Alain Deloche, Founder

Professor Alain Deloche is a renowned French surgeon. He spent his career at the Assistance publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) and in that time, witnessed the birth of cardiac surgery.

Prof. Deloche is a member of the Academy of Surgery and professor emeritus at Paris Descartes University. He was present at the opening of the Georges-Pompidou European Hospital where he was named Head of the Cardiovascular Department.

In 1972, he co-founded Doctors Without Borders with his long-time friend Bernard Kouchner, formerly the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. Shortly after, in 1980, he co-founded the NGO Doctors of the World where he was chairman from 1984 to 1987.

In 1988, Prof. Deloche launched the “La Chaîne de l’Espoir” program within Doctors of the World to provide lifesaving surgery for children in developing countries and build health care capacity in Western Africa and South-East Asia. In 1994, Alain officially founded La Chaîne de l’Espoir as an independent NGO alongside his longtime friend Dr. Eric Cheysson.

In 2015, Prof. Deloche was made Knight of the Legion of Honour (“Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur”), the highest title given by the French government.

Since then, he has written several books recounting his humanitarian and medical experiences: Comme un éléphant Blanc, Le roman du coeur, Dîtes-moi la vérité Docteur,  La Glace à la vanille – un chirurgien pour les enfants du monde, Le coeur éternel, utopie ou promesse and Un éléphant blanc, ça ne change pas de couleur.