Members 2024-25
Zoe Garoufalia (Chair), Nicolas Avellaneda, Rogini Balachandran, Jan Colpaert, Stefanie Devriendt, Caterina Foppa, Sara Gortázar, Jurij Košir, Jasper Stijns, Yegor Tryliskyy, Sofia Xenaki, Yaniv Zager
Key actions and achievements
Global Conversations: Voices in Colorectal Surgery
Y-ESCP Tripartite Campaign in collaboration with Communication Committee
This year, Y-ESCP launched a highly successful campaign titled Global Conversations: Voices in Colorectal Surgery, celebrating collaboration on the road to the Tripartite Meeting 2025. The campaign featured interviews and digital content co-produced with affiliate young societies including ASCRS, CSSANZ, The Dukes’ Club and more. This initiative deepened global engagement and strengthened our identity as a collaborative, forward-thinking committee.
Collaborative Y-ESCP congress session
In 2025, the Y-ESCP congress session took a new shape - bringing together young representatives from affiliate societies of the Tripartite partnership (ASCRS, CSSANZ, The Dukes' Club, and others). The session features short talks introducing affiliate societies, followed by an interactive discussion on fellowships and education by Tripartite representatives and our traditional initiation ceremony, during which new members will be receiving their Y-ESCP pins. This session set a new benchmark for inclusivity and cross-organisational synergy.
SCOPE: Surgical Curriculum On Data, Practice and Evidence
We proudly launched SCOPE, the first structured online educational series on surgical research methodology curated by Y-ESCP in collaboration with Education and Research Committees. This series, supported by an educational grant from Ethicon, includes online material, pre- and post- assessments, and a certificate of completion.
It was designed to build research capacity and support young surgeons aiming to contribute to ESCP’s scientific output, particularly in research development and collaborative projects.
Y-ESCP Guidelines Talent Pool
The Guidelines Talent Pool was formally established as a dedicated structure to prepare young surgeons to contribute meaningfully to ESCP guideline initiatives. The programme began with a successful, hands-on pre-congress workshop in 2024, developed in collaboration with the ESCP Guidelines Committee. Selected Talent Pool members (3 members) are now actively involved in ongoing guideline projects, including those on T1 rectal cancer, pruritus ani and TNT.
Systematic review and meta-analysis course for guideline development
As part of our educational mission, Y-ESCP led a dedicated course on systematic reviews and meta-analysis methodologies tailored for guideline development. The course offered both theoretical knowledge and practical tools, empowering participants to critically appraise literature and contribute to high-quality guideline production under ESCP’s methodological standards. This year’s course was sold out two weeks after its launch.
Y-ESCP and Education Committee podcast series: Mentorship in Focus
Y-ESCP launched a new limited podcast series in partnership with the ESCP Education Committee titled 'Mentorship in Focus'. The series features personal and professional insights from prominent mentors and mentees in the colorectal field, emphasising the importance of mentorship, career navigation, and international collaboration. It is available on Spotify and other major platforms.
Patient education leaflets and website content
Significant progress was made in the development of multilingual patient education material, now hosted on the ESCP website. A dedicated Y-ESCP working group, in collaboration with patient groups and communication experts, produced disease-specific leaflets to standardize patient information across Europe. These materials aim to support informed decision- making and reflect ESCP’s commitment to patient-centred care. The website will be active after Tripartite.
New collaboration with The Dukes’ Club: Fellowship Village
We are pleased to announce a new partnership with The Dukes’ Club to co-develop the ‘Fellowship Village’ project, an upcoming initiative aimed at supporting trainees and young surgeons navigating fellowship opportunities. This project, launching in the next term, will offer curated resources, mentorship, and a platform for sharing international experiences in colorectal surgery training in ESCP fellowships.
Basic Robotic Surgery Skills course (ongoing)
The Basic Robotic Surgery Skills Course, initially designed in collaboration with the ESCP Education Committee and ColoRobotica, experienced delays due to administrative and structural hurdles. As a result, the course will now run independently under Y-ESCP leadership, ensuring progress continues without further setbacks. The programme will provide a foundational introduction to robotic skills for young surgeons and remains a key educational priority for the year ahead.
Looking ahead
Y-ESCP remains committed to delivering meaningful educational content, fostering international collaborations, and advocating for the next generation of colorectal surgeons. In the coming year, our focus will be on:
- Strengthening collaboration with affiliate young societies, particularly around mentorship and education
- Scaling up the Guidelines Talent Pool’s integration into ESCP projects
- Delivering the Fellowship Village platform in partnership with The Dukes’ Club
- Continuing to produce inclusive, multilingual patient resources with broader dissemination strategies and expanding the patient involvement in our website
- Completing and launching the Y ESCP basic robotic skills training course
- Launching specialised podcast series in collaboration with UEMS for EBSQ preparation
- Expanding collaboration with Colorectal Disease Journal with initiatives involving Y- ESCP members
Zoe Garoufalia
Y-ESCP Committee Chair
September 2025