Dr. med. Charles-Henry Rochat

Dr. Charles-Henry Rochat obtained his medical degree from the University of Geneva in 1982, was awarded the title FMH (Federatio Medicorum Helveticorum, Swiss Medical Association) specialist in Urology in 1987, became a member of the European Board of Urology in 1992 and obtained his degree in Advanced training in Surgical Urology in 2002. He divides his time between Advanced Medicine and Humanitarian Medicine.

From March 1999, he became one of the pioneers in laparoscopic surgery, practising the first laparoscopic radical prostatectomies in Switzerland. He established the Multidisciplinary Centre for Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery (da Vinci), which opened in 2003 at the Clinique Générale-Beaulieu (Geneva). In 2013, he co-founded and directed the Swiss International Prostate Center (SIPC).

His experience in robotics, in general, and particularly in robot-assisted prostatectomy is widely acknowledged. He is the author of studies, articles and book chapters in this field. In particular, the Clinique Générale-Beaulieu has been under his leadership since 2015; it is, in fact, the one of the few institutions in Switzerland to be accredited “Host Center” by the European Association of Urology (EAU) for training in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy using the da Vinci® robot.

In parallel, he was a Consultant in charge of Urologic Surgery at the Hôpital de la Chaux-de-Fonds (1989-2013) and a Consultant in the Department of Urology at the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, HUG (Geneva University Hospitals) 1989 - 2006.

Passionate about oncological and reconstructive surgery, his commitment to humanitarian medicine in 1983 led him to participate in numerous wartime missions as a surgeon. In 1993, in order to pursue a more sustainable activity which would be focused on teaching, he developed treatment, training and prevention programmes in the field of obstetric fistula in the Republic of Benin. These programmes are now internationally recognised. Since 1996, he has been the Consultant in charge of obstetric fistula surgery at the Tanguiéta Hospital in Northern Benin.

Among his academic and scientific activities, Dr Rochat was an Associate Professor of Urology from 2008 to 2017 at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Cotonou (Benin).

He is visiting associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Maternal Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York City, and co-director of the executive committee of the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research (GFMER).

He was a member of the board of the robotics section of the European Association of Urology (ERUS-EAU) from 2010 to 2021.

He holds the Commander’s Cross of the Order “Pro Merito Melitensi”, awarded by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and was further honoured with the title: Officer of the National Order of Benin.

Dr. Rochat is a member of numerous scientific societies and regularly serves as an expert for international scientific congresses.

Symposia, webinars and workshops

Congrès AFU, Paris, 22.11.2023

Obstetric fistulas: the Tanguiéta model

C.-H. Rochat

Congrès FIGO, Paris, 12.10.2023

30 years of experience in Benin : how to scale up  

C.-H. Rochat

Moderation at Humans at the Cutting Edge of Robotic Surgery 2023, 08.10.2023

International Innovation Awards 2023 Ghent, Belgium

C.-H. Rochat

Webinar Falsulf (Fédération des associations et des sociétés d’urologie de langue française), 01.09.2023

Europe/French-speaking Africa collaboration on obstetric fistula: 30 years of experience

C.-H. Rochat

Surgical workshop on obstetric fistula repair and urethral stenosis in Tanguiéta, North Benin, 3 – 15.04. 2023

C.-H. Rochat

Improving Practice in ObGyn Annual Symposium, 11.11.2022

Dr Charles Henry Rochat will be taking part in the annual symposium organised by NYU Long Island School of Medicine on Friday 11 November 2022, from 8am to 2.45pm EDT (1pm to 7.45pm in Geneva).

He will speak at 10:15 (15h15 UTC+1) on the theme:

Obstetric Fistula in Developing Countries: What Did I Learn in 25 Years of Practice?

https://fistula-group.ch/improving-practice-in-obgyn-annual-symposium/

Discover the presentation: www.grosfichiers.com/Px7NP9s2Wmd

Annual Meeting of the Swiss Urological Society, 29.09.21 to 01.10.21 in Interlaken

Participation of Dr Charles-Henry Rochat in

• Evolving indications and results of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy over 15 years in a personal cohort of 1054 patients
• Evolving indications and results of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy over 15 years in a personal cohort of 1054 patients between 2005 and 2019.

3D Magnetic resonance imaging-based printed models of prostate before and after focal therapy
M Martins, C Rochat, S Martinière, DB Georges Antoine, G Mayor, G Wirth,
S Regusci | Geneve, Lausanne, CH

Evolution of operative indications and results of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy over 15 years: study of a personal cohort of 1054 patients between 2005 and 2019
C Rochat, G de Boccard, S Regusci, M Martins Favre, R Schaffar, G Wirth | Geneva, CH

Contribution of 3d Visible Patient reconstruction imported into the da Vinci console for a posterior tumour in a horseshoe kidney
C Rochat, I Inan, G Genin, G Wirth | Geneva, CH

HUMANITARIAN MEDICINE, 08.04.2021 at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Cotonou, Benin.

From Geneva to Tanguiéta, a urologist's journey in the service of women's health.

UROLOGY, 18.03.2021, online seminar organised by the SIPC.

• Prostate cancer
• From diagnosis to treatment with specialised care

Speech by Dr Charles-Henry Rochat

• Radical prostatectomy: still the gold standard?

MEDECINE HUMANITAIRE, 07.03.2020, Palladium, Geneva.

International Women's Rights Day

HUMANITARIAN MEDICINE, 18.09.2019 at the Geneva Golf Club.

"From humanitarian action to robotics, today's surgical journey"

Radio Cité, 08.12.2022

Dr CH Rochat was Viviane de Witt's guest on the programme LA BOUTEILLE À MOITIÉ PLEINE.

Michael A. Mc Kay, 22.11.2022

Dr CH Rochat spoke to Michael A. Mc Kay on the occasion of Movember, about men's health and obstetric fistula.

Fifth edition of Philanthropy Network Magazine: "Philanthropy in a world in crisis", 07.11.2022

Evening organised by Agefi and Genolier Foundation to mark the launch of the Philanthropy Network Magazine at the Cercle de la terrasse in Geneva, hosted by Raymond Loretan and Frédéric Lelièvre. With the participation of Giedre Lideikyte Huber and Marta Pittavino from the University of Geneva, as well as René Lehmann from Mercy Ships (Switzerland), Keyvan Ghavami from Credit Suisse, Vera Michalski and Dr Charles-Henry Rochat.

Tanguieta Scientific Days, 26.10.2022

Dr CH Rochat spoke as an expert on the subject of "Technique of vaginal surgery: experience of obstetric fistulas" at the first edition of the Tanguiéta Scientific Days.

Temps Présent, 05.05.2021

Interviewed on the RTS programme Temps Présent (Radio Télévision Suisse / Bataille des antennes, la guerre n'est pas finie, broadcast on 1 April 2021), Prof. Charles-Henry Rochat describes 5G as an opportunity for remote medicine, where the surgeon would remain close to the patient.

In his view, the surgery of the future will remain contact surgery.

Prof. Rochat sees the usefulness of 5G (particularly the speed of image transmission, with no latency) as a real lever, mainly for learning or remote guidance.

Dr Charles-Henry Rochat talks to Eden Benin. 12.04.2022

Dr Charles-Henry Rochat and his team undertook an operation in Tanguiéta, northern Benin, on 7 April 2021. Speaking to Eden Benin, he explains what is at stake in these missions.

Obstetric fistula is a little-known and taboo disease that often affects very young women who are destroyed after a difficult birth.

In Tanguiéta, many women are waiting for them, as well as doctors who will be learning this surgery and other training doctors from the sub-region. The campaign, which will last around ten days, will involve intense operations, with 3 teams working simultaneously. Given the limited number of beds, however, the number of operations will not exceed 50.

The care provided is comprehensive, including therapeutic care and training, but also, thanks to the collaboration with the Claudine Talon Foundation, awareness-raising, prevention and the reintegration of patients.

"We need to look after rural areas. That's where the poorest people live, with no money, no education and no access to caesarean sections", insists Dr Rochat. What these medical teams are doing is repairing the damage caused by a lack of access to Caesarean sections.

During Dr Charles-Henry Rochat's 2021 surgical mission to Benin, 27.04.2021

Video report on the Cotonou conference on 8 April 2021

Paris Match, 25.01.2021

Heidi News, 12.10.2020

Tribune de Genève, 08.10.2020

Dr Rochat has been awarded the title of "Alumnus of the Year 2020" by the University of Geneva, for his fight against obstetric fistulas.

He has also been awarded :

- the Commander's Cross of the Order "Pro Merito Melitensi", awarded by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

- Officer of the National Order of Benin.