After thirty-five years of practice in Mende, Dr Philippe Maurin is retiring

Le Dr Philippe Maurin quitte la Lozère pour la Gironde. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

The cardiologist, pulmonologist and forensic pathologist leaves Lozère to settle in Gironde. Before, he looks back on his career in the department where his two families, paternal and maternal, come from.

September 11, 1989-October 1, 2024. Thirty-five years. This is the period, almost to the day, during which Dr. Philippe Maurin practiced cardiology, pulmonology and forensic medicine in Mende. Before leaving, he failed to find a successor.

In the hospital for fifteen years

“I should never have come here,remembers the native of Metz (Moselle). I was an assistant in cardiology and forensic medicine. My parents, who were from Lozère, my family's birthplace since the 15th century, both died in 1989, two weeks apart. They are buried in Mende. My friend, the general practitioner Jacques Schmitt, told me: “You should settle here”. I followed his advice.”

So when he arrived in Mende, he set up his practice, which was located at 15 Avenue Foch. In addition, he worked for fifteen years at the hospital. Not to mention his expert practice. “I was also a permanent associate judge at the juvenile court for eighteen years, he specifies. I also provided judicial follow-up for perpetrators of sexual assault.”

“Installing modern cardiology”

One of his most original achievements occurred in 1995, in his capacity as a forensic pathologist. “With the sacred art commission, I carried out the medical expertise of Saint Frézal (former bishop assassinated on September 4, 826, Editor's note), with Henri Coudane, professor of forensic medicine at the Henri-Poincaré University of Nancy, and Daniel Rouge, professor of forensic medicine at the University of Toulouse. It's a small additional contribution for Lozère."

According to him, "installing modern cardiology (ultrasound, cardiac stimulation…)" was his "biggest challenge" : “I immediately wanted to work in a network with the two university hospitals in Montpellier and Clermont-Ferrand. For example, for outdated valvulopathies, diagnosed late, we were able to operate quickly and increase the chances of survival.”

Continue a little medicine

The doctor will keep an excellent memory of his patients, “admittedly a little reluctant, at first, to what I wanted to put in place. People didn't want to hear what I had to say or they didn't want to leave their homes. Then it happened. I've always had respectful, straightforward, trusting patients. They've been a tremendous help."

Dr Philippe Maurin, who is leaving to join his two children (an ophthalmologist daughter and a cardiologist son) and his six grandchildren in Gironde, has probably not finished with medicine. He intends to remain a medical advisor at MACSF (Mutuelle d’assurance du corps de santé français), conduct teleconsultations in retirement homes and do some replacements.

His graphic novel “Et si demain l’humanité disparaient…”

Philippe Maurin is publishing a self-published graphic novel Et si demain l’humanité disparaient, with dense scientific content. The plot is set in 2073, when artificial intelligence announces the end of the human race in three hundred years.

Mende is in the spotlight, since it is one of the four cities visited in the book, along with Okinawa (Japan), Lhasa (Tibet) and Copenhagen (Denmark), and cited as examples for the longevity of their inhabitants. “The novel can also be read linearly without dwelling on scientific data“, the author reassures.

The numerous illustrations were masterfully produced by Roland Lesluin, a designer from Mende. The two men were also able to count on the invaluable help of Philippe Cogoluègnes, the president of Énimie BD.

Philippe Maurin will be signing books this Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at P'tits Papiers. Then, at 2pm, at La Livreraie, he will give a conference on “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Behavior”.

What if tomorrow humanity disappearedis on sale at Hyper U, in both bookstores, at the Maison de la presse and on request. Price: 19.50 euros.

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