Prof. Luis M. Chiva is a professor of gynecology and medical ethics and director of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. During his professional career, he has obtained a national and international reputation in gynecologic oncology, mainly as an experienced and devoted surgeon in complex pelvic oncologic surgery, focusing on developing abilities and surgical techniques to improve the patient’s quality of life. He is a highly respected surgical leader in this field, frequently invited to speak at many international gynecologic oncology meetings.
Dr. Chiva graduated with honors in 1986 from the University of Madrid and then, in 1994, he completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, IL, where he was mentored by Professor Edgardo Yordan, MD. Following his fellowship, he returned to Spain and was chosen as council member of the Spanish Gynecologic Oncologist Society. He also obtained a doctoral degree, defending his magna cum laude thesis on survival impact of cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer.
In 2002, Dr. Chiva was appointed director of the department of gynecologic oncology at the newly open MD Anderson Cancer Center in Madrid and also became adjunct professor at the University of Texas, developing an active educational interexchange program with MD Anderson Houston in collaboration with Professor Pedro Ramirez, MD.
Dr. Chiva has written more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, been invited as a speaker on more than 300 occasions, and has organized more than 35 specialty educational meetings. He is most recognized for his passion and enthusiasm in sharing and spreading surgical education knowledge among his gynecologic oncologic colleagues, especially with surgical videos focusing on those areas needing the most training, such as bowel, urology, and surgical reconstruction.
In 2020, he started a very successful monthly online educational activity with other European colleagues, Meet the Surgeon, which allows colleagues worldwide to improve their knowledge in diverse surgical areas of gynecologic oncology. Recently, he has been deeply involved in the European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO), serving as a council member, chair of the quality assurance and certification committee, and scientific committee member. He is editor-in-chief of the ESGO platform e-Academy and currently serves as associate editor and video editor of the International Journal of Gynecologic Oncology.
Dr. Chiva has actively participated in designing the European surgical quality indicators for advanced ovarian cancer and cervical cancer management and initiated a Collaborative Screening and Educational Program in 2016 with the Hospital Monkole in Mongafula, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he has been regularly traveling with medical students to establish a cervical cancer screening program.
After suffering a severe hematologic disease in 2010 that was successfully treated twice by a bone marrow transplant, Dr. Chiva became particularly sensitive to patient-centered medicine. After his own experience, he has tried to make empathy the driver of his professional endeavor.
He has been married 31 years to Maria, a general surgeon, and she is his greatest supporter. Together, they have raised eight children, and three have followed their own passions for medicine.
