Philip, who is a citizen of both the UK and of Rwanda, previously provided leadership at the University of Rwanda, first as Principal of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences and then as Vice Chancellor. Since leaving the University of Rwanda he worked with the Mastercard Foundation on the Scholars Program and established a consulting company in Rwanda working in health and education. Philip practiced in family medicine and was professor of teaching and learning, with a responsibility for student welfare at the University of Glasgow. A graduate of St Andrews and Glasgow universities, he holds several honorary professorships and is appointed as chair of the Board of Rwanda Biomedical Centre.

He is a Methodist preacher, founded a fair-trade organization, and is a trustee and advisor to several groups including St Andrews Clinics for Children. In 2017 he received an OBE for services to higher education in Rwanda, in 2018 was awarded the ASME Gold medal for outstanding contribution to medical education, and in 2021 was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.