Doris Schopper, MD, DPH

Professor, University of Geneva

Former Chair, MSF Ethics Review Board

Doris Schopper, MD, DPH is a professor in the medical faculty of the University of Geneva and has been Director of the Center for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (CERAH) since July 2011.

Doris obtained a medical degree at the University of Geneva (1978), trained as a specialist in Internal Medicine (1986) and completed a Doctor in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health (1992).

Between 1982 and 1990 she spent several years with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the field. She was president of the Swiss branch of MSF (1991–1998) and twice president of the MSF International Council during this period. In 2001 Doris was asked to constitute an Ethics Review Board for MSF International. Since then she has chaired the Board coordinating the ethical review of MSF research proposals and providing advice on ethical matters to the organisation.

Doris also worked as health policy adviser in the Global Programme on AIDS at WHO headquarters in Geneva (1992-95). Further international work includes two years as senior health policy adviser at the Swiss Tropical Institute and developing several policies and strategies for WHO (e.g. guideline for policy makers on national policies for violence and injury prevention; strategy for mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Europe; WHO-wide strategy on child and adolescent health).