Each year the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) recognizes up to six (6) Honorary Fellows. Honorary Fellowship is designed to honor individuals, regardless of specialty, recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions made to fields related to Colon and Rectal Surgery. Nominees for Honorary Fellow should have significantly contributed to peer-reviewed literature and/or introduced, fostered and/or advanced innovation and/or education in the specialty of colorectal surgery; demonstrated significant and/or sustained leadership within their national or regional society; developed and promulgated significant clinical and/or research and/or technological advances in the field of colon and rectal surgery.

The ASCRS Nominating Committee submits the following slate of 2021 Honorary Fellows for election at the Society's Annual Business Meeting.

Dr. Nasser Al-Sanea
Dr. Al-Sanea is Professor of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Alfaisal University and Consultant and Heald of the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He established the Saudi Society in Colon and Rectal Surgery, the Saudi Fellowship in Colon & Rectal Surgery, the Enterostomal Therapy Diploma, and the Saudi Hereditary Colon & Rectal Diseases Registry at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (KFSHRC). His other responsibilities include:

• Director General, Health Affairs, Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University
• Vice-President, International Society of University Colon & Rectal Surgeons
• Director of the Saudi Registry for Hereditary Colorectal Diseases
• Editor-in-Chief, World Journal of Colon & Rectal Surgery Editor-in-Chief & Annals of Saudi Medicine
• Editor-in-Chief, Al-Takhassusi Magazine
• Editorial Board Member, Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology

 
Dr. Nam Kyu Kim, Seoul, Korea                             
Dr. Kim is an academic and research leader in colon and rectal surgery in Korea, as well as a leader in robotic colorectal surgery in Korea, with 55 grants and 11 clinical trials. Developed department of surgery at Yonsei University, Seoul Korea into its current prominence in region. He had held leadership positions in multiple Korean and Asia Pacific surgical societies including:

• 2009-2011: Chairman of Board of Regents of Korean Society of Coloproctology
• 2010-2014: Chairman of Board of Regents of Korean Society of Surgical Oncology
• 2012-2017: President of Asia Pacific Colorectal Cancer Association 
• 2017-Present: Member of National Academy of Medicine, Korea
• 2017-Present: Associate Editor, Disease of the Colon and Rectum
• 2014-Present: Emeritus Editor in Chief, Annals of Coloproctology
• 2018-2019: President of Multidisciplinary Cancer Commission 
• 2018- Present: Governor, Chapter of South Korea, American College of Surgeons

 
Mr. Charles Knowles                                               
Mr. Knowles is Professor of Surgery, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) He is a leading researcher in basic and clinical science aspects of pelvic floor disorders and GI neuromuscular diseases, as well as a leader in the development of international research and clinical collaborative efforts. His leadership roles in that area include:

• Deputy Director NIHR Pragmatic Clinical Trials Unit (PCTU) (2018 to date): The unit specialises in evaluation of complex interventions e.g., surgery
• Director of National Bowel Research Centre
• Barts Life Sciences: NHS Trust Board Lead for Surgery
• Acting Chair of Research Committee, Cleveland Clinic London.
• Chair of Grants Committee and Trustee. Bowel Research UK (2020 to date).
• Clinical advisor to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Continence Care (from 2015 to date).
• R&D lead to the National Pelvic Floor Society, affiliation: Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (from 2013 to date).
• Chair of Research Committee: European Society of Coloproctology. Strategic oversight of growing portfolio of global studies (snapshot audits and now randomized trials e.g., EAGLE) (2018 to date).
• Chair of the International Continence Society ICI guideline committee for faecal incontinence surgery (2018 to date).

 
Dr. Thandinkosi Madiba                              
Dr. Mandiba is Emeritus Professor of Surgery, Senior Research Associate Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group Department of Surgery, The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa.  His career has included many “firsts” as well as multiple leadership positions. They include

• First African to become a full Professor of Surgery at UKZN
• First African to become Head of the Department of Surgery at UKZN
• Established the Durban Colorectal Unit and Clinic at lnkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban
• Founding member & Past President of the South African Colorectal Society
• Past President of the Association of Surgeons of South Africa
• First African to be awarded to International Scholarship of the ASCRS in 2002
• First person from the African continent to become an International Fellow member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

 
Dr. April Roslani                                          
Dr. Roslani is Professor of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Malaya. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She also serves as Dean, Dean's Office, Faculty of Medicine, and Deputy Director (Surgical), University Malaya Medical Centre, University Malaya. Dr Roslani has served in leadership positions in multiple Malaysia and Asia Pacific professional societies including:

• College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, Honorary Secretary, 2013
• International Council of Coloproctology, Member, 2015 to 2018
• Asia Pacific Federation of Coloproctology, Council Member, 2015 to 2017
• ASEAN Society of Colorectal Surgeons, Council Member, 2016 to 2018
• College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, Vice-President, 2016
• Malaysian Society of Colorectal Surgeons, Honorary Secretary, 2017
• Asia Pacific Federation of Coloproctology, President-Elect, 2017 to 2019; President 2019. 
• Malaysian Society of Colorectal Surgeons, Vice President, 2019
• College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, President, 2019
• International Society for Digestive Surgery (ISDS), Executive Committee Member, 2019 to 2021