THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Dr. Phil Corfman

July 19, 1926 – February 18, 2019

“The ‘range and safety of contraceptive methods available to women today’ in the United States is owed more to Dr. Corfman than to ‘any other one person.’” -National Women’s Health Network Executive Director Cindy Pearson

Obstetrician and gynecologist. Helped shape reproductive research at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 1964–1984. First director of NICHD’s Center for Population Research (CPR), established in 1968 to coordinate and conduct research and training in population health, including research on contraception. Named CPR director, 1968. Spent 20 years at NICHD before leaving for a role at the World Health Organization and later, the Food and Drug Administration. Member of the FDA committee that reviewed obstetric and gynecological drugs. Helped remove high-dose birth-control pills from the market when safer versions were available. Helped lay groundwork for emergency morning-after pill. Named by Ms. Magazine as 1 of 40 heroes, specifically for “his sensitive response to feminist health activists and his efforts to change the direction of birth control research so that male methods were included and safe methods for women were emphasized,” 1982. Employee of Planned Parenthood and a founding member of a leading pro-RU 486 lobbying organization, the Reproductive Health Technology Project.

Photo. Dr. Philip Corfman speaking at the Senate Hearing on the preliminary findings of a government-backed study regarding birth control pills and cancer, 1970.