Members of Global Reach Committee

Dion Morton OBE (Co-Chair), United Kingdom

Dion Morton OBE

Current position

Professor Morton is Barling Professor of Surgery and Head of the Academic Department of Surgery at the University of Birmingham in the UK. He was given an honorary consultant appointment at the University Hospital Birmingham in 1996, and was appointed Professor of Surgery in 2006. In 2015, he was appointed Barling Professor of Surgery.

Medical school

He received his degree in Medicine from Bristol University, UK in 1985.

General surgical and colorectal training

He undertook his surgical and colorectal training at University Hospital Birmingham and in the West Midlands region of the UK.

Main clinical and research interests

His primary research interests are clinical and translational research for colorectal cancer and the development of clinical trials in surgery.

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

He was Director of the Birmingham Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (2008-2019), Director of Clinical Research at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (2012-2019). He is past President 2015-17 of the Society for Academic and Research Surgery. He is currently Director of the West Midlands Genomics Centre.

He has had a leading role in developing trainee led surgical research, first establishing the West Midlands Research Collaborative in 2009, and subsequently helping to establish a national network of trainee collaboratives across the United Kingdom. He has led the RCS (eng) Clinical Research Initiative, establishing 12 surgical specialty leads and eight surgical trials centres across the country.

Simon Ng (Co-Chair), Hong Kong

Simon Ng

Current positions

• Professor, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong SAR
• Honorary Consultant, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR

Medical school

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with Honors, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, Hong Kong SAR (1995)
• Doctor of Medicine (with Commendation), Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, Hong Kong SAR (2013)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Basic and Higher Surgical Training and Colorectal Training: Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1999)
• Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong (1999)
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (General Surgery) (2002)
• Fellowship of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (Surgery) (2002)
• Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons (2011)

Main clinical and research interests

• Minimally invasive and robotic surgery for colorectal diseases
• Advanced endoscopic therapy for colorectal diseases
• Multimodality treatment for colorectal cancer
• Colorectal cancer screening
• Biomarkers for colorectal cancer
• Enhanced recovery after surgery
• Integrative medicine (combined Chinese and Western medicine)

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

Professor Simon Ng graduated from the medical school of CUHK in 1995 with seven distinctions and was awarded an honours degree and double Gold Medals. He passed the Joint Specialty Fellowship Examination in General Surgery in 2002 with highest marks and won the Li-Shields Medal. In 2013, Professor Ng received his Medical Doctoral Degree with Commendation from CUHK for his research thesis on the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.

Professor Ng is currently Associate Dean (Student Affairs) of the Faculty of Medicine, and Professor of the Division of Colorectal Surgery, CUHK. He is the President of the Hong Kong Society for Coloproctology, a Council Member of the Hong Kong IBD Society and the Hong Kong Society of Robotic Surgery, an Honorary Member of the Korean Association of Robotic Surgeons, a Board Member of the Asia Pacific Endo-Lap Surgery Group, a Governing Council Member of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Coloproctology, a Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), a Member of the ASCRS International Committee and Membership Committee, and a Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Colorectal Disease.

Professor Ng has published over 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including first-authored publications in top-notched journals such as The Lancet, Gastroenterology, and Annals of Surgery. His research work in colorectal surgery has earned him a number of international and national awards, including the Northern California Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Award of the ASCRS (2008), the International Guest Scholarship of the American College of Surgeons (2010), the GB Ong Travelling Fellowship (2011), the British Journal of Surgery Prize of the European Society of Coloproctology (2011 and 2014), the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh China Medal (2014 and 2016), the Ministry of Education Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award – First-class Award in Natural Sciences (2014), the State Natural Science Award - Second-class Award (2016), and the Outstanding Fellowship of the Faculty of Medicine, CUHK (2019).

On the pedagogical side, Professor Ng had received eleven Teacher of the Year Awards of the Faculty of Medicine from 2005 to 2018, and the Master Teacher Award in 2011. In recognition of his outstanding performance in the surgical profession and his contribution to the community, Professor Ng was selected as one of the awardees of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Hong Kong in 2010. 

Nicolas Avellaneda, Argentina

Nicolas Avellaneda

Current position

International Colorectal Fellow - Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (2022)

Medical school

Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina (graduated 2012)

General surgical and colorectal training

• General Surgery Residency CEMIC University Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Chief of Residents CEMIC University Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Colorectal Fellowship Nueva Proctologia, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• International Colorectal Fellowship - Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

Main clinical and research interests

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Colorectal Cancer
• Proctology

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2022

Additional information

• Member of ESCP Social Media Committee and Programme Committee
• International Fellow - American College of Surgeons
• Mastership in Coloproctology, University of East Anglia, UK (2020-2022)
• PhD - 'Role of surgery for luminal disease in primary ileocecal Crohn’s disease patients in the biologic era' (2020-2022)

Erman Aytac (Communications Committee Chair)

Erman Aytac

Current position

Associate Professor of Surgery, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey (since 2015). Staff Surgeon, Acibadem Maslak Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey (since 2016).

Medical school

Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey (graduated in 2006)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey (graduated in 2011)
• Research/clinical research/clinical fellowship, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA (graduated in 2016)

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Pelvic floor and intestinal motility disorders
• Minimally invasive and complex abdominopelvic surgery

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2023

Additional information

• Primary and co-investigator in numerous national or international research studies. His studies have received awards from the Eczacıbaşı Scientific Research and Medical Award Fund, the Turkish Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery, and the American College of Surgeons.
• Involved in numerous national and international medical/surgical meetings as a member of organising committee (including chairperson) and as an invited speaker or presenter.
• Works as an editorial board member or reviewer in many prestigious national/international journals.

Romina Bianchi, Argentina

Romina Bianchi

Current position

General and Colorectal Surgeon, Fernandez Hospital and Favaloro Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medical school

Medical Degree at Faculty of Medicine, UNLP, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (graduated in 2006)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Basic surgical training: Clínica Modelo Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Higher surgical training and colorectal training: Jose M. Penna Acute General. Hospital, GCABA
• Residents instructor: Jose M. Penna Acute General Hospital GCABA, Argentina
• Observership with Division of Colorectal Surgery, Kingston Health Science Centre with Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada, October 2022
• Scholarship awarded by ESCP 2019
• Observership: Minimally invasive approches in colorectal surgery specially TaTME at Health Sciences North, Sudbury, ON, Canada 2019
• Scholarship awarded by SBCP at Angelita & Joaquim Habr-Gama Institute of Coloproctology and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Alemán Oswaldo Cruz and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. San Pablo, Brasil. 2011. Active participation in scientific activities and practical activities, laparoscopic colectomy, anorectal physiology, and surgical and radiological clinical athenaeums.

Main clinical and research interests

• Multimodality treatment for colorectal cancer
• Minimally invasive and robotic Surgery for colorectal disease
• Diverticulitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2022

Additional information

• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons since 2019
• Secretary of the Argentine Academy of Surgery 2022
• Secretary of Subcommittee of Women in Surgery of AAC
• Coordinator of Women, Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Submission, Argentine Chapter of American College of Surgeon (CAACS) 2021
• Associate Member of the Argentine Academy of Surgery 2021
• Member of Director Board of Coloproctology Argentine Society 2022-2023
• Treasurer Directors Board of the Argentine Chapter of the ACS 2022-2023
• Member of Directors Board of SACP (current member)
• Member of the Editorial Committee SACP Journal
• Member of Argentine Surgery Association Mini-Invasive Subcommittee since 2019
• Member of the SACP Mini-Invasive Subcommittee 2019

Pamela Buchwald, Sweden

Pamela Buchwald

Current position

• Associate Professor in Surgery Lund University since 2013
• Consultant Colorectal Surgeon Skåne University Hospital since 2016

Medical school

Uppsala University, Sweden 2000

General surgical and colorectal training

• Helsingborg Hospital, Sweden
• Skåne University Hospital, Sweden including pelvic floor unit
• St Mark's Hospital (ESCP fellow)
• Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Exenterative surgery
• Diverticulitis

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

Pamela Buchwald has been the Swedish national representative of ESCP and has been on the board for the Swedish Colorectal Surgical Society. She is currently on the national board for colorectal surgical training for consultant surgeons and is involved in research collaborations such as SCANDIV-trials, PelvEx and 10Ten. She is part of a regional working group to improve IBD surgical pathways. She currently supervises five PhD students and her main fields of clinical and scientific work are colorectal cancer and diverticulitis.

Peter Christensen, Denmark

Peter Christensen

Current position

Professor, Aarhus University, Denmark, and Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Pelvic Floor Unit, Department of Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

Medical school

Aarhus University, Denmark (1994)

General surgical and colorectal training

• 2010: Karolinska Sjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
• 2010: International certified colorectal surgeon by EBQS/Coloproctology
• 2008-2012: Staff specialist, Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
• 2002-2008: Registrar/senior registrar, Departments of Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital and Randers Hospital, Denmark
• 1998-2001: Research Fellow, Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

Main clinical and research interests

• Patient reported outcomes
• App development for scientific purpose in health
• Fecal incontinence
• Sequelae following cancer treatment
• Pelvic floor rehabilitation
• Surgery for functional bowel problems
• Neurogenic bowel dysfunction

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

• Author or co-author of 61 scientific papers published in international peer reviewed journals (cit. 1.052, H-index: 20),
• Doctoral thesis (2009) and , PHD thesis (2002), Aarhus University (2002), Denmark
• Supervisor of three completed PhD thesis, main supervisor of two ongoing Phd studies
• Referee for several international scientific journals
• Member of Advisory Boards for Coloplast and Wellspect

Suk-Hwan Lee, Korea

Suk-Hwan Lee

Current position

Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine.

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Varut Lohsiriwat, Thailand

Varut Lohsiriwat

Current position

Professor of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (since 2017)

Medical school

Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (graduated in 1999)

General surgical and colorectal training

Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (General surgery graduated in 2004 and Colorectal surgery graduated in 2006)

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Benign anal diseases
• Enhanced recovery pathway
• Postoperative pain control
• Surgical infection
• Nutrition therapy in surgical patients

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

• Editor-in-Chief of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery (since 2019)
• Associate Editor of Siriraj Medical Journal (since 2016)
• Editorial board member of Annals of Coloproctology (since 2020)
• PhD-thesis: Characterisation of vascular receptors in haemorrhoids (University of Nottingham, UK)
• Memberships:
  • The Association of General Surgeons of Thailand (since 2010)
  • The Society of Colorectal Surgeons of Thailand (since 2015)
  • The Surgical Infection Society of Thailand (since 2016)

Surendra Kumar Mantoo, Singapore

Surendra Kumar Mantoo

Current positions

Senior Consultant and Lead Colorectal Service, Department of Surgery, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore.

Medical school

• MBBS, Government Medical College, Jabalpur, India (1987-1993)
• MS (Masters in Surgery), Government Medical College, Jabalpur, India (1993-1997)
• MMed (General Surgery), National University of Singapore (2006)
• FRCS, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh (2011)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Surgery Residency, Department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Jabalpur, India (1993-1997)
• Advanced Speciality Trainee, Department of Surgery, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore (2006-2011)
• Fellowship, Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Surgery, Clinique de Chirurgie Digestive et. Endocrinienne, Hotel Dieu, University of Nantes, France (2012)

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Pelvic floor disorders
• Laparoscopic surgery
• Research in colorectal cancer, fecal incontinence, anorectal sepsis

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

Adj. Assistant Professor Surendra Kumar Mantoo graduated from N.S.C.B., Medical College and obtained his Masters in General Surgery from India. He completed his MRCS and FRCS with Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, UK. He was awarded M.Med in surgery by National University, Singapore. He received a HMDP award in 2011 and completed fellowship in Ano-rectal and Pelvic Floor Surgery, at University of Nantes, France.

With an experience spanning more than 20 years, he is currently clinical lead and senior consultant in the colorectal service, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore. He is passionate about teaching and is a Core Faculty Tutor, Surgical Residency Program. He is active in several professional organisations.

He has published more than 60 research papers, have held grants and authored and co-authored numerous book chapters. He is a reviewer and member of Editorial Board for numerous journals. He has been invited as a plenary speaker and faculty at multiple local and international meetings. He has been awarded honorary fellowship by the International College of Laparoscopic Surgeons (FCLS) and with the exhibit of exceptional merit by American College of Surgeons.

Memberships/positions:

• Honorary fellow, International College of Laparoscopic Surgeons, (FCLS)
• Board Member, Society for Continence, Singapore, 2019-2021
• Treasurer, Society of Colorectal Surgeons, Singapore, 2019-2021
• Associate Member, Society for Geriatric Medicine Singapore, 2016-17
• Ex. Treasurer, Society of Colo-Rectal Surgeons Singapore, 2014-15
• EXCO, Committee Member, Society of Colo-Rectal Surgeons Singapore, 2013-15
• Society of Colo-Rectal Surgeons Singapore, member since 2006
• Singapore Continence Society, Working member since 2013
• European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP), member since 2012( not renewed since 3 years)
• Gastroenterological Society of Singapore (GESS), member since 2007
• Association of Colorectal Surgeons of India, No. 59, Life member since 2014
• Asia Pacific Hernia Society, APHS No. LM - 00505, Life member since 2006
• Association of Minimal Access Surgeons Of India No. 492, Life member since 2002
• Association of Surgeons of India No. 13383, Life member since 2000
• Association of Surgeons of India, Delhi State Chapter, Life member since 2000

Klaus Matzel (Chair, European School of Coloproctology)

Klaus Matzel

Current position

Head of Section Coloproctology Department of Surgery, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU, Germany (since 2008)

Medical school

Graduated at University Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU, Germany (Graduated in 1985)

General surgical and colorectal training

• 1986-1994: Surgical training, Department of Surgery, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU, Germany
• 1988-1989: Postdoctoral fellowship: Department of Urology, UCSF, University of California, San Francisco, USA
• 2002: U.E.M.S. EBSQ Coloproctology Diploma

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Proctology
• Functional disorders of the lower intestinal tract
• Sacral nerve stimulation as treatment for fecal incontinence and constipation

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2023

Additional information

Habilitation:

• 1994 Neurostimulation for fecal incontinence

Posts in professional societies:

• 2012-today: Chairman: European Union of Medical Specialists, U.E.M.S. European Board of Surgical Qualification Division Coloproctology
• 2011-today: President: European Union of Medical Specialists, European Board of Surgical Qualification Division Coloproctology, U.E.M.S.
• 2008-today: Advisory Board German Society of Coloproctology
• 2003-2011: Secretary: European Union of Medical Specialists, U.E.M.S. European Board of Surgical Qualification Division Coloproctology

Editorial board member:

• Until 2012: Colorectal Disease
• Until 2013: Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
• Since 2014: Hamdan Medical Journal

Honorary membership in professional societies:

• American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (Honorary Fellow)
• Society of Coloproctology of Serbia and Montenegro (Honorary Member)

Academic and clinical positions:

• 2008: today Head Section Coloproctology Department of Surgery, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU, Germany
• 2002: today Associate Professor Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU, Germany
• 1998: today Chief, General and Visceral Surgery Department of Surgery, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU, Germany

Luqman Mazlan, Malaysia

Luqman Mazlan

Current position

Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Medical school

• Doctor of Medicine (MD), Universiti Sains Malaysia
• Master of General Surgery (MS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

General surgical and colorectal training

• Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery, Ministry of Health Malaysia
• Clinical Fellow in Colorectal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Nutrition therapy

Member of the Global reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

Dr Luqman Mazlan is a board-certified Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

He was formerly a lecturer and Head of Unit of Colorectal Surgery at the National University of Malaysia Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur. He has a special interest in recurrent and locally invasive colorectal cancers and completed a Clinical Fellowship in Pelvic Exenteration Surgery for advanced colorectal cancer care the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He has also extensively published and is involved in international trials and various research on colorectal cancer and clinical nutrition.

Dr Luqman has been actively involved in holding educational workshops and courses on colorectal surgery and clinical nutrition in Malaysia and internationally.

He is a Treasurer of the Malaysian Society of Colorectal Surgeons and a Council Member of the Parenteral and Enteral Society of Malaysia, member of the College of Surgeons Malaysia, European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) and European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN)

Frederic Ris (Membership Committee Chair)

Frederic Ris (Chair)

Current position

Professor of Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals and medical school, Geneva, Switzerland

Medical school

Geneva University and medical school, Geneva, Switzerland (graduated in 1999)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
• Lachen Hospital, Lachen, Switzerland
• St Luc Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
• Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, United Kingdom

Main clinical and research interests

• Colon and rectal cancer
• Pelvic floor disorders and proctology
• Fluorescence imaging
• Teaching surgery

Member of the Global reach Committee since

2023

Additional information

• Swiss ESCP National Representative since 2016
• Member of editorial board of Techniques in Coloproctology
• President of the ASRCC, French Swiss Laparoscopic Association
• Member of the committee of the Swiss Visceral Surgical Society
• Member of the Swiss Surgical Society, ESA, SALTC, ESSO, among others
• Supporting any coloproctology activity in Switzerland

Jun Won Um, Korea

Jun Won Um

Current position

Chairman and Professor of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (2020). Division of Coon and Rectal Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea (2002).

Medical school

Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (1990)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Korea University Hospital / Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (1998-2000)
• Research fellow, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School (2000-2002)
• Visiting Scholar, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN, USA (2008-2009)

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Chemotherapy
• Clinical guidelines
• Cancer research

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

• The Korean Surgical Society
• The Korean Society of Coloproctology
• Editorial Advisory Board, European Journal of Surgical Oncology

Jaw-Yuan Wang, Taiwan

Jaw-Yuan Wang

Current position

• President of the Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Taiwan (since 2018)
• Director, Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (since 2020)
• Professor of Department of Surgery and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Since 2006)
• Leader of Colorectal Cancer, Multidisciplinary Team, Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (since 2011)

Medical school

• MD, Kaohsiung Medical College, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1982-1989)
• MS, Graduate institute of medicine, Kaohsiung Medical College, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1993-1996)
• PhD, Graduate institute of medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1999-2003)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Surgery Residency, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1989-1993)
• Division of Gastrointstinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1993-1995)

Main clinical and research interests

• Surgical and molecular oncology
• Colorectal cancer
• Nutrition therapy
• Robotic surgery
• Microbiota

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

Prof. Jaw-Yuan Wang is Professor of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Since 2018 he hold the position of President of the Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Taiwan.

Between 2014 and 2020, he has been Vice superintendent at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. He went on to receive further training as a Research Fellow at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, USA. He now serves as Leader of Colorectal Cancer Multidisciplinary Team, Program Director of Robotic Surgery, Chairman of Nutrition Support Council, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University.

He is an active member in numerous professional organisations including the Taiwan Surgical Association, Taiwan Surgical Society of Gastroenterology, Society of Colon and Rectal Surgical Society of Gastroenterology, Taiwan; Taiwan Robotic Surgery Association; Taiwan Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Taiwan Oncology Society, Clinical Oncology Society of Taiwan, Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition of Asia, International Association of Surgeons and Gastroenterologists, A, The Academy of Surgical Research and The Chinese Oncology Society.

He also holds appointments as President of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Taiwan; director of board of Taiwan Society of Coloproctology; executive director of board of Taiwan Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and executive director of board of Taiwan Genomic Medicine and Biomarker Society.

Besides being a recipient of numerous awards since 2003, he has published widely at least 332 peer-reviewed papers (274 SCI and 58 Non-SCI) and 5 book chapters. Prof. Wang is an editor in several prestigious international Journals, e.g World Journal of Gastroenterology, Asian Journal of Surgery, Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences (Associate Editor), Oncology Letters and Frontiers in Oncology (Guest Associate Editor). As a reviewer for more than 60 prestigious journals including Annals of Surgery, Gastroenterology, Oncology, American College of Surgeons, BMC Cancer, Cancer Letters, Clinical Cancer Research, Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics, International Journal of Cancer and British Journal of Cancer etc. He has also been the PI of Biosignature in Colorectal Cancers, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, between 2012 and 2018. Since 2019, he was appointed as clinical implication committee member, Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative, Academia Sinica, Taiwan.

Janindra Warusavitarne (Education Committee Chair)

Janindra Warusavitarne

Current position

Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, St Mark’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom

Medical school

University of Newcastle, Australia. Graduated in 1995.

General surgical and colorectal training

• Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 2003
• EBSQ Coloproctology

Main clinical and research interests

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Fistula in ano
• Intestinal failure
• Pelvic floor disorders

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2023

Additional information

• PhD University of Sydney 2005
• Secretary for Eligibility, EBSQ
• ESSAT Council Member
• Editorial board member: Techniques in coloproctology and Oncogene

Jun Watanabe, Japan

Jun Watanabe

Current position

Associate Director, Department of Surgery, Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital (since 2016). Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center (since 2017).

Medical school

Yokohama City University School of Medicine (MD, PhD). Graduated 2010.

General surgical and colorectal training

• Board Certified Surgeon, Japan Surgical Society (2007)
• General Clinical Oncologist, Japanese Board of Cancer Therapy (2009)
• Board Certified Surgeon, Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (2010)
• Board Certified Surgeon, Japan Society of Coloproctology (2010)
• Board Certified Surgeon, Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (2010)
• Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualified Surgeon (laparoscopic colectomy), Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery (2011)
• SAGES FUSE (Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy Program) (2018)
• Certificate of da Vinci System Training as a Console Surgeon (2019)
• ESCP-JSCP Travelling Fellowship (2018)

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

• Councillor, Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery (2015)
• Councillor, Japan Society of Coloproctology (2016)
• Board Certified Instructor, Japan Society of Gastroenterological Surgery (2016)
• Board Certified Instructor, Japan Society of Coloproctology (2016)
• International Member of European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES)
• Active Member of European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP)

Jun has also co-authored numerous papers published in journals such as Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, Colorectal Disease, Surgical Endoscopy, International Journal of Colorectal Disease and the Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery.

Sofia Xenaki (Y-ESCP Representative)

Sofia Xenaki

Current position

General Surgeon, Department of Surgery. University Hospital of Heraklion Crete - Greece (since 2020)

Medical school

University of Crete - Greece (graduated in 2014)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Department of Surgery. University Hospital of Heraklion Crete - Greece
• University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) - Switzerland
• VUMedical Center Amsterdam - the Netherlands
• Albert Ludwigs Universität Freiburg Universitätsklinikum Freiburg - Germany
• Karolinska University Hospital HUDDINGE - Gastrozentrum, Stockholm, Sweden

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal Surgery
• Fluorescence
• Laparoscopic and minimal invasive surgery
• Trauma surgery
• Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2023

Additional information

Membership of societies:

• European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) (2022 to present)
• International Society of Surgery (ISS-SIC) (2022 to present)
• Society of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery (SLS) (2021 to present)
• World Society of Emergency Medicine (WSES) (2019 to present)
• Hellenic Society of Colorectal Surgery (2017 to present)
• European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) (2016 to present)
• American College of Surgeons - Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) (2015 to present)
• Hellenic Study Group of Gastointestinal and Hepatobilliary Cancer (2012 to present)
• Hellenic Medical Student Association (2008-14)
• International Federation of Medical Student Association (IFMSA) (2008-14)
• Greek GastroInstestinal Cancer - Study Group (GIC-SG) (2007 to present)

Hongwei Yao, China

Hongwei Yao

M.D. Ph.D.

Current positions

• Deputy Director, Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, China
• Professor of General Surgery, Capital Medical University (National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases), Beijing, China

Main clinical and research interests

• Precision medicine for colorectal cancer
• Minimally invasive surgery of colorectal cancer
• TaTME for mid-low rectal cancer
• Nationwide registry database

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2020

Additional information

• General Secretary, Chinese Society of Colorectal Surgery
• Chairman, Chinese Society of taTME Surgeons
• Study Chair, Chinese taTME Registry Collaborative
• Study Chair, Chinese Colorectal Cancer Database
• Deputy Chair, Steering Committee of COLOR III Trial in China
• Associate Editor, Journal of Diseases of the Colon and Rectum