Biography 

Access the original biography provided by the candidate.

Current Positions

Distinguished Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France

Director of the regional reference center for endometriosis: EndoRef-Angers

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)

2015 to date: Council Member, elected as French representative during the FIGO World congress held in Vancouver

2018 to date: FIGO Minimal Access Surgery (MAS) Committee member

2020 to date: FIGO Strategic Planning Committee Member

French National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF)

2012 to date: President of the International Relations Committee

2012 to date: Member of the organization committee for the surgical sessions of national meetings

2005 to date: Member of the Board and of the Bureau 

2004 to date: Chief editor of the internal publication «Brèves de Collège»

French Society of Gynecological and Pelvic Surgery (SCGP)

2011 to date: Vice-President of the society
2006 to date: Member of the Board

Academia

• 384 publications (list available upon request) - 126 in English, 258 in French, Of which, 128 publications in peer reviewed journals
• Contribution/Authorship of 29 books in Obstetrics and Gynecology (10 as main author, 19 as the author of a chapter)
• Producer of 13 short films on Surgical Technique

Overseas Positions:

2012. 07-08: Clinical Observer at the MSKCC, (Prof. R. Barakat), New-York,USA 

2012. 04-06: Invited Professor, CHUM (Prof. Ph. Sauthier), Montréal, Canada

2012: Pedagogy in health sciences - Montréal, Canada
(Drs L. Leduc, N. Clairefont, B. Charlin)

1995: Research Fellow at the Cedars Sinaï Medical Center (Profs. L. Platt et BY Karlan), UCLA, Los-Angeles, USA

1995: Advanced Operative Endoscopy – Stanford, USA (Pr C. Lewinson)

Meetings & Conferences

146 addresses at international conferences as a guest speaker
(Africa, Asia, Europe, North America) & 323 addresses at national meetings

Cameroon: Member of the organization committee for 4 bilateral conferences in partnership with the Franco-Cameroonian association for the health of mother and Child (Yaoundé, Amiens, Douala)

Vietnam: Member of the organization committee for 6 bilateral conferenceswith the Faculties of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Awards

Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ofCanada (SOGC): Honorary Membership awarded in June 2021

Medal of the Royal order of Sahametrei
Conferred in 2017 in Phnom-Penh by the Minister of Health in recognition of the longstanding partnership with the CNGOF

Medal of the City of Ho Chi Minh
Conferred in 2009 by Prof. Tien the vice minister of Health, in recognition of the great benefit of the CNGOF teaching program

"Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends,

It is with great honor that, with the support of the French National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF), I submit my candidacy for the office of vice president of FIGO. I am applying for this position as part of a lifelong commitment to improving healthcare and to addressing the numerous issues facing women and girls across the world.

If elected, I vow to actively serve FIGO's vision that all women achieve the highest possible standards of physical, mental, reproductive and sexual health, and well-being throughout their lives. I believe, at this stage in my career, that my experience in similar leadership positions has provided me with the skill set essential to best serve FIGO.

In France, as Head of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Angers University Hospital since 1999, I have endeavored to better women's healthcare through effective strategic leadership and sound operational management. On a national level, I have been a member of the board of the CNGOF for over 15 years, and since 2012, I have served as an ambassador for French Gynecology as President of the International Relations Commission.

Furthermore, on the international stage, the development of knowledge and skills has been an important area of service for me, and I have organized numerous teaching programs with partner societies in all of the FIGO Regions. I have supported surgical workshops and training programs in Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos), Africa (Senegal, Mali, Cameroon), Europe (Russia, Bosnia) and South America (Brazil). In this regard, I look forward to investing my time in the Education, Communication and Advocacy Consortium (ECAC).

In parallel, as Vice President of the French Society of Gynecological and Pelvic Surgery (SCGP), I have worked closely with local and international societies on making surgery safer. I stand against Female Genital Mutilation. I support reconstructive surgery, to help correct the health complications experienced by victims, as well as the fistula surgery training initiative.

As a FIGO council member, elected in 2015, and as a member of the FIGO Minimal Access Surgery Committee since 2018, I have had the unique opportunity of working alongside the FIGO operational teams and member societies to further women's health on a global stage. I have also had the honor of working closely with esteemed colleagues from societies in francophone countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas.

During my term, I aim to actively collaborate with committees and ongoing working groups to promote important levers for women's healthcare. I believe in the FIGO approach of care across the lifespan, with a wholistic dimension that also addresses concerns related to the impact on health of environmental exposures, and well women care.

Furthermore, one of the most pressing issues of our time is maternal and infantile morbidity and mortality, I support the widespread implementation of the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI) which will no doubt improve safety and quality of care.

As a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, I have enjoyed developing a healthy and constructive working rapport with many of you. I am a keen supporter of the projects that President-elect Jeanne Conry has put forward in collaboration with President Carlos Füchtner and I believe that the Strategic and Operational Plans adopted, at the end of 2020 by the FIGO Council, stand us in a good stead to weather the ongoing COVID-19 storm and to come forth as a leading voice for women's health across the world.

Thank you for your Support,

Philippe Descamps"