Dr. Philippe De Wals’ research is centered on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, reproductive abnormalities, and the assessment of health services and public health programs and policies. He is the author of more than 200 articles published in scientific journals and has contributed several chapters to textbooks. Currently, De Wals is a member of research centers at the Quebec University Hospital, the Sherbrooke University Hospital and the Quebec Heart and Lung University Institute. He also serves as medical advisor to the Quebec National Institute of Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

In 1990, Dr. De Wals was awarded the Jean Van Beneden Prize in recognition of his excellent work in the public health field in Belgium. In 2005, he was elected to the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium. He was awarded the price for excellence of the Quebec Community Health Specialists Association in 2007. In 2019, he was an awardee of the Collen-Francqui International Professorship at Antwerp University. In 2023, he received the Dr. John Waters Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership in support of immunization programs and policy in Canada.