Oded Zmora is ESCP's President Elect. He is a Professor at Shamir Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Current position and hospital: Shamir Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
ESCP Executive position: President in Waiting
Main clinical and research interests: Surgery for IBD; colorectal cancer and anorectal disorders
What made you want to specialise in colorectal surgery?
During my general surgery residency I spent a year as a senior resident at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, USA, where I had the benefit to learn from several well-known colorectal surgeons and to participate in complex colorectal cases. With their generous support, I applied for a colorectal surgery fellowship, and when I met my mentor, Dr Steven Wexner from Cleveland Clinic Florida, I knew that this was the right path for me.
How long have you been involved in ESCP and what made you want to become involved?
After completion of my colorectal fellowship in the USA, I became involved in the Israel Society of Colorectal Surgery, which is officially affiliated to the ESCP. In 2014 I had the benefit of being part of the group that initiated the ESCP Cohort Studies Working Group and launched the first ESCP snapshot audit study on right hemicolectomy, which was a great success. In 2015 I was elected for the ESCP research committee, in which I have served for five years.
What do you value most about being involved in ESCP?
The ESCP has the right combination of superb scientific value, innovation and friendship, which makes any ESCP-related activity a great pleasure.
Could you tell us about your best ESCP anecdote?
One of the ESCP meetings happen to be scheduled on a date of the major Jewish holiday. The ESCP office helped me to find a Jewish synagogue in Dublin for that day.