Search
Philip Corfman
When the women’s health movement first began, Dr. Philip Corfman was in a position of power, both literally and figuratively. He was a White, male ObGyn in charge of contraceptive research at the National Institutes of Health. When the Senate held hearings about the Pill in 1970, Phil was called to testify. Activists disrupted the hearings, pointing out that no women had been invited to testify and questioning why women’s concerns about the Pill’s effects were not being considered. Phil, who was sitting at the witness table when the disruption took place, told the Senators that the women were asking important questions. From then on, Phil was a behind-the-scenes supporter of the women’s health movement’s attempts to influence federal policy. He shared information, gave advice when asked, and ensured that activists had a place at the table -- or at least time at the mike. In 1980, he encouraged his late wife’s friends to create NWHN’s Eunice Luccock Corfman Memorial Internship for graduate students. Phil went on to work on contraceptive development and approval at the World Health Organization and the Food and Drug Administration, where he shepherded mifepristone through a complex and politically charged approval process. Phil retired from the FDA in 1998 and continues his work for reproductive health as an independent consultant. For more information, contact corfman@erols.com.
September 2005