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. 

Samar Alhomoud, Saudi Arabia

Samar Alhomoud

Current position

• Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Cancer Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Professor of Surgery, AlFasial University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Honorary Visiting Consultant Surgeon at St Mark's Hospital, United Kingdom

Medical school

MBBS King Saud University, Riyadh Saudia Arabia

General surgical and colorectal training

• Saudi Specialty Board of General Surgery
• Arab Board of Medical Specializations in General Surgery
• St Marks’s Hospital & Academic Institute Fellowship Training Program in Colorectal Surgery
• EBSQ Coloproctology

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer and diseases
• Colorectal cancer screening and prevention
• Cancer research
• Policy statements and recommendations

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2025

Additional information

• President and founder member of the Saudi Society of Colon & Rectal Surgery
• Chair of the Ethics Committee at International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the WHO since 2018, France
• Fellow of European Society of Coloproctology
• International Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
• Member of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland
• Member of the Saudi National Scientific committee for General surgery
• Regional editor for The Gulf Journal of Oncology
• Regional expert in the field of colorectal cancer screening and prevention, and was involved in drafting several national, international and WHO Regional policy statements and recommendations.

Nicolas Avellaneda, Argentina

Nicolas Avellaneda

Current position

• Staff Surgeon: General, Colorectal Surgery and Proctology, “Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina (since 2018)
• Academic Secretary of the Research Unit, “Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina (since 2023)

Medical school

University of Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina (graduated December 2012)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Surgical Leadership Programme, Harvard Medical School, USA (2024-2025)
• International Colorectal Fellow, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark (2022 to current)
• Mastership in Coloproctology, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom (2020-2022)
• Doctor in Medical Sciences (PhD), “Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas “Norberto Quirno” (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina (2020-2022)
• Colorectal Surgery Fellow, “Nueva Proctología,” Buenos Aires, Argentina (2018-2020)
• Chief of Residents, General Surgery Residence, General Surgery Department, CEMIC University Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2017-2018)
• General Surgery Residence, General Surgery Department, CEMIC University Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2013-2017)

Main clinical and research interests

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Colorectal cancer
• Complex proctology
• Diverticular disease
• Collaborative studies

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2022

Additional information

• Phd Thesis: Evaluation of early surgery as a therapeutic alternative in patients with Crohn's disease limited to the ileocecal region
• Member of ESCP committees: Y-ESCP, Global Reach, Guidelines, Social Media
• Associate editor: Techniques in Coloproctology Journal, International Journal of Colorectal Disease
• Member of Digital and Innovations Team, Surgery Journal

Erman Aytac (Communications Committee Chair)

Erman Aytac

Current position

Professor, Gastrointestinal Oncology Unit and Chief, Department of Surgery, Acibadem University Atakent Hospital, Istanbul/Türkiye.

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 is the Swedish national representative to the ESCP and currently serves as President of the Swedish Society of Colorectal Surgery. She is a member of the national board for colorectal surgical training of consultant surgeons and is actively involved in national and international research collaborations, including the SCANDIV trials, PelvEx, and 10Ten. She leads a research group at Lund University comprising 10 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Her main clinical and scientific interests are colorectal cancer and diverticulitis.

William Tzu-Liang Chen, Taiwan

William Tzu-Liang Chen

Current position

• Superintendent, China Medical University Hospital, Zhu-Bei City, Hsinchu County, Taiwan (2018 - present)
• Professor of Surgery, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan

Medical school

China Medical University (1990)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Changhua Christian Hospital, General Surgery and Colorectal Surgery, Taiwan (1991-1997)
• Cleveland Clinic, Colorectal Research Fellowship, Florida, USA (1998)

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal Cancer
• Minimally invasive surgery, Laparoscopic and Robotic surgery
• Anorectal Functional Diseases
• ERAS

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2025

Additional information

• President, Taiwan Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
• Has made notable contributions to the literature regarding cutting-edge techniques in colorectal minimally invasive surgery
• A charismatic speaker who has been invited to present at many international conferences

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

Christian Ferrufino, Bolivia

Christian Ferrufino

Current position

• Emergency Surgery in Elizabeth Seton Hospital
• Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Mayor de San Simón
• Colorectal Surgeon at the Univalle Norte Hospital

Medical school

Medical Degree at Faculty of Medicine Dr Aurelio Melean, UMSS, Cochabamba, Bolivia (graduated in 2000)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Basic surgical training:
  • Clínica Boliviano Belga, Cochabamba, Bolivia
• Higher surgical training and colorectal training:
  • Bonorino Udaondo Gastroenterology Hospital, GCABA, Argentina
  • Diploma, Minimally invasive approches in surgery, Pontificia Univerisdad Católica de Chile (2012)

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Diverticulitis
• Proctology
• Minimally invasive and robotic Surgery for colorectal disease

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2025

Additional information

• President of the Bolivian Society of Coloproctology (2025)
• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (since 2012)
• Secretary of the Bolivian Society of Surgery (2024)
• Member of Director Board of Surgery Bolivian Society since 2012
• Vice President, Directors Board of the Bolivian Chapter of the ACS (2023-2025)
• Member of Directors Board of SBCP
• President of the Trauma Committe (since 2017)

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

Yoon Suk Lee, Korea

Yoon Suk Lee

Current position

• Chairman, Dept of Colorectal Surgery, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea
• Professor, Dept of Colorectal Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea

Medical school

Graduated from the Catholic University of Korea

General surgical and colorectal training

• Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
• Research fellow at Cleveland Clinic Florida (2009-2010)

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer and oncology
• Colorectal surgery (laparoscopic and robotic)

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2025

Additional information

• Chairman of International Committee of Korean Society of Coloproctology
• Korean Society of Coloproctology (2004 to current)
• Korean Society of Endoscopic and Robotic Surgery (2004 to current)

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)

Marc Lopez, Philippines

Marc Lopez

Current position

• Chief, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines (2021 to present)
• Chair, Department of Pay Patient Services, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines (2024 to present)

Medical school

University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila, Philippines (2023)

General surgical and colorectal training

• General Surgery: Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
• Colorectal Surgery Training: Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal malignancies
• Peritoneal surface malignancies
• Surgical training and education
• Public health and hospital administation

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2025

Additional information

• Masters in Hospital Administration from the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila
• Editorial Board, Archives in Colorectal Diseases
• Immediate Past President, Philippine Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

Surendra Kumar Mantoo, Singapore

Surendra Kumar Mantoo

Current positions

Associate Professor of Surgery at National University of Singapore and Senior Consultant, Colorectal Service, Department of Surgery, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore. He is also honorary Professor at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Medical school

He received his degree in Medicine from R.D.V.V, Jabalpur, India in 1994.

General surgical and colorectal training

He undertook his surgical and colorectal training in India, Singapore and University of Nantes, France.

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

He is currently the President, Society for Continence, Singapore (SFCS) and Immediate Past President, Society of Colorectal Surgeons of Singapore (SCRS). He also holds positions as Founding Member, Global Reach Committee, European Society of Coloproctology, Board Member, Association of Colorectal Surgeons of India Fellowship Board, Honorary Fellow, International College of Laparoscopic Surgeons (FCLS) and Honorary Fellow, Association of Colorectal Surgeons of India (FACRSI)

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.

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)

Hélio Moreira Júnior, Brazil

Hélio Moreira Júnior 

Current positions

• Associate Professor at School of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia/Goiás, Brazil since 2002
• President of the Brazilian Society of Colorectal Surgery
• Vice Clinical Director at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Goiânia/GO, Brazil since 2001

Medical school

School of Medicine at Federal University of Goiás

General surgical and colorectal training

Hospital das Clínicas, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia/Brazil

Main clinical and research interests

• Colorectal cancer
• Anal fistula
• Pelvic functional and anatomical disorders

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2024

Additional information

• Research fellow at Cleveland Clinic Florida from 1996 to 1998
• Master Degree in general Surgery at Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo
• PhD in Surgery at Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

Elaine Hui Been Ng, Malaysia

Elaine Hui Been Ng

Current position

• Head of General Surgical Services for the State of Perak
• Head of Department and Consultant General & Colorectal Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Malaysia

Medical school

MBBS, University of Malaya, Malaysia, 2005

General surgical and colorectal training

• MRCS (Ireland), 2008
• Master of Surgery, University of Malaya, Malaysia, 2013
• Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery, Malaysia, 2021
• Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, 2021
• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, 2022

Main clinical and research interests

• Oncological colorectal surgery, ostomy, diverticular disease, hemorrhoids and anal fistula. Does both open and laparoscopic surgery including TAMIS.
• Quality of life and physchosocial factors and effects on colorectal cancer patients and ostomates

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2024

Additional information

• Honorary Treasurer, Malaysian Society of Colorectal Surgeons, 2023-2024
• Reviewer for Malaysian Medical Journal and Journal of Minimally Invasive Surgery
• State Coordinator for Basic Surgical Training, Malaysia and hospital coordinator for Advanced Surgical Training, Malaysia
• Facilitator and Trainer for Non Operative Techinical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS), Science of Tissue Management (SOTM)

Frederic Ris (ESCP Membership Committee Chair)

Frederic Ris

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

Yenchen Shao, Taiwan

Yenchen Shao

Current position

Chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital

Medical school

School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (2002-2008)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Surgery Residency, Department of Surgery, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Ilan, Taiwan (2011-2014)
• Colorectal Surgery Residency, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (2014-2015)

Main clinical and research interests

• Minimal invasive colorectal surgery.
• Intra-corporeal anastomosis.
• Pelvic lateral lymph node dissection.
• Colonic stent.

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2025

Additional information

Secretary-General, Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Taiwan

Pradeep Sharma, India

Pradeep Sharma

Current position

Senior Professor in Surgery, Professor in MAS and Coloproctology, Jehangir Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, India (since 2010)

Medical school

B.J. Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, India - MBBS (1984), MS Surgery (1987), DNB Surgery (1988), FACRSI (2003)

General surgical and colorectal training

B.J. Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, India

Main clinical and research interests

• Pilonidal sinus
• Benign proctology
• Pelvic organ prolapse

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2024

Additional information

• Ex. Professor of Surgery: Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospitals, Pune, India
• Current Editorial Board member: Indian Journal of Colorectal Surgery
• Member for the Fellowship Board of the Association of Colon and Rectal Surgeons of India
• Ex. Editorial Board member: Techniques in Coloproctology, Indian Journal of Surgery
• Post graduate guide in Surgery, Examiner for MBBS, MS, FACRSI examination
• Chief Editor and Author: ACRSI Textbook of Colorectal Surgery
• PI for 6 clinical trials
• 29 publications, 2 video books, 5 chapters in textbook

Wah-Siew Tan, Singapore

Wah-Siew Tan

Current position

Senior Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon, Surgical Associates, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore & Gleneagles Medical Centre, Singapore (since 2020)

Medical school

National University of Singapore (graduated 2003)

General surgical and colorectal training

• Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
• St James University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom (Colorectal Surgery fellowship from Sept 2012 to Sept 2013)

Main clinical and research interests

• Robotic and minimally invasive colorectal surgery
• Surgery for inflammatory bowel disease
• Proctology
• Colorectal cancer

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2025

Additional information

• Executive committee member, Society of Colorectal Surgeons, Singapore (2014-2015 and 2021 to 2023)
• Board Member, Chapter of General Surgeons, College of Surgeons Singapore, Academy of Medicine (2021 to current)
• President, Society of Colorectal Surgeons, Singapore (2025 to 2027)

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

Carolynne Vaizey
(ESCP Secretary)

Carolynne Vaizey

Current position

• Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Co-Medical Director, St Mark’s, The National Bowel Hospital, London
• Senior Lecturer, Imperial College London

Medical school

University of Cape Town

General surgical and colorectal training

• Johannesburg General Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
• St Mark’s the National Bowel Hospital London
• The Middlesex and University College Hospitals, UCL, London

Main clinical and research interests

• Intestinal Failure
• Faecal incontinence
• Proctology

Member of the Global Reach Committee since

2023

Additional information

• Chair of The Pelvic Floor Society, UK
• Chair of the Intestinal Failure Subcommittee, ACPGBI

Jaw-Yuan Wang, Taiwan

Jaw-Yuan Wang

Current position

• Superintendent, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• President of Taiwan Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
• Professor of Department of Surgery and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• Adjunct Professor of Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Sun Yat-Sen University of Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• Adjunct Professor of Clinical Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacoproteinomics, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
• Adjunct Professor of Department of Electronic Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Science, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

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 Gastrointestinal 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 was President of the Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Taiwan from 2018 to 2020.

He  received advanced training as a Research Fellow at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA.

He is actively involved in numerous professional organisations, including the Taiwan Surgical Association, Taiwan Surgical Society of Gastroenterology, Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons of Taiwan, Taiwan Robotic Surgery Association, Taiwan Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Taiwan Oncology Society, Clinical Oncology Society of Taiwan, Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society of Asia, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and European Society for Medical Oncology.

He holds key leadership positions, including Executive Director of the Board of the Taiwan Surgical Association, Director of the Board of the Taiwan Society of Coloproctology, Director of the Taiwan Surgical Society of Gastroenterology, and Executive Director of Taiwan Gastric Cancer Association.

Prof. Wang is a prolific researcher, having published over 426 peer-reviewed papers (360 SCI-indexed, including 21 papers with more than 100 citations and highly cited articles in journals such as Nature and NEJM etc. He has also contributed six book chapters and holds 12 patents across Taiwan, the USA, the EU, Japan, and China. He serves as editor or guest editor for several prestigious international journals, including World Journal of Gastroenterology, Asian Journal of Surgery, Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences (Editor), Cells, Oncology Letters, Oncology Research, Frontiers in Oncology, Journal of Oncology, Cancers, and the Asian Council of Science. He has been an invited reviewer for more than 90 high-impact journals, including The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Annals of Surgery, Gastroenterology, Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, International Journal of Surgery, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, International Journal of Cancer, Disease of the Colon and Rectum, Cancer Letters, Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics, British Journal of Cancer, and Cancer Drug Resistance.

From 2012 to 2018, he served as the Principal Investigator of the Biosignature Project in Colorectal Cancers at Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Since 2019, he has been appointed as a committee member for Clinical Applications under the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative, also led by Academia Sinica.

Prof. Wang is also a pioneer in robotic surgery for colorectal cancer in Taiwan, being the first colorectal surgeon in the country to perform such procedures, with more than 850 cases completed using robotic systems. In recognition of his clinical and academic achievements, his team received the Gold Medal of the Symbol of National Quality (SNQ) for their Integrated Home Parenteral Nutrition Care Team in 2023. In 2025, his team was honoured with the Group Award at the 8th Baosheng Medical Dedication Awards, and Prof. Wang was individually awarded the Outstanding Physician Award in Medical Technology by the healthcare system.

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

Consultant General Surgeon, specialising in minimally invasive and robotic surgery,
BAG Bundesamt für die Gesundheit Schweiz

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)