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Each year the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) recognizes up to six Honorary Fellows. Honorary Fellowship is designed to honor individuals, regardless of specialty, in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions to the field of colon and rectal surgery and allied fields. Nominees for Honorary Fellow should have made significant contributions to the peer reviewed literature, advancement and/or fostering of innovation, and education in the specialty of colon and rectal surgery or allied fields; demonstrated significant and/or sustained leadership within their country, national or regional society; developed and promulgated significant advances (clinical, research and/or technological) in the field of colon and rectal surgery and allied fields. 
 

The Executive Council and members of the Honorary Fellowship Committee are pleased to submit the following slate of 2025 Honorary Fellow nominees for election.  
 

Professor Peter Christensen, Denmark 

MD, MDSc  

• Professor of Colorectal Surgery at Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Denmark 
• Colorectal Surgeon, Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital. 
• International certified colorectal surgeon by EBQS/Coloproctology. 
• Established the Pelvic Floor Unit at AUH, developing the concept, infrastructure and funding. The center is recognized internationally as a leader in pelvic floor and functional disorders.  
• Was the strategic coordinator of the cancer sequelae clinic, AUH, in 2017 with the specific aim to strengthen quality research in nursing and organ rehabilitation following cancer treatments. Lead the Danish Cancer Society National Research Center on the same subject. 
• Globally recognized expert in Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). 
• Led a consortium of researchers that published “Management Guidelines for Low Anterior Resection Syndrome” (MANUEL) project, which is the most cited manuscript on managing LARS in rectal cancer survivors.  
• PhD in “Scintigraphic Assessment of Colorectal Irrigation,” Aarhus University, Denmark  
• Doctoral thesis in “Colonic Irrigation for Disordered Defecation,” Aarhus University, Denmark  
• Supervision of eight completed PhD thesis. Main supervisor for three and co-supervisor for five. Main supervisor of one and co-supervisor of two ongoing PhD students. 
• 170 articles in international peer reviewed journals and five book chapters in medical textbooks. 
• Current member of the Danish Surgical Society and the International Continence Society.  
• Current member of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP). Current member of ESCP Global Reach Committee and ESCP/Tripartite Programme Committee.  

 

Dr. Neil Smart, United Kingdom 

MBBS (Hons.) PhD FRCSEd (Gen Surg) MFMLM FEBS-AWS (Hon) 

• Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital since September 2013
• Honorary Associate Professor & Academic Lead in Colorectal Surgery at the University of Exeter Medical School (UEMS) 
• Lead for colorectal research with the Royal Devon Exeter hospital. Under his leadership, Exeter has become one of the largest UK contributors to multicenter trainee collaborative studies.
• Examiner (MCQ, EMQ & viva exams) for the UEMS Fellowship examination in Abdominal Wall Surgery. External quality assurance assessor for the Master of Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery at UCL.
• Editor in Chief of Colorectal Disease journal since 2019 – official journal of ACPGBI, ESCP, AECP and MSCRS. Impact factor has increased from 2.9 to 3.917 under his guidance.
• Heavily engaged in not only colorectal activities in his native UK, but also participates widely in ASCRS and ACS events in the USA.
• 67 publications with 4 as first author; 5 senior author; 58 review papers; author on 14 consensus statements, 110 participations on collaborating papers, 10 book chapters, 8 published case reports 

 

Dr. Lúcia Camara de Castro Oliveira, Brazil 

MD, PhD 

• Head of the Colorectal and Anorectal Physiology Department of Rio de Janeiro and CEPEMED Company
• Associate Colorectal Surgeon of Hospital Casa de Saúde São José
• Coordinator of Anorectal Manometry and Endoanal Ultrasound courses at CEPEMED.
• Expert in the field of coloproctology and colorectal surgery, specializing in functional disorders such as fecal incontinence, constipation, laparoscopic surgery, sacral neuromodulation, anorectal surgery, video-colonoscopy and prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.
• Current advisor and past member of ASCRS Steering Committee on Pelvic Floor Disorders and active leader in the Pelvic Floor Consortium.
• Reviewer for several national and international medical journals.
• Author of six textbooks, the most recent being Anorectal Physiology: A Clinical and Surgical Perspective, published by Springer.
• Member of the Directory Board and Scientific Committee of Alapp, Latino American Society of Pelvic Floor.
• Active Member of the Brazilian Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Brazilian Motility Society, Brazilian College of Surgeons, ASCRS and ESCP
• Honorary Member of the Argentine and Ecuadorian Society of Coloproctology.
• Participated in three humanitarian missions in Africa as a surgeon in 2018 and 2019.  

 

Dr. Hongwei Yao, China     

MD, PhD 

• Consultant and Professor, Department of General Surgery in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases (NCRC-DD).
• Chair, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases
• Specialty in robotic and laparoscopic colorectal surgery, and transanal endoscopic surgeries, including TEM, TAMIS and taTME.
• Over 50 publications in English and 130 publications in Chinese, focusing on the research of colorectal disease.
• Associate Editor, Journal of Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
• Study Chair, COLOR IV trial (an international multicenter randomized clinical trial to compare intracorporeal and extracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis after laparoscopic right colectomy for colon cancer)
• Deputy Chair, Steering Committee and Local Investigator of COLOR III Trial in China
• International reviewer, pretrial of COLOR III
• Member, drafting committee of International Guidance of taTME
• Member, Global reach committee in European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP)
• General Secretary, Chinese Society of Colorectal Surgery
• President, Chinese Academy of Digestive Surgery and Chinese Society of taTME Surgeons
• Study Chair, Chinese taTME Registry Collaborative and Chinese Colorectal Cancer Surgery Database
• Medical Research in early diagnosis, invasion, metastasis of the colorectal carcinoma by the methods of precision medicine (circulating tumor DNA), minimally invasive surgery of gastric cancer and colorectal cancer, transanal total mesorectal excision for low rectal cancer and nationwide registry database. 

 

Election of 2025 Honorary Fellows 

The 2025 Honorary Fellow nominees will be voted on ahead of the 2025 Annual Business meeting in San Diego this May. The purpose is to allow time for recipients to be notified and to make arrangements to travel to the meeting.  ASCRS Voting Fellows will receive a separate communication with information about voting. 
 
We hope you will join us in San Diego May 10-13, 2025, to meet our honorees at ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting. 

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) is excited to announce its 125th Anniversary Campaign, a milestone effort aimed at reshaping the future of colorectal surgery education. This campaign will enable ASCRS to expand and enhance ASCRS U, its online education platform, transforming it into a fully integrated virtual university. By fostering a collaborative and interactive learning environment, ASCRS U will serve as a one-stop educational resource, offering enhanced access to research, professional development, and innovative resources. 

“Investing in the 125th Anniversary Campaign will not only support the future of the ASCRS U platform, but also, and more importantly, empower thousands of colorectal surgeons,” said Matthew Mutch, MD, FASCRS, ASCRS Past President and Chair of the campaign’s National Steering Committee. “This evolution of ASCRS U will help our members navigate their unique journeys as surgeons and leaders to tailor their membership experience, helping them succeed at every stage of their career and providing the best care for patients.” 

The campaign reflects ASCRS's commitment to empowering surgeons with the tools and knowledge needed to advance their skills and provide exceptional patient care. The platform will incorporate state-of-the-art technology to support continuous learning for ASCRS members at all career stages, as well as students and residents seeking specialized training. ASCRS U will also include curated content from world-renowned experts in the field, ensuring participants stay at the forefront of the latest advancements in colorectal surgery. 

Kirsten Wilkins, MD, FASCRS, ASCRS Vice President and member of the campaign’s National Steering Committee, stated, “ASCRS has been an invaluable part of my professional and personal life since I finished my fellowship in 2003. I have witnessed firsthand the continued expansion of ASCRS offerings to its members over the years. I want the next generation of colorectal surgeons to have access to that same positive interaction that ASCRS has offered me. Supporting the ASCRS 125th Anniversary Campaign is my way of expressing my gratitude and paying it forward to future surgeons.” 

 

The ASCRS 125th Anniversary Campaign underscores the Society’s dedication to fostering leadership, innovation, and collaboration within the colorectal surgery community. By investing in ASCRS U, the Society aims to empower surgeons to improve patient outcomes, advance their professional development, and inspire future generations of surgical leaders. 

For more information about the 125th Anniversary Campaign and how to support this transformative initiative, please visit ASCRS. 

Last March, Jed Calata, MD, FASCRS, had the unique opportunity of attending the Philippine Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons’ (PSCRS) 14th International Scientific Meeting, along with Vince Obias, MD, FASCRS and Grace Montenegro, MD FASCRS. As Filipino-American colorectal surgeons, this event, hosted in Manila, was not just a convergence of medical professionals but also a cultural bridge linking the East to the West.

The PSCRS meeting was meticulously planned to foster an environment of learning and international collaboration with over 400 attendees and colorectal surgery experts from throughout southeast Asia.

A standout feature of the conference was its commitment to the highest standards of surgical practice and patient care. Under the leadership of Dr. Marc Paul Lopez and Dr. Carlo Cajucom, the diverse program included topics from basic concepts to emerging technologies and controversies in colorectal surgery and included prominent guest speakers such as Dr. James Ng, Dr. Luqman Mazlan, and Dr. Sonia Ramamoorthy, the current ASCRS President. Our group was not just a participant but speakers in multiple sessions presenting on issues such as surgical education, early onset colorectal cancer, and minimally invasive colorectal surgery.


















The event wasn't all work; there was plenty of opportunity for socializing and networking. The fellowship night, held at Rigodon Hall at the historic Manila Hotel, was a vibrant mix of cultural exchange and professional camaraderie. This distinguished group of surgeons from various countries were able to share their experiences and discuss how we are improving colorectal surgical care around the world.

For Dr. Calata, the conference was also a moment to reflect on his own journey and the bridges he has built between his American training and Filipino heritage. His participation underscored the importance of such international gatherings in fostering a collaborative approach to healthcare, which is crucial in a globalized world.

As the conference wrapped up, the connections made were not just professional but personal, reflecting the spirit of 'Bayanihan,' which typifies the Filipino community's approach to mutual help and cooperation. Dr. Calata, Dr. Obias, and Dr. Montenegro left the Philippines enriched with new knowledge and friendships, ready to implement novel ideas in his practice back in the U.S., and surely with plans to return for the next PSCRS meeting.

Campaign 52 is a humanitarian mission where volunteer colorectal surgeons traveled to Kenya, Africa, to assist healthcare colleagues in treating women with obstetrical fistulas, colorectal cancer, and other conditions. This multinational effort aimed to restore dignity, hope, and better futures to one woman for each week of the year, inspiring the name Campaign 52. This admirable international collaboration, held from April 13-23, 2024, brought together leading colorectal surgeons and gynecologists from around the world to share expertise and perform surgeries, particularly in a region where access to specialized care, tools and resources is limited. 

The collaboration included volunteer surgeons from the United States, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Kenya, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr. Tracy Hull, Dr. Anna Spivak, and Dr. Wissam Halabi represent the American contingent of colorectal surgeons, while Dr. Maher Abbas brings expertise from Dubai. From Taiwan, Dr. Chucheep Sahakitrungruang and Dr. Arun Rojanasakul contribute their specialized knowledge. On the gynecological front, the team was led by Dr. Hillary Mabeya, head of Gynocare hospital in Kenya, along with several local practicing fistula surgeons and trainees. Dr. Cloud Crosby, a gynecologic oncology fellow from the USA, and Dr. Khaled Kouteich from Dubai also lent their expertise. This diverse group of specialists was joined by anesthesiologists from Dubai and Taiwan, ensuring comprehensive perioperative care for patients undergoing complex procedures. 

By day 4 of the campaign, the team had already surpassed their goal of 52 cases and went on to complete 90 cases in one week. 

Campaign 52 is already planning to return to Kenya for a 2025 program. 
 
 
 









 

ASCRS Member Dr. Alexander Hawkins, a colorectal surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, recently represented the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) as the traveling fellow at the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) Annual Meeting. 

During the conference, Dr. Hawkins delivered a presentation titled "Decision Making in Diverticulitis: Adding Science to Art," sharing his expertise with international colleagues in the field of colorectal surgery. 

The Traveling Fellow program, organized by ASCRS, aims to strengthen relationships between international partners in the colorectal specialty. This initiative seeks to expand knowledge and broaden educational opportunities for surgeons worldwide, ultimately improving patient care on a global scale. 

In a reciprocal exchange, the ASCRS International Committee offers several international travel awards for surgeons to attend the ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting. This year, Dr. Elaine Burns attended the 2024 ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting in Baltimore, MD as a traveling fellow, furthering the goal of international collaboration. 


Dr. Hawkins took the opportunity to connect with Dr. Burns while in Wales, capturing a moment that symbolizes the growing network of international expertise in the specialty.  


These exchanges between ASCRS and ACPGBI highlight the ongoing efforts to foster global cooperation and knowledge sharing in colorectal surgery, benefiting both medical professionals and  patients alike.