
Charles Knowles (Chair)
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Charles Knowles
Current position
Professor of Surgery and Hon. Consultant Colorectal surgeon, Queen Mary University of London / Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
Medical school
- University of Cambridge, UK
- General surgical and colorectal training
- F.R.C.S (England) 1996
- Ph.D Univ. of London 2000
- F.R.C.S (Gen Surg: Colorectal) 2005
Clinical interests
Surgical management of benign (degenerative and inflammatory) coloproctological and pelvic floor conditions.
Research interests
- evaluation of new technologies for the treatment of chronic GI diseases (especially focusing on neuromodulation);
- development of GI diagnostics for deeper phenotyping and treatment stratification;
- pathogenesis and management of gastrointestinal neuromuscular diseases
- development of new trial methodology for evaluation of complex interventions
Member of the Research Committee since
2016
Additional information
Professor Knowles is Deputy Director of the Blizard Institute within Barts School of Medicine and Dentistry and Honorary Professor of Experimental Therapeutics at UCL. He is also Director of the National Bowel Research Centre. He is Chair of the several research committees including those of European Society of Coloproctology, Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland and International Continence Society. He is also Chair to UEG-led international working groups in anorectal physiology and GI neuromuscular diseases. He serves as a member of the Rome IV committee for anorectal disorders and is on the global expert panel for Medtronic. He has authored > 190 peer reviewed publications as well as contributing major international colorectal and general surgical texts.
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Tom Pinkney1 (Vice Chair)
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Tom Pinkney
Current position
Senior Lecturer and Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Academic Department of Surgery, University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Medical school
University of Birmingham (graduated in 2000)
General surgical and colorectal training
Trained in West Midlands, UK. Laparoscopic Colorectal Fellowship (Ethicon), QMC Nottingham 2011. IBD Surgery Fellowship, QEHB Birmingham 2012,
Main clinical and research interests
- IBD surgery
- Clinical trials
- Surgical site infection
Member of the Research Committee since
2014
Additional information
- Member Research and Audit Committee, Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI)
- Member IBD Sub-committee, ACPGBI
- Associate Editor, Colorectal Disease
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Muhammad Imran Aslam ³
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Muhammad Imran Aslam
Current position
- Post CCT Colorectal Surgery Fellow, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Honorary Colorectal Surgeon, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
- Honorary Clinical Lecturer, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, United Kingdom (since August, 2016)
Medical school
King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan (graduated in 2001)
General surgical and colorectal training
- Basic Surgical Training - East-Midland Healthcare Workforce Deanery, United Kingdom
- Higher Surgical Training and Colorectal Training, EastMidland Healthcare Workforce Deanery, United Kingdom
Main clinical and research interests
- Plasma and Tissue miRNAs in colorectal cancer and ulcerative colitis
- Biomarkers for high risk colorectal neoplasia and colorectal cancer screening
- Cell free DNA and liquid biopsy for colorectal cancers
- Serious gaming for the education of surgical trainees
- Virtual reality for medical education
- Parastomal hernia repair and quality of life
Other appointments
- Member of ESCP Education Committee since 2015
- Member of ESCP Research Committee (Representative of Education Committee)
- Member of UEG Education Committee
- ESCP Fellowship Programme Chair
- Course director: Operative Techniques for the Prevention and Repair of Parastomal Hernia Workshop
Additional information
Winner of Harold Ellis, Medipex Innovation Award and EastMidland Business Development & Innovation Fellowship Awards
Posts in professional societies:
- 2011-2012 Affiliate member of the American College of Surgeons
- 2011-2012 International member of the American College of Surgeons education committee
PhD Thesis: MicoRNAs are novel biomarkers for colorectal cancer
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Erman Aytac 2
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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 Research Committee since
2019
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.
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Sue Blackwell
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Sue Blackwell
BA (Hons) Modern History, MA Peace and Conflict Studies
Sue Blackwell is an experienced PPI representative, with a particular interest in PROMS and parastomal hernia.
She is the Patient Co Chief Investigator on the @PROPHER study, an international prospective cohort study on parastomal hernia treatment.
She is also the first patient to receive a research grant from the Bowel Disease Research Foundation for the @PAPooSE study looking at patient experiences of pregnancy following stoma formation.
Her current colorectal PPI work includes the NIHR funded @PoPSTER_Study; and @ROSSINI2Trial the first surgical MAMS RCT. She is also a member of the Patient Liaison Group of ACPGBI.
Member of the Research Committee since
2020
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Stéphanie Breukink (ex officio, Guidelines Chair)
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Stéphanie Breukink
Current position
Colorectal consultant, Maastricht University Medical Center since 2009
Medical school
University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands. Graduated in 1998
General surgical and colorectal training
- University Medical Center Gronigen, the Netherlands
- Colorectal fellowship Flinders Medical Center, Adelaide, Australia
Main clinical and research interests
- Quality of life after colorectal cancer
- Pelvic floor disorders
Member of the Research Committee since
2020
Additional information
Dr Stephanie Breukink graduated from University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands. Afterwards she worked for two years as a colorectal fellow in Adelaide, Australia. She started as a colorectal consultant in 2009 at Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands.
In 2006 she defended her PhD: Laparoscopic TME for rectal cancer.
Dr Breukink has developed subspecialty interests in quality of life after colorectal cancer treatment and surgical management of disorders of the pelvic floor and enterocutaneous fistulae.
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Steven Brown
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Steven Brown
Current position
Professor of surgery Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and Sheffield University, Sheffield, UK
Medical school
Sheffield University, UK 1990
General surgical and colorectal training
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield and Singapore
Main clinical and research interests
- Pelvic floor
- Proctology (haemorrhoids)
- IBD
Member of the Research Committee since
2017
Additional information
- President Elect ACPGBI
- Chair IBD CAG ACPGBI
- Previous Secretary ACPGBI
- Editor Techniques in Coloproctology (Cochrane Digest)
- Editor Cochrane Colorectal Cancer collaboration
- Member HTA Board commissioned calls UK.
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Pamela Buchwald
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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 Research 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.
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Dragomir Dardanov
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Dragomir Dardanov
Current position
Senior Assistant Professor of Surgery, University Hospital Alexandrovska, Medical University - Sofia, Bulgaria. Since 2014.
Medical school
Medical University - Pleven, Bulgaria. Graduated in 2002.
General surgical and colorectal training
- General surgical training - University Hospitals in Pleven and Sofia, Bulgaria (2003-2008)
- Clinical fellow in colorectal surgery - St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland (2012)
Main clinical and research interests
- Colorectal cancer surgery
- Surgical anatomy
- Complex abdominal and pelvic cancer surgery
- Proctology - perianal fistula, pilonidal disease
Member of the Research Committee since
2020
Additional information
- President of Bulgarian Society of Coloproctology since 2019
- ESCP National representative of Bulgaria (2013-2015)
- ESCP Eastern regional representative (2016-2018)
- European Board of Surgery Qualification (EBSQ) on Coloproctology 2015
- European Board of Surgery Qualification (EBSQ) on Surgical Oncology 2012
- Specialty anatomy, histology and cytology 2014
- PhD degree (with dissertation 'Clinico-anatomical investigations on connective tissue structures surrounding the rectum in relation to rectal cancer surgery') 2008
- Specialty general surgery 2008
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Quentin Denost
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Quentin Denost
Current position
Assistant Professor, Colorectal Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital, France
Medical school
Bordeaux University, M.D., Ph.D.
General surgical and colorectal training
Unit of colorectal surgery
Main clinical and research interests
- Rectal cancer and Locally recurrent rectal cancer
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Colorectal tissue engineering
Member of the Research Committee since
2017
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Audrius Dulskas
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Audrius Dulskas
Current position
Surgical oncologist, National Cancer Institute, Vilnius, Lithuania (since 2014)
Medical school
Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania (graduated in 2008)
General surgical and colorectal training
Vilnius University Hospital, Vilnius, Lithuania
Main clinical and research interests
- Functional outcome following cancer treatment
- Surgical oncology
- Organ preservation techniques
Member of the Research Committee since
2019
Additional information
PhD thesis in 2016 – Pelvic organ dysfunction following rectal surgery for cancer
Member of journal editorial boards:
- Annals of coloproctology
- Lithuanian Surgery
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Alaa El-Hussuna
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Alaa El-Hussuna
Current position
Associate professor of surgery, consultant surgeon, Aalborg University Hospital/ Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
Medical school
Saddam College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq (1996)
General surgical and colorectal training
- Consultant surgeon, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark (2016-now)
- Training in colorectal surgery: Aalborg and Randers University Hospitals, Denmark (2016-2019)
- ESCP training fellowship in colorectal surgery, St. Vincent Hospital, Dublin, Ireland (2017)
- Training in general surgery Hvidovre, Hillerød and Herlve University Hospitals in Copenhagen - Denmark (2007-2013)
Main clinical and research interests
- Measuring surgical outcome
- Pre-operative optimization in IBD patients
- The effect of biological treatment on post-operative outcome in patients with IBD
- Surgical stress response
- Chronic stress and development of colorectal cancers
- Perianal fistula in Crohn’s disease
- Surgical wound healing
Member of the Research Committee since
2020
Founding member of the Cohort Studies Sub-Committee (2014)
Additional information
- Ph.D Thesis: The effect of pre-operative biological treatment on post-operative outcome in patients with Crohn’s disease (2018)
- Master degree in information technology, IT-University, Copenhagen, Denmark (2003)
- Lead #OpenSourceResearch collaboration
- Lead 2017 ESCP snapshot audit
- Member of expert panel in Danish autoimmune disease association (FAIM)
- Foundation of Danish Collaborative Research Network (2014)
- Member in editorial board: Current Updates in Hepatology and Gastroentrology, SciTz Gastroenterology and SM Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology and many other journals
- Reviewer in many surgical journals: British journal of surgery, colorectal diseases, world journal of gastroenterology, Langenbeck's archives of surgery, International journal of surgery, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology and reviewer of ESCP-ECCO guidelines
- Invited speaker in many international conferences among them ESCP and ECCO meetings
- Supervisor of many research projects in Copenhagen and Aalborg University Hospitals
- Physician/surgeon in different missions, Doctors without borders (MSF) in Africa 2004-2005
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Matteo Frasson (Young ESCP Chair)
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Matteo Frasson
Current position
- Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Clinical Associate Professor, University of Valencia
Medical school
'Vita e Salute' University, Milan, Italy (graduated in 2003)
General surgical and colorectal training
General Surgical Training:
- San Raffaele University Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Surgical Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
CR Training:
- Clinico University Hospital, Valencia, Spain
- Colorectal Unit, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA (visitor, with AECP grant)
- Colorectal Unit, Beaujon University Hospital, Paris, France (ESCP Fellow)
Main clinical and research interests
Since the beginning of his career he has focused his research in colorectal surgery, publishing more than 100 full articles in international peer-reviewed journal (h-index 20, 2100 total citations). His research activity is currently focused on colorectal cancer, anastomotic leak, gene therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases and the use of electromagnetic waves for cancer early detection.
Member of the Research Committee since
2017
Additional information
- Chairperson of the Young ESCP
- Coordinator of the Research Group in Digestive Surgery of 'La Fe' research Institute, Valencia, Spain
- Junior Editor of the journal, Colorectal Disease
- Editor of Cirugía Española
- Awarded in 2012: Best Spanish Publication in Coloproctology by the Spanish Association of Coloproctology
- PhD-thesis in 2013 on rectal cancer treatment
- Awarded in 2015: Best Spanish Publication in Surgery by the Spanish Association of Surgeons, with a paper focused on anastomotic leak after colon cancer resection
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Zoe Garoufalia (Young ESCP)
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Zoe Garoufalia
Current position
General Surgeon, Laiko University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Medical school
School of Medicine of the Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece (graduated in 2013)
General surgical and colorectal training
- Transplantation Unit, Laiko University Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Second Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Laiko University Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Colorectal Department, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
Main clinical and research interests
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Minimally invasive colorectal surgery
Member of the Research Committee since
2020
Additional information
PhD Candidate, Member of ESCP Communications sub-committee, Candidate Member of ASCRS
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Nikolaos Gouvas
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Nikolaos Gouvas
Current position
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Medical School - University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
Medical school
University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece (graduated in 2004)
General surgical and colorectal training
'Konstantopouleio' General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
Main clinical and research interests
- Colorectal cancer
- Pelvic floor diseases
Member of the Research Committee since
2019
Additional information
- Member of Greek Gastrointestinal Cancer Study Group (GIC-SG), Co-ordinator of Scientific and Educational Events and Manager of Research Projects - Multicenter Registries
- Lead Investigator for the International Multicenter Clinical Trials, MECCLANT-C and MECCLANT-R
- PhD thesis on Laparoscopic vs Open Surgery for Rectal Cancer
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Dion Morton
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Dion Morton
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 Research Committee since
He was Chair of the Research Committee from 2012 - 2018
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 8 Surgical Trials Centres across the country.
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Gabrielle van Ramshorst
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Gabrielle van Ramshorst
Current position
Consultant surgical oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. Since October 2019.
Medical school
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands. Graduated in 2004.
General surgical and colorectal training
- General training at Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (2009-2016)
- Dutch Cancer Society sponsored clinical fellowship at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (2016-2018).
- Previous position: locum consultant surgical oncology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom (2019)
Main clinical and research interests
- Locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer
- Gynaecological oncology
- Pelvic reconstruction and sexual function
- Peritoneal carcinomatosis
- Retroperitoneal sarcomas
- Abdominal wall hernia
Member of the Research Committee since
2020
Additional information
- PhD Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Wound failure in laparotomy (January 2014)
- FEBS (Coloproctology) 2018
- FECSM 2018
- FESGO 2019
- Member International Committee, Surgical Society for Oncology (SSO)
- Member Mesh in Pelvis guidelines, European Society for Coloproctology
- Associate editor, Colorectal Disease
- Editorial fellow, International Journal of Gynaecological Cancer
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Antonino Spinelli (ex officio -Secretary)
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Antonino Spinelli
Current position
Director of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Unit, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy Full Professor of Surgery, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
Medical school
- Graduation in Medicine and Surgery, 2001, Università Degli Studi di Milan, Italy
- Specialisation in General Surgery, 2007, Università Degli Studi di Milan, Italy
- PhD on Enhanced Recovery protocols in colorectal surgery, 2011, Università Degli Studi di Catania, italy
General surgical and colorectal training
- University of Berlin – Charitè, Germany
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Main clinical and research interests
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Rectal Cancer
- IBD Surgery
Member of the Education Committee since
2019
Additional information
Professor Spinelli serves as Associate Editor for both the two highest impact Journals dedicated to Colorectal Surgery (Colorectal Disease, the Official Journal of the European Society of Coloproctology, and Disease of the Colon and Rectum, the Official Journal of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery), and as well for the Journal of Anus, Rectum and Colon (JARC, Official Organ of the Japanese Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery).
Additionally, he is Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis (Official Journal of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization) and Coloproctology (Journal of the German Society of Colorectal Surgery).
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Patricia Tejedor (Young ESCP)
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Patricia Tejedor
Current position
Colorectal Consultant Surgeon, University Hospital ‘Gomez Ulla’, Madrid, Spain. Since 2019.
Medical school
University of Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Graduated in 2012.
General surgical and colorectal training
- Basic Surgical Training - University Hospital ‘Fundacion Jimenez Diaz’, Madrid, Spain.
- Higher Surgical Training and Colorectal Training - Colorectal & Robotic Surgery Fellow, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Main clinical and research interests
- Colorectal cancer
- Robotic surgery
- Proctology and pelvic floor dysfunction
- Clinical trials
Member of the Research Committee since
2020
Additional information
PhD Thesis: ‘The role of 3D-EUS on diagnosis, classification and treatment of sphincter defects after childbirth’.
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Oded Zmora
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Oded Zmora
Current position
Chair, Department of Surgery, Asaf Harofe Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
Medical school
Hebrew University - Hadassah School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. Graduated in 1993.
General surgical and colorectal training
- Residency in general surgery - Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Residency in general surgery - Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Clinical fellowship in Colorectal Surgery - Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Research fellowship in Colorectal Surgery - Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Main clinical and research interests
- Surgery for IBD
- Colorectal Cancer
- Anorectal disorders
Member of the Research Committee since
2014
Additional information
- Past president of the Israel Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Chair, S-ECCO committee
- Co-editor, Techniques in Coloproctology
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