-gender-detransitioner-sues-prominent-doctors-she-says-pushed-her-into-it/
Tilley, Caitlin (October 26, 2023). Autistic woman, 20, sues American Academy of Pediatrics over claims she was rushed onto transgender hormone-warping drugs – despite suffering from a number of mental health conditions. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12671149/american-academy-pediatrics-transgender-detransition-lawsuit-isabelle-ayala.html
Hunter, Heather (October 25, 2023). Detransitioner sues American Academy of Pediatrics for medical malpractice in historic lawsuit. Washington Examiner https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2751078/detransitioner-sues-american-academy-of-pediatrics-for-medical-malpractice-in-historic-lawsuit/
Potter, Will (October 21, 2023). EXCLUSIVE: Lesbian detransitioner with multiple personality disorder who escaped cult sues medics who prescribed her testosterone after deciding she was transgender, causing painful and permanent side effects. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12654975/Detransitioner-multiple-personality-gender-reassignment.html
Kornick, Lindsey (June 13, 2023). Doctor defends giving transgender treatments to 8 and 10-year-olds: ‘Respect kids as individuals.’ Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/doctor-defends-giving-transgender-treatments-8-10-year-olds-respect-kids-individuals
Singal, Jesse (July 2018). When a child says she’s trans. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/when-a-child-says-shes-trans/561749/
Selected publications by Forcier
Sherer, I., & Forcier, M. (2025). Stress in Gender-Diverse Youth. In Signs & Symptoms in Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics https://doi.org/10.1542/9781610028219-74
Forcier, Michelle; Olson-Kennedy, Johanna (2022 with updates). Gender development and clinical presentation of gender diversity in children and adolescents. UpToDate https://www.uptodate.com/contents/gender-development-and-clinical-presentation-of-gender-diversity-in-children-and-adolescents
Van Schalkwyk, Gerrit ; Turban, Jack L.; Forcier, Michelle (2020). Pediatric Gender Identity: Gender-affirming Care for Transgender & Gender Diverse Youth. Springer, ISBN 9783030389093
Hodax, J. K., Wagner, J., Sackett-Taylor, A. C., Rafferty, J., & Forcier, M. (2020). Medical Options for Care of Gender Diverse and Transgender Youth. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 33(1), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2019.05.010
Rafferty, J. R., Donaldson, A. A., & Forcier, M. (2020). Primary Care Considerations for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth. Pediatrics In Review, 41(9), 437–454. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2018-0194
Panagiotakopoulos, L., Chulani, V., Koyama, A., Childress, K., Forcier, M., Grimsby, G., & Greenberg, K. (2020). The effect of early puberty suppression on treatment options and outcomes in transgender patients. Nature Reviews Urology, 17(11), 626–636. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-020-0372-2
Wagner, J., Sackett-Taylor, A. C., Hodax, J. K., Forcier, M., & Rafferty, J. (2019). Psychosocial Overview of Gender-Affirmative Care. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 32(6), 567–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2019.05.004
Jain, J., Kwan, D., & Forcier, M. (2019). Medroxyprogesterone Acetate in Gender-Affirming Therapy for Transwomen: Results From a Retrospective Study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 104(11), 5148–5156. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2018-02253
Forcier M, Brown JD, Brown, RT (2018). LGBTQ Youth: Enhancing Care for Gender and Sexual Minorities. American Academy of Pediatrics https://watermark02.silverchair.com/aap_9781610021371-all_front_matter.pdf
Samuel E, Forcier M (2015). Acute medical care for the transgender patient. In Sex and Gender in Acute Care Medicine, Ed: McGregor AJ, Choo EK, Becker BM. NY Cambridge University Press, 2015: 216-229, ISBN 9781107668164
Agnieszka J, Forcier M (September 2016). Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth: Psychosocial and Medical Considerations. Rhode Island Medical Journal http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal/2016/09/2016-09-31-adolescent-janicka.pdf
Forcier, Michelle (2015). Lecture, Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Care, Web Seminar, Fenway Health Center, Boston, MA
Forcier, Michelle (2014). Services for Transgender Youth in Primary Care Settings. Society for Teachers in Family Medicine, US
Forcier, Michelle (2014). Puberty Blockers for Use in Transgender Children, Medical Advisory Meeting, Chicago, IL
Forcier, Michelle (2014). Transgender Health Panel, Gender Spectrum East, Baltimore, MD
Forcier, Michelle; Haddad, Emily (2013). Health care for gender variant or gender non-conforming children. Rhode Island Medical Journal Apr;96(4):17-21.
Forcier, Michelle (2012).Transgender is a Pediatric Opportunity: Pediatric Endocrine Nursing Society meeting, Orlando, FL
Media
Brown University (November 27, 2023) Trans Youth Now Series: Michelle Forcier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onR2ctah3UE
Healio (October 18, 2019). AAP supports ‘gender-affirming care’ for youth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4qlSOdu6MI
NBC Nightly News (April 21, 2015). One Doctor Explains the Journey for Kids Who Are Transitioning. https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/one-doctor-explains-the-journey-for-kids-who-are-transitioning-431478851632
TODAY (April 23, 2015). Experts answer questions about transgender kids. https://www.today.com/video/experts-answer-questions-about-transgender-kids-432814659705
NBC News (April 21, 2015). One Doctor Explains the Journey for Kids Who Are Transitioning. https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/one-doctor-explains-the-journey-for-kids-who-are-transitioning-431478851632
Resources
Brown University (brown.edu)
- Michelle Forcier
- CV [PDF]
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
Lifespan (lifespan.org) [archive]
Note: this profile previously misstated Forcier’s name at birth and spouse. This site regrets the errors.