Colorectal THRIVE 2026
Congress Where Surgeons THRIVE
Sunday, 22 March - Wednesday, 25 2026 | Fribourg, Switzerland
Sharing Knowledge. Actioning Evidence. Building Community.
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“At Colorectal THRIVE, you will learn from world-renowned Colorectal Surgeons.
Our vision is clear: To make the global community of Surgeons THRIVE. Now and in the future.
Join us in magical Fribourg, Switzerland, onsite or online, and achieve up to 42 CME credits.”
Prof. Michel Adamina, Founder of Colorectal THRIVE
Senior Consultant, Dept. of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
Full Professor of Surgery, Faculty of Science & Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Education Chair, European Society of Coloproctology
Chair, Guidelines Committee, European Crohn and Colitis Organisation
Program Committee, European Association for Endoscopic Surgery
Our partners
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What is Colorectal THRIVE ?
ABOUT THE CONGRESS
Colorectal THRIVE stands for a Vision:
To make the global community of surgeons THRIVE - Now and in the future
Our Mission is:
To advance the knowledge, humanity, and skills of colorectal surgeons worldwide.
Hence, we share knowledge, action evidence, and foster resilience through professional education, mentorship, and inclusion of surgeons.
Because when Surgeons Thrive, Patients and Healthcare Thrive.
At Colorectal THRIVE, 50 key opinion leaders from 16 countries cover all of colorectal surgery:
From cancer to IBD, and from the management of complications to clinical applications of AI and virtual reality in clinical practice and surgical education. Further topics include diverticular disease and the latest implications of the microbiome, functional and patient reported outcomes, proctology and pelvic floor, as well as leadership and professional development with a full session addressing those hot topics.
The Sunday Masterclass were developed with the Education Committee of ESCP in collaboration with Janindra Warusavitarne, Lead Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, St. Marks London and Secretary of the Coloproctology Section of UEMS. As such, the Colorectal THRIVE Masterclass are ideally suited to prepare for the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology Board or to refresh knowledge.
The choice is yours: register for THRIVE and discover our Expert lectures, either the main congress or a masterclass, you will not regret it.
This is Colorectal THRIVE - Sharing Knowledge. Actioning Evidence. Sustaining Wellbeing.
Four days of state-of-the-art professional education in colorectal surgery. Onsite in the historic city of Fribourg, Switzerland, or online.
Earn up to 47 CME credits.
Colorectal THRIVE - expect only the Best!
ECC is starting in
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Cancer of the rectum -
Crohn and Colitis -
Cancer of the Colon -
Diverticular Disease -
Innovations at work -
Complications -
Pearls of Practice -
Perspective Lectures -
Proctology & Pelvic Floor -
Microbiome Revealed -
Leadership and Negotiation -
Thrive Team
Organizing Committee
The brains and hands at work to make it happen. Our goal: To establish the world’s leading comprehensive congress for colorectal surgery, proctology, and pelvic floor diseases - a place where surgeons THRIVE.
Prof. Michel Adamina
Dr. Georgios Peros
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Dr. Roel Hompes
Dr. Antoine Meyer
Agenda
Program & Speakers
Join us at Colorectal THRIVE 2026: Elevate your expertise in Colorectal Surgery! From Sunday, 22 March to Wednesday, 25 March 2026, the city of Fribourg, Switzerland becomes the hub for colorectal surgery, pelvic floor, and proctology.
World-Class Faculty & CME Credits
50 international experts present the latest advances in the field
85 expert lectures cover the full spectrum of colorectal surgery and proctology in Main Congress and Masterclasses
Professional development sessions including Leadership, Negotiation, and Self-management
Earn up to 47 CME credits in a dynamic and interactive learning environment
Single-stream onsite + global on-demand access
Masterclasses, Hands-on course & Workshop
On Sunday, 22 March 2026 – booked independently of the main congress
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery (7 CME)
o Intensive and interactive, prepare for EBSQ Coloproctology & refresh knowledge
Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Disorders (7 CME)
o Intensive and interactive, prepare for EBSQ Coloproctology & refresh knowledge
Hands-on Course Transanal Transection and Single Stapled Anastomosis (TTSS) (7 CME)
o step-by-step introduction to the TTSS technique with hands-on practice
Workshop Leadership Essentials: From Innovation to Implementation (4 CME)
o Interactive workshop to enhance surgical practice and optimize workflow
Flexible Participation
Attend onsite in Fribourg or join virtually from anywhere
Access on-demand streaming until Friday, 27 March 2026, across all time zones
Extended on-demand access available until Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Why Attend?
Connect with leading specialists worldwide
Expand your knowledge and your professional network
Advance your practice with cutting-edge insights
Enjoy congress platform onsite and virtual from February 15 until September 30, 2026, offering:
Live & on-demand presentations
Networking and chat functions
Discussions, Q&A, and global hybrid participation
Abstracts, sponsor booths and speaker details
Cancer of the Rectum
Crohn and Colitis
Cancer of the Colon
Diverticular Disease
Innovations at work
Complications
Pearls of Pratice
Perspective Lectures
Proctology & Pelvic Floor
Leadership & Negotiation skills
Main Congress
The Main Congress takes place From Sunday, 22 March to Wednesday, 25 March 2026 - (book all days or choose individual days). Participants will be awarded up to 22 CME credits for attending the main congress.
The program offers comprehensive coverage – from cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to functional disorders, complications, and innovations. It also retains the highly acclaimed sessions on leadership and personal development. The 2026 program is designed for active audience participation and reflects the full breadth and depth of colorectal surgery and proctology. Broad endorsement by leading surgical and gastroenterological societies guarantee high content validity and direct relevance to clinical practice.
Participants and partners can expect:
The latest evidence and care recommendations
Updates in surgical management
Advances in prevention and handling of complications
State-of-the-art approaches to cancer and IBD
High-level interactions with experts and partners
Single-stream onsite + global on-demand access: never miss a lecture
All delivered by an international faculty of world-class experts
Expert lectures from the leadership of:
Monday, 23 March 2026
8 CME
Time
Title
08:30 – 08:45
Opening: Welcome to Colorectal THRIVE
Michel Adamina, Fribourg / Bern - CH
08:45 – 09:15
The ESCP Lecture
So you wanna be a surgeon?
Antonino Spinelli, Milano - IT
Diverticular disease
09:15 – 09:45
To resect or to expect after diverticulitis - an updated perspective
Ville Sallinen, Helsinki - FN
09:45 – 10:15
Diverticular Disease - from easy to crazy - how to get out of trouble
Patricia Tejedor, Madrid - SP
10:15 – 10:45
How to get things done in our operating rooms
Paul Barach, Philadelphia - US
10:45 – 11:15
Coffee break
Colon cancer
11:15 - 11:45
The ACPGBI Lecture:
High-grade dysplasia and early cancer: endoscopic removal or surgery and lymphadenectomy
Justin Davies, Cambridge – UK
11:45 - 12:15
A step-by-step, time-tested teaching model of CME for cancer
Ken Campbell, Dundee - UK
12:15 - 12:45
The DSCRS Lecture:
Incidence and management of complex colon cancer
Erik Westreenen, Zwolle - NL
12:45 - 13:15
Long-term oncologic and functional outcomes of transanal transection and single-stapled anastomosis (TTSS)
Antonino Spinelli, Milano - IT
13:15 - 14:30
Lunch break
Thinking out of the box
14:30 - 15:00
The Extraperitoneal Approach to Left-Sided Colorectal Resections: EXPERTS Procedure
Tarek Hany, Lancashire - UK
15:00 - 15:30
EUREKA, RESET, and GLOBALRECT - what real-world data tell us in rectal cancer surgery
Esther Consten, Groningen - NL
Leadership
15:30 - 16:00
Strategies for Optimizing Outcomes in Frail and Elderly Colorectal Patients
Isacco Montroni, Milano - IT
16:00 - 16:30
Sustainability in the OR - why it matters and how to do it
Patricia Sylla, New York - US
16:30 - 17:00
Coffee break
Bail out strategies: management of complications
17:00 - 17:30
How to prevent incisional and stoma site closure hernias
Salvador Morales-Conde, Sevillla - SP
17:30 - 18:00
All I wish to have known 10 years ago - Tricks of the Robotic Trade When It Bleeds, Won’t Reach, or Won’t Move
Jim Khan, Portmouth - UK
Perspective lecture
18:00 - 18:30
The Microbiome as a Surgical Partner: Are we ready to Operate Together
James Kinross, London - UK
18:30 - 19:00
Real-time surgical guidance: planes recognition and automated warning
Salvadar Morales-Conde, Sevillla - SP
Honorary lecture
19:00 – 20:00
Sharp as a knife, smart as a surgeon: lessons learned in my surgical life and beyond
Willem Bemelman, Amsterdam - NL
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
8 CME
Time
Title
Pearls of practice - Crohn and Colitis
08:30 - 09:00
Stepwise management algorithm for perianal and perineal Crohn's disease
Amy Lightner, La Jolla, USA
09:00 - 09:30
Revisional surgery in Crohn and Colitis
Willem Bemelman, Amsterdam - NL
09:30 - 10:00
From early surgery to over-the-valve stricturoplasty: surgical management of Crohn patients
André d’Hoore, Leuven - BE
10:00 - 10:30
The appendix and the colon - can a simple appendectomy save the colon in ulcerative colitis?
Christianne Buskens, Amsterdam - NL
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee break
Perspective lecture
11:00 - 11:30
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy explained
Jenny Seligmann, Leeds - UK (tbc)
Rectum cancer
11:30 - 12:00
The DSCRS Lecture:
Neoadjuvant Chemo-Immunotherapy: Radiologic Response vs Surgical Challenge
Brechtje Grotenhuis - NL
12:00 - 12:30
DERECT trial - Tailoring multimodal treatment of rectal cancer: de-escalation, abstention, intensification
Roel Hompes, Amsterdam - NL
12:30 - 13:00
Of the importance of lymphnode and tumor deposits in colorectal cancer - the radiologist view
Gina Brown, London - UK
13:00 – 14:15
Lunch break
Rectum cancer
14:15 - 14:45
Transanal TME - time for a revival? Results from the VANTAGE and COLOR III trials
Jurriaan Tuynman, Amsterdam - NL
14:45 - 15:15
Of the importance of lymphnode and tumor deposits in colorectal cancer - the pathologist view
Phil Quirke, Leeds - UK
15:15 - 15:45
Long-term quality of life and functional outcomes following a Watch-and-Wait approach
Stephanie Breukink, Maastricht - NL
15:45 - 16:15
The IRCAD Lecture:
The Future of Surgery
Jacques Marescaux, Strasbourg – F
16:15 - 16:45
Coffee break
Leadership
16:45 - 17:45
Hostage at the table - how to negotiate when it matters most
George Kohlrieser, Basel - CH/US
17:45 - 18:15
Let’s talk about sex – how to improve function beyond survival
Jacob Reisman, Amsterdam - NL
18:15 - 18:45
The empty pelvis - how to prevent and manage perineal disasters
Paris Tekkis, London - UK
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
6 CME
Time
Title
Multidisciplinary Board – Consultants on Fire
Discussion of challenging surgical cases between audience and faculty
08:30 – 09:15
Oncology Multidisciplinary Board – Discussion of complex cases submitted by the participants
Oncology, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology Faculty
09:15 - 10:00
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Multidisciplinary Board – cases submitted by the participants
Gastroenterology, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology Faculty
The Times They Are a-Changin
10:00 - 10:30
Intact & OPTIMISTICC: The Microbiome and Colorectal Cancer
Phil Quirke, Leeds - UK
10:30 - 11:00
Artificial Intelligence in Colorectal Surgery – risks, benefits, and a map to success
James Kinross, London - UK
10:30 - 11:00
The Pelvic Floor as the Mirror of the Soul
Jacob Reisman, Amsterdam - NL
11:30 - 12:00
Coffee break
Perspective lectures
12:00- 12:30
Extra-Anatomical and Lateral Lymph Nodes: When and How to Address Them
Deena Harji, Manchester - UK
12:30 - 13:00
Low risk colon cancer - is endoscopic resection enough?
Jurriaan Tuynman, Amsterdam - NL
13:00 - 13:30
NOSE - transanal & transvaginal orifice surgery
Patricia Sylla, New York - USA
Perspective lecture
13:30 - 14:00
Endometriosis for the colorectal surgeon
Frédéric Ris, Geneva - CH
14:00 - 14:30
Minimizing anastomotic leak, maximizing early detection, and optimizing repair
Eloy Espin-Basany, Barcelona - SP
14:30 - 15:00
Practical applications of AI to colorectal disease: The CLASSICA and endotheranostics projects
Alberto Arezzo, Torino – IT
15:00
Closure and Farewell
Michel Adamina, Fribourg - CH
Masterclasses, Hands-on course & Workshop
The clinical Masterclasses, TTSS hands-on course, and Leadership Workshop will take place on Sunday, 22 March 2026. They can be booked independently of the main congress. The hands-on course and Leadership Workshop are attended exclusively onsite, whereas the Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery and the Masterclass in Proctology & Pelvic Floor Disorders can be attended onsite or online, either on Sunday, 22 March 2026, or on demand until Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery
7 CME
Sunday, 22 March 2026, 09:00 - 18:00
Time
Title
09:00 - 09:35
The abdominal wall revisited – robotic incisional and parastomal hernia repair: how I do it
Jonathan Douissard, Geneva - CH
09:35 - 10:10
Handling acute diverticulits - all you need to know
Rebecca Kraus, Chur - CH
10:10 - 10:45
Surgical leadership - what truly shapes success beyond conventional metrics
Paul Barach, Washington - US
10:45 - 11:05
Coffee break
11:05 - 11:40
Anastomotic strictures revisited
Rosa Jiménez-Rodríguez, Sevilla - SP
11:40 - 12:15
The ECCO 2026 guidelines for Ulcerative Colitis in clinical practice
Janindra Warusavitarne, London - UK
12:15 - 12:50
The appendix - from easy to crazy (LAMN, NET, and more)
Jared Torkington, Cardiff - UK
12:50 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 - 14:35
From Ileus Prevention to Long-Term recovery: Optimizing Functional Outcomes After Colectomy
Isacco Montroni, Milano - IT
14:35 - 15:10
Evidence that Counts: Translating Clinical Trial Data into Tumor Board Practice
Paris Tekkis, London - UK
15:10 - 15:45
Management strategies for the acute abdomen - ischemia, volvulus, and obstruction
Patricia Tejedor, Madrid - SP
15:45 - 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 - 16:50
Surgical approaches to rectal cancer - LAR, ELAPE, and APR
Deena Harji, Manchester - UK
16:50 - 17:25
Surgical errors, performance, and outcomes: how can we improve our training and life-long practice
Nader Francis, Yeovil - UK
17:25 - 18:00
Robotic Colorectal Surgery - Stepwise to Mastery
Jim Khan, Portsmouth - UK
18:00
Closure
This intensive one-day course provides in-depth, interactive training on key topics essential for the safe and effective practice of colorectal surgery.
It has been developed together with Janindra Warusavitarne (St. Mark’s, London; Secretary of UEMS Coloproctology) and the Education Committee of the European Society of Coloproctology.
The course is ideally suited for:
Preparation for the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology Board Exam
Refreshing and updating existing knowledge
Additional Information
Masterclass can be booked independently of the main congress.
Participants will receive PDF copies of all presentations.
The University of Fribourg recognizes this Masterclass as an official university course.
Masterclass in Proctology & Pelvic Floor Disorders
7 CME
Sunday, 22 March 2026, 09:00 - 18:00
Course director: Bruno Roche
Time
Title
09:00 - 09:35
Proctology Foundations: Exam, Ultrasound, and MRI — Complementing the Clinical History
Bruno Roche, Geneva - CH
09:35 - 10:10
Specialization and innovation in proctology - from plain hemorrhoids to AIN and cancer
Roxane D. Staiger, Lucerne - CH
10:10 - 10:45
Anorectal fistula - from simple to complex, time-tested and innovative approaches
Rosa Jiménez-Rodríguez, Sevilla - SP
10:45 - 11:05
Coffee break
11:05 - 11:40
Laser in proctology: from bleaching, rejuvenation to fistula closure and pilonidal sinus
Ionel Romain, Saxon - CH
11:40 - 12:15
The pelvic floor explained - anatomy, function, and pathophysiology for surgeons
Guillaume Meurette,Geneva - CH
12:15 - 12:50
Obstructed defecation syndrome - conservative and operative approaches
Esther Consten, Groninge – NL
12:50 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 - 14:35
Transperineal and transvaginal approaches explained
Bruno Roche, Geneva - CH
14:35 - 15:10
The lazy gut - investigations, interventions, and medical treatment
Daniel Pohl, Zürich - CH
15:10 - 15:45
State of the art neuromodulation: of fecal incontinence, slow-transit constipation, LARS, and more - technique and cost-effectiveness
Stéphanie Breukink, Maastricht - NL
15:45 - 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 - 16:50
The lazy gut - let's take it out! Words of caution and surgical algorithm
Janindra Warusavitarne, London - UK
16:50 - 17:25
Reoperative pelvic floor surgery - advices and techniques when things go wrong
Guillaume Meurette, Geneva - CH
17:25 - 18:00
Proctology and the human soul: pearls of wisdom to building a therapeutic relationship
Bruno Roche, Geneva - CH
18:00
Closure
This intensive one-day course provides in-depth, interactive training on key topics essential for the safe and effective management of patients with pelvic floor and proctologic disorders.
It has been developed in collaboration with Janindra Warusavitarne (St. Mark’s, London; Secretary of UEMS Coloproctology) and the Education Committee of the European Society of Coloproctology.
The course is ideally suited for:
Preparation for the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology Board Exam
Refreshing and updating clinical knowledge
Additional Information
Masterclass can be booked independently of the maincongress
Participants will receive PDF copies of all presentations.
The University of Fribourg recognizes this Masterclass as an official university course
Transanal Transection and Single Stapled Anastomosis Course
7 CME
Sunday, 22 March 2026
Course Director: Antonino Spinelli, Milano
Faculty: Michelle Carvello, Georgios Peros, Michel Adamina
Learning objectives will be achieved through:
This advanced course is designed for colorectal surgeons with experience in minimally invasive rectal surgery. It includes hands-on training sessions on a biologic training model to practice TTSS, including the bowel transection, purse-string, and mechanical anastomosis.
Guided by an expert faculty led by Prof. Antonino Spinelli and his Team, the mastermind behind the development of TTSS, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the rationale, indications, patient selection, critical steps, and potential pitfalls of the technique.
In-depth didactic lectures
Live surgery demonstrations
Hands-on training sessions
Masterclass in
Colorectal Surgery
- Interactive one-day course
- Can be booked independently of the expert lectures
- 7 CME credits
- Attendance: Onsite or online
- PDF copies of the presentations are included
Masterclass in
Proctology & Pelvic Floor Disease
- Interactive one-day course
- Can be booked independently of the expert lectures
- 7 CME credits
- Attendance: Onsite or online
- PDF copies of the presentations are included
Time
Title
09:00 - 09:10
Welcome and Introduction
09:10 - 09:35
TME: how to do it
09:35 - 09:55
Benefit and Pitfall of taTME in the era of TTSS
10:20 - 10:40
Evidence about TTSS | short-term and long-term outcomes
10:40 - 11:00
Coffee break
11:00 - 13:00
Deferred live surgery: laparoscopic and robotic TME augmented by TTSS
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 - 17:00
Hands-on training: transanal transection, purse-string, single-stapled anastomosis in a biologic training model
17:00 - 17:10
Course wrap-up
Participants are encouraged to attend in teams of two surgeons to maximize implementation of TTSS upon returning to their institution. The Transanal Transection and Single Stapled Anastomosis Course is listed as an university course by the University of Fribourg. The course can be booked independently of the main congress. Non-editable pdf copies of the presentations are included.
A maximum of 12 participants is foreseen to maximize learning outcomes and interactions.
Leadership Essentials: From Innovation to Implementation
4 CME
Sunday, 22 March 2026, 14:00 - 18:00
Course Directors: Paul Barach, Philadelphia - Michel Adamina, Bern
Target Audience: Surgeons, surgical team leaders, hospital management
A 30-minute reading and self-assessment ahead of the workshop is required to maximize your learning.
Workshop objectives
Understand systemic organization and its impact on surgical practice and outcomes
Understand and develop your leadership skills to drive innovation and implementation
Empower surgeons to lead teams effectively
Optimize perioperative workflow for efficiency and patient safety
Recognize and mitigate burnout; build resilience strategies
Time
Title
14:00 - 14:30
Introduction & Context
Mapping surgical workflows
Why leadership matters in surgical practice
Overview of systemic challenges in healthcare
14:30 - 15:00
Systemic Organization & Workflow
Welcome and objectives
Identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies
Strategies for improving coordination and communication
15:00 - 15:30
Leadership Essentials for Surgeons
Identify your leadership style and learn ways to improve your situational leadership
Building trust and psychological safety in teams
Appreciate how to assess and improve your decision-making under pressure
Improve work with multidisciplinary leadership teams, governing boards, and system partners
15:30 - 16:00
Coffee break
16:00 - 16:30
Empowerment & Innovation
Creating a culture of innovation
Tools for implementing change in complex systems
Case studies: successful implementation in surgery
16:30 - 17:00
Burnout & Resilience
Recognizing signs of burnout in yourself and your team
Evidence-based resilience strategies
Peer support and institutional resources
17:00 - 18:00
Interactive Session: Leadership in Action
Interactive action planning for participants’ own institutions
Key takeaways and resources for continued learning
Feedback and closing remarks
Masterclasses
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery
Sun 30.03.2025
Time
Title
Lecturer
09:00 - 09:35
Management of intestinal neuroendocrine tumors
Isacco Montroni, Milano - IT
09:35 – 10:10
How I do it: hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis and lateral lymph node dissection
Paris Tekkis, London - UK
10:10 – 10:45
Happy to close – incidence and step by step management strategies to minimize incisional and parastomal hernia
Jared Torkington, Cardiff - UK
10:45 – 11:05
Coffee break
11:05 - 11:40
Understanding biology and improving surgical specimen are key to best oncologic outcomes
Phil Quirke, Leeds - UK
11:40 – 12:15
First It did not reach and now it turns ischemic! How to maximize mobilization and perfusion: from the perfect flexure approach to mesentery lengthening and other tricks
Eloy Espín-Basany, Barcelona - ES
12:15 – 12:50
Colorectal cancer staging – why it matters, how to interpret imaging, and how to implement a quality reporting framework at home
Gina Brown, London - UK
12:50 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 14:35
Management of colonic volvulus, small bowel obstruction, bezoars, and Ogilvie
Rebecca Kraus, Chur - CH
14:35 – 15:10
A survival guide for the septic abdomen: drainage, lavage, resection and protected anastomosis, damage control or Hartmann procedure and its minimally invasive reversal
Amy Lightner, La Jolla - US
15:10 – 15:45
A colorectal trauma guide: foreign bodies, blunt, stab, and shot injuries
Laura Beyer-Berjot, Marseille – FR
15:45 – 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 – 16:50
Intraoperative decision-making for Crohn’s disease
Laura Hancock, Manchester - UK
16:50 – 17:25
Pro and cons of Ileorectal and ileopouchanal anastomosis in IBD and polyposis syndromes
Justin Davies, Cambridge - UK
17:25 – 18:00
Management of presacral and retrorectal tumors
William Perry, Rochester - US
18:00
Closure
The Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery is an intensive one-day Course intended to provide in-depth and interactive learning of topics paramount to the safe practice of colorectal surgery. It has been designed with Janindra Warusavitarne, St. Marks London & Education Chair of the European Society of Coloproctology. As such, this Colorectal THRIVE Masterclass is ideally suited to prepare for the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology Board or to refresh knowledge. The Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases is listed as an official university course by the University of Fribourg.
The course can be booked independently of the main congress. Non-editable pdf copies of the presentations are included.
Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases
Sun 30.03.2025
Time
Title
Lecturer
09:00 - 09:35
Expert Approaches to Cryptogenic Abscesses andFistulae, from basic to the most complex cases
Bruno Roche, Geneva - CH
09:35 – 10:10
The Crohn perineum – state of the art management of abscess and complex fistula
Janindra Warusavitarne, London – UK
10:10 – 10:45
Stem cells in clinical practice and more coming from the bench to the bedside – what do we have today and what to expect tomorrow
Amy Lightner, La Jolla - US
10:45 – 11:05
Coffee break
11:05 - 11:40
Obstetric injury: early and late presentation and repair techniques
Carolynne Vaizey, London – UK
11:40 – 12:15
Let there be light: laser hemorrhoidoplasty, fistula,and sinus pilonidalis treatment
Ionel H. Roman, Saxon - CH
12:15 – 12:50
Care protocol in proctology – hypnosis, local anesthesia, preemptive analgesia
Frédéric Ris, Geneva – CH
12:50 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 14:35
State of the art neuromodulation: of fecal incontinence, slow-transit constipation, LARS, and more - techniques and cost-effectiveness
Guillaume Meurette, Geneva - CH
14:35 – 15:10
Pilonidal sinus: from incision to definitive treatment
Christian Gingert, Zürich - CH
15:10 – 15:45
Pelvic floor reconstruction techniques
Guillaume Meurette, Geneva - CH
15:45 – 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 – 16:50
When joining the ends make no sense - salvage strategies and long-term results of the Turnbull-Cutait Pull-Through Coloanal Anastomosis
Eloy Espín-Basany, Barcelona - ES
16:50 – 17:25
Hidradenitis suppurativa – a practical, multimodal management guide
Christian Gingert, Zürich - CH
17:25 – 18:00
Rectocele, cystocele, and elytrocele: diagnosis, clinical significance, and surgical implications
Bruno Roche, Geneva – CH
18:00
Closure
The Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases is an intensive one-day Course intended to provide in-depth and interactive learning of topics paramount to the safe practice of colorectal surgery. It has been designed with Janindra Warusavitarne, St. Marks London & Education Chair of the European Society of Coloproctology. As such, this Colorectal THRIVE Masterclass is ideally suited to prepare for the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology Board or to refresh knowledge.
The Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases is listed as an official university course by the University of Fribourg.
Our 50 Expert Speakers
Alberto Arezzo
Torino - IT
Caroline Nordenvall
Stockholm - SE
Carolynne Vaizey
London - UK
Christos Kontovounisios
Athens - GR
Francesco Bianchi-Demicheli
Geneva – CH
Ionel Roman
Saxon - CH
Julie Cornish
Cardiff - UK
Justin Davies
Cambridge - UK
Laura Beyer-Berjot
Marseille - FR
Laura Hancock
Manchester - UK
Michele Diana
Genève - CH
Pamela Buchwald
Malmö - SE
Paul Barach
Philadelphia - USA
Philippe Chasserant
Albertville - FR
Pietro Mascagni
Strasbourg - FR
Susan Moug
Glasgow - UK
William Perry
Rochester - USA
Patricia Sylla
New York - USA
Marc André Reymond
Tübingen - DE
Brechtje Grotenhuis
Amsterdam - NL
Erik van Westreenen
Utrecht - NL
Michele Carvello
Milano - IT
Ville Sallinen
Helsinki - FI
Jonathan Douissard
Geneva – CH
Roxane Staiger
Lucerne - CH
Graham MacKay
Glasgow - UK
Daniel Pohl
Zürich - CH
Eloy Espin Basany
Barcelona - ES
Gina Brown
London - UK
Christianne Buskens
Amsterdam - NL
Quentin Denost
Bordeaux - FR
Esther Consten
Groningen - NL
Christian Gingert
Zürich - CH
Deena Harji
Manchester - UK
Roel Hompes
Amsterdam - NL
André d'Hoore
Leuven - BE
Jim Khan
Portsmouth - UK
James Kinross
London - UK
Rebecca Kraus
Chur - CH
Isacco Montroni
Faenze - IT
Jacques Marescaux
Strasbourg - FR
Guillaume Meurette
Geneva - CH
Phillip Quirke
Leeds - UK
Frédéric Ris
Geneva - CH
Bruno Roche
Geneva - CH
Antonino Spinelli
Milano - IT
Jared Torkington
London - UK
Jurriaan Tuynman
Amsterdam - NL
Janindra Warusavitarne
London - UK
Paris Tekkis
London - UK
Amy L. Lightner
La Jolla - USA
Registration fees
Payment in Swiss Francs: 1 CHF ≈ 1 EUR ≈ 1 US$ // No VAT is charged for education
Onsite and Online Registration Fees are Identical
Onsite and Online Registration include on-demand access until 24h after each session closes.
Onsite registration includes breaks, lunches, and welcome reception.
Regular Registration
until 06.03.2026
Late Registration
apply from 07.03.2026
Main Congress
Monday until Wednesday
22 CME credits
725 CHF
815 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
Monday until Wednesday
22 CME credits
420 CHF
480 CHF
Single day
Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday
440 CHF
450 CHF
Single day Trainee*
Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday
350 CHF
390 CHF
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery
Sunday
7 CME credits
410 CHF
450 CHF
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery Trainee*
Sunday
7 CME credits
350 CHF
380 CHF
Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases
Sunday
7 CME credits
410 CHF
450 CHF
Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases Trainee*
Sunday
7 CME credits
350 CHF
380 CHF
Hands-on Course Transanal Transection and Single Stapled Anastomosis
Sunday
7 CME Credits
850 CHF
950 CHF
Leadership Essentials:
From Innovation to Implementation
Sunday afternoon
4 CME Credits
325 CHF
375 CHF
* Trainee status: applicable under age 35 (birth date must be later than 01.04.1991) – a passport copy has to be uploaded during registration for age verification, else the full registration fee will be charged
Low-income countries ♯ and war-torn regions: contact us to benefit from free onsite registration
Medical Student: Write us from your student account at contact@colorectal-thrive.org to benefit from onsite registration at the cost of catering
ADDITIONAL on-demand access until Wednesday, 30 September, 2026
Requires a prior registration to either the main congress or the same masterclass
Main congress
22 CME credits
100 CHF
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery
7 CME credits
50 CHF
Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases
7 CME credits
50 CHF
♯ According to the 2026 Wold Bank Classification: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, North Korea, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uganda, Yemen
Submit an abstract
We welcome original abstracts of previously unpublished work related to colorectal and digestive diseases, including basic and translational research, medical education, leadership, and health resource utilization.
Eligibility & review
- Final acceptance of an abstract requires onsite registration by its first author.
- Maximum 2 submissions per first author.
- Maximum 500 words per abstract.
- Rolling review with an acceptance/rejection decision within one week of submission.
Publication
Accepted abstracts will be displayed on the interactive virtual congress platform from February to October 2026, and on digital displays in the congress halls during the event. To support sustainability, no print edition is planned. Digital publication follows the Creative Commons open-access guidelines (CC BY 4.0).
Awards
The top three contributions will receive ranked certificates and prizes.
Submission deadline: Sunday, 8 March 2026 23:59 CET
What to send (required)
1. Abstract title
2. Authors’ names
3. Abstract text:
- Max. 500 words
- Structured as: Background & Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion
4. Photo of the first author:
- PNG, JPG, or GIF (300 × 150 px, 2:1 ratio)
Recommended (optional)
5. Simple graphic from your research (PNG, JPG, or GIF)
6. Short presentation video:
- For example, recorded with PowerPoint or similar to maximize engagement with the audience
- MP4 file or link (e.g. an unlisted YouTube link)
7. Social Media profiles of the first author (e.g. LinkedIn, X, Instagram)
How to submit
The first author should email all required items to: abstract@colorectal-thrive.org
Simple graphic from your research (PNG, JPG, or GIF)
6. Short presentation video:
- For example, recorded with PowerPoint or similar to maximize engagement with the audience
- MP4 file or link (e.g. an unlisted YouTube link)
7. Social Media profiles of the first author (e.g. LinkedIn, X, Instagram)
How to submit
The first author should email all required items to: abstract@colorectal-thrive.org
Sounding Board
The distinguished members of our Sounding Board oversaw the best and most comprehensive programme in colorectal surgery for you.
Prof. Patricia Sylla
Professor of Surgery, Chief of Coloretal Surgery, Mt. Sinai, New York City, Past President of SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons)
Prof. Willem Bemelman
Professor of Colorectal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Past president ESCP (European Society of Coloproctology)
Janindra Warusavitarne
MD, PhD, Lead Consultant Colorectal Surgeon for IBD, St. Mark's Hospital, London, Secretary of the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology
Prof. Des Winter
Professor of Surgery, University College Dublin, Consultant St. Vincent's University Hospital, Editor-in-Chief BJS (British Journal of Surgery)
Congress city: Fribourg
Switzerland
ColorectalTHRIVE is hosted in the medieval city of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Fribourg is easy to reach by train or road from the nearby airports of Zurich, Geneva, and Basel.
Direct access to train connection from all major cities and airports to Fribourg.
More information: Discover Fribourg and local transports (Fribourg city card).
Forum Fribourg
The congress venue is at Forum Fribourg, a 12-minute bus ride from the train station or a 20-minute walk from the city centre and its old town.
Excellent public transportation and individual parking at the congress site are available. We recommend public transportation to travel to the congress.
Access public transporation schedule here
=> Type From: "your place of departure" To: "Forum Fribourg"
Forum Fribourg, Route du Lac 12, 1763 Granges-Paccot
Hotels & accommodation
All participants are to book their accommodation of choice independently.
The 2 hotels next to the congress venue are the Hotel Ibis and Ibis budget with rates starting below CHF 100. They are plenty of hotel rooms available within a 10km radius, as well as Airbnb options.
Hotel Ibis can be booked at H5324-BO@accor.com
Hotel Ibis budget can be booked at H9925-FO@accor.com
Further hotels within 10km of the congress venue can be booked at:
Surgeons are bred, not born!
Free Lectures
ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME!
Countdown to Colorectal THRIVE 2026: Weekly Expert Lectures
Get inspired for your practice with exclusive presentations from THRIVE !
Once a week, a new expert lecture is highlighted in our newsletter, with access available for four weeks, as part of our mission to advance the knowledge, humanity, and skills of colorectal surgeons worldwide.
Don’t miss this chance to explore cutting-edge insights in colorectal surgery, pelvic floor, and proctology.
Register now to receive our newsletter and stay inspired on your journey to THRIVE 2026.
This was THRIVE 2025
LOOKING BACK
Colorectal THRIVE 2025 ended in early April: it was again an incredible success built on Friendship, Commitment to Share, and tireless Engagement for our Core Values. Speakers and Attendees shaped the spirit of our THRIVE colorectal community, exchanging thoughts and sharing experience to learn together and improve patients’ care and surgeons’ well-being.
An international jury had the difficult task to select and honour three out of the many submitted abstracts. The 3 best contributions were:
1. Is stoma reversal under spinal anesthesia more ERAS friendly? A randomized controlled trial
T. Mishra, S. Jain, N. Singh, P. Kumar, B. Rout, S. Ahmad, D. Muduly, B. Pattnaik
All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Bhubaneswar, India
2. CRP values in the drainage fluid as a predictive marker of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery – a prospective pilot study
I.Kyrochristou, G. Anagnostopoulos, K. Psalla, A. Rogdakis
General Hospital of Nikaia andPiraeus, Athens
3. Comparison of quality of life between intersphincteric resection and abdominoperineal resection in patients with low rectal cancer
A. Mohammed, S. Shojaei-Zarghani, Z. Ghanbarzadegan , Z. Zabangirfard , A. Hussein Alhurry, K. Gorgi , S. Vahid Hosseini
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Haramaya University, Ethiopia. Al Hussein Teaching Hospital, Imam Alhassan Teaching Hospital, Karbala, Iraq
Congratulations to the 3 Winners and their Team!
Thank you for choosing THRIVE to share your research.
We pledge to share at THRIVE
In 2025 Colorectal THRIVE warmly welcomed 749 participants from 43 countries across six continents.
As in 2024, we waived or reduced registration fees for 50 fellow surgeons from low-and middle-income countries and from war-torn regions.
Because we believe in sharing above all.
If you liked Colorectal THRIVE 2025, you will love THRIVE 2026: mark your calendar for
Colorectal THRIVE 2026 from Sunday March 22 to Wednesday March 25, 2026 in Fribourg, Switzerland.
The main congress will run Monday to Wednesday, whereas Masterclass will be offered on Sunday and Thursday.
We will make another major colorectal congress happen, share what we know and can best, and thrive together!
Michel and the Colorectal THRIVE Team
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Impressions
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Praise for THRIVE
Sponsors
Thanks to oursponsors of Colorectal THRIVE 2026:
Platin Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
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Bronze Sponsor
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Organizer
MGA Network
Unterdorfstrasse 10
8413 Neftenbach
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