Victor Gomel, MD

Dr. Gomel holds the rank of Professor Emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia. He served as Chairperson of his Department for fifteen years, during which the Department was greatly expanded and attained international recognition.

He is internationally known for his pioneering work in both gynecologic microsurgery and operative laparoscopy. With his team, their IVF program was the first to achieve success, resulting in the birth (on December 25, 1983) of the first IVF baby in Canada.

Dr. Gomel authored a long list of scientific articles published in prestigious international journals, numerous book chapters, and several books. A new updated edition of his book “Reconstructive and Reproductive Surgery in Gynecology” was published in 2019.

He has received honorary memberships and awards of excellence from numerous international scientific societies and universities, including his own Faculty of Medicine, in recognition of his pioneering work in reproductive medicine and gynecologic surgery.

Professor Gomel was also the recipient, of the prestigious distinction of Chevalier of the order of Légion d’Honneur, awarded by Jacques Chirac, President of France in 2003. In 2008, he was elected “Fellow” to the World Academy of Art and Science, and in 2009 he received the degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris causa, from the Simon Fraser University. He has been awarded “Honorary Membership” by the European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (ESHRE) in 2012 and the AAGL in 2015. In 2013 he was awarded the prize “Jacques Salat-Baroux” in reproduction from the “National Academy of Medicine of France.” He has since been elected as foreign member to the same academy. He was awarded the rank of Professor Honoris causa by the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology of the Russian Federation, and in 2018 he received the medal of the Order of Valor from the Government of Cameroon.