Dr. André Lalonde has developed extensive knowledge and expertise in several areas of women’s health such as: risk management; assessment and development of collaborative care models; health programs to meet the unique health needs of aboriginal population; development and implementation of clinical practice and consensus guidelines; consumer health education programs; capacity building of health delivery systems in Canada and in low resource countries.
His expertise includes the implementation of safe motherhood programs, reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity programs and audits, management of clinical services in hospitals, risk management, sexual reproductive health, and partnership programs with low resource countries.
Dr. Lalonde has been responsible for the development and implementation of several maternal and newborn care risk management programs which are currently implemented across Canada (MOREOB, ALARM). In recent year, he was instrumental in integrating the ALARM International program in over twenty low resource countries as a method to address maternal mortality and morbidity and strengthen obstetric and gynecological societies. He has been active in partnerships with family physicians, nurses, midwives, and other stakeholders involved in reproductive health at the national and international level.
A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Dr. Lalonde obtained his Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the American College of Surgery, and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also earned a Masters Degree in Health Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics in 1988.
Dr. Lalonde held the position of Executive Vice President at the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) for 20 years (1991-2011), as well as appointments as Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Ottawa and McGill University, and Adjunct Professor in Health Administration at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Lalonde held appointments as Chief, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, LaSalle General Hospital (1973-1989); President, IHPMI (1991-1993) and President, Board of Directors, LaSalle General Hospital (1978-1987). He has lectured extensively in Canada and around the world, developed programs on capacity building, coauthored landmark textbooks on post partum hemorrhage and sexual reproductive health.
Dr. Lalonde is a member of the Federation of International Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) and past president of the Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health Committee. He is now a special advisor to the FIGO Education and Capacity Building Committee. He was responsible for the development and monitoring of FIGO Save the Mothers programs in 10 countries (2007-2011). He is the founding member of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), and has participated on World Health Organization’s (WHO) expert panels on safe motherhood, substance abuse, post-partum hemorrhage.
Dr. Lalonde is a member of a wide number of professional organizations, including ACOG, ABOG, ACS, CMA, RCPSC, RCOG, CANCOF, to name a few. Dr. Lalonde has received many awards, including the “A. Lalonde Birthing Unit at LaSalle General Hospital”, an honorary fellowship at the Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (UK), an honorary fellowship at the College National des Obstétriciens et Gynécologues de France, fellowships at Universidad Val Paraiso in Chile, honorary fellowship in Chile, Japan, Bolivia, Argentina, Uganda and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, acknowledged his outstanding contribution in 2010 in the development of the global strategy and funding for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health (SMNH).
Currently, he is the chair of International Childbirth Initiative (ICI)on improving quality of obstetrical care. He is a recognized expert in post-partum hemorrhage simulation workshops and training obstetricians, family physicians, midwives to help reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. He continues as an expert reviewer for the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is an expert consultant in implementing midwifery birthing projects in the Cree Nation (Northern Quebec). He is an international lecturer on post-partum hemorrhage, mortality, mother-baby friendly birthing facility, risk management in obstetrics and innovative integrated mother-newborn care.