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Professor David Healy

PROFESSOR TO LEAD WORLD FERTILITY FEDERATION

Professor David Healy, Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University and Southern Health Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Australia, has been elected as the 21st President of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS). This is the first time the International Federation of Fertility Societies has elected an Australian as President.

“This is a great honour. It shows that the Fertility Society of Australia is internationally-respected and of high standard.  Melbourne is considered to be the bio-medical capital of the Southern Hemisphere, and Monash University has pioneered several advances in the care of the infertile couple, including early developments in IVF,” said Professor Healy.

Some of the issues Professor Healy will address as President of IFFS is improving global health for women, particularly reproductive health, especially their contraceptive care and infertility care.  In addition IFFS 2010-2013 will aim to include patients and counsellors as well as scientists and doctors in the IFFS family.  IFFS will continue its work with the World Health Organisation in low income countries and aim for more effective contraception in all communities.

“Being President of the IFFS means a great opportunity to be able to lead younger members of Southern Health and Monash University Faculty of Medicine into international work with the World Health Organisation.”

Professor Healy will attend the 20th World Congress of Fertility and Sterility in Munich, Germany, in  September 2010 where he will officially take up his IFFS duties.

“A major IFFS aim for 2010 to 2013 is for Healthier IVF by the use of more gentle and safer medical treatments. We will also continue our programme of training, to make sure that access to Assisted Conception is not just confined to the richer countries.”

As President of the IFFS Professor Healy will be Chairman/President of the Executive Committee from 2010-2013, President of the IFFS World  Congress in Munich, Germany in 2010 finishing with the IFFS World Congress in Boston, USA in 2013.