George A. Vilos, B.Sc, MD, FRCSC, FACOG
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
London, Ontario, Canada.
Infertility Research Chair Professor
King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Biography
Dr. G. Vilos completed a four-year honours degree in Medical Biophysics (1970), MD (1974), Fellowship of The Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in Obstetrics and Gynecology (FRCSC, 1978) and post-graduate Research Fellowship on Bladder Physiology (1999) at Western University in London Ontario. In addition, Dr. Vilos received a Medical Research Council of Canada (MRC) Fellowship to conduct research with Professor G.C. Liggins at the National Women’s Hospital, University of Auckland, New Zealand (1980). The main thrust of his research was to determine the role of Biophysical forces in growth and maturation of the fetal lung in sheep (Maternal Fetal Medicine).
From 1980 to 1982, Dr. Vilos spend an additional two years as a Research Fellow with the Medical Research Council Group in Reproductive Biology at Western University with Professor J.R. Challis. The main thrust of the research was to determine biochemical and biophysical factors involved in growth and maturation of the sheep and human fetal lung.
Dr. Vilos was certified by ACOG in 1983 and has been appointed at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Western University since 1982. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1994 and full Professor in 1998.
In the 1990’s, due to departmental needs and personal interests, he switched his focus from research in fetal developmental physiology to a practice in gynaecology and research in the development and advancement of minimal invasive diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for gynaecological conditions (Minimally Invasive Gynecology).
His main focus has been to reduce the number of hysterectomies by providing alternatives to the three leading causes of hysterectomy; uterine fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding and chronic pelvic pain including endometriosis. In addition, his research, practice and teaching include innovative techniques and instrumentation to minimize risks and complications associations with endoscopic surgery.
He has organized numerous national and international courses teaching endoscopic surgery and has established undergraduate, post-graduate and continuing medical education programs. He has published extensively in the areas of fetal lung growth and maturation, endoscopic surgery and complications, and hysteroscopic and nonhysteroscopic techniques in endometrial ablation for abnormal uterine bleeding.
He is a member of a large number of medical societies and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology and Evidence-based Obstetrics and Gynecology and ad hoc reviewer for multiple journals.
Current interests include continuous evaluation of alternatives to hysterectomy providing endometrial ablative techniques for abnormal uterine bleeding, blood supply restriction to uterine fibroids including transvaginal uterine artery occlusion and uterine artery embolization, and laparoscopic reduction of endometriosis for chronic pelvic pain and infertility.
Dr. Vilos has published over 150 papers, clinical practice guidelines, and book chapters in refereed journals with major contributions to medicine including:
- Biophysical and biochemical factors in growth and maturation of the fetal lung;
- Innovative techniques to minimize laparoscopic entry injuries;
- Identification, characterization and mitigation of stray electrical currents during electrosurgery;
- Clinical pathways as alternatives to hysterectomy by innovative therapies to treat uterine fibroids (The Ontario Uterine Artery Embolization Trial, temporary Doppler-guided transvaginal uterine artery occlusion), abnormal uterine bleeding (first and second generation endometrial ablation technologies), and chronic pelvic pain (laparoscopic and medical treatment of endometriosis).
Presently, he is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Western University, Coordinator of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology at the division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) in London, Ontario. He has chaired the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and has been a member of the CME Committee of the AAGL.
Dr. Vilos is the recipient of numerous National and International awards including the SOGC President’s Award (June 2011).
From July 2008 to June 2013, Dr. Vilos served as the Infertility Research Chair Professor at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
He lives with his wife Emily and two children, Angelos and Christopher in London, Ontario, Canada.
