Dr. Jens Berli obtained his medical degree from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Following this, he undertook a part of residency in general surgery and ortho-trauma at Triemli City Hospital, Zurich. In 2010, before moving to the United States, he worked at Uummannaq Regional Hospital in rural Greenland. 

Subsequently, Dr. Berli completed his Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery residency at the renowned Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. During this period, he gained experience in gender-affirming surgery and phalloplasty for congenital malformations. Between 2014 and 2016, he further enriched his expertise as a traveling fellow at leading centers for transgender health across Europe and Asia. 

Since 2016, Dr. Berli has been a faculty member at Oregon Health & Science University. He predominantly focuses on phalloplasty and facial gender confirmation surgeries. Presently, he holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery. Additionally, since 2019, he has been entrusted with the responsibility of Residency Program Director. In the same year he started one of the first fellowships with focus on Gender Surgery. Beyond gender surgery he has a keen interest in neuroplastics and cranio-facial trauma.    

In terms of professional affiliations, Dr. Berli is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. He has notably contributed to the surgical committee of the Standards of Care Version 8. He serves as an Associate Editor for "Transgender Health" and is a Contributing Editor for "Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery." Central to his research endeavors is the enhancement of the safety protocols for phalloplasty procedures, objective aesthetic outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes. 

Dr. Lori Howell is the Associate Program Director for the Plastic Surgery Residency Program. She is an assistant professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery and pediatric plastic surgery at OHSU and a member of the cleft and craniofacial team at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. She received an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Texas Austin and a medical degree with honors from the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston. Dr. Howell completed a residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Illinois Chicago followed by a second residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Fellowships were completed in craniofacial surgery at Stanford University in 2013 and, most recently, in craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 2014.

Dr. Howell’s areas of interest include cleft lip and palate surgery, facial paralysis and reanimation, pediatric microvascular surgery, vascular anomalies, congenital nevi and adult craniofacial and lower extremity reconstructive surgery. Having spent the first five years of her career from 2014 to 2019 at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles building a robust facial reanimation and pediatric microsurgery program, she is excited about continuing those efforts at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

With board certification in both Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Howell is a strong believer in the power of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. In addition to her passion for medical student and resident education, her research interests also include access to care in underserved communities and facial paralysis outcomes. Dr. Howell is committed to helping children live full and rewarding lives who have been afflicted by congenital or traumatic deformities and is excited to join the OHSU staff and faculty serving the community in Portland and the Pacific Northwest.