Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology

Professor Andreas M. Kaiser

Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA

Andreas M. Kaiser, M.D., is professor and chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery in the Department of Surgery at City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. He graduated in 1988 from the University of Zurich in Switzerland followed by an internship in surgical pathology and a residency in general surgery at the University of Zurich Hospital from 1990 to 1998. In addition, Dr. Kaiser completed a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School, a fellowship in Visceral Surgery at the University Hospital in Zurich, and a fellowship in colorectal surgery at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

Before joining City of Hope, Dr. Kaiser was faculty in surgery at USC from 2000 to 2019, and he served as interim chairman of the Department of Colorectal Surgery from 2008-2009. He is board-certified by the Swiss Board of Surgery in General Surgery (1998) and in Visceral Surgery (2006), and by the European Surgery Qualification Board in Coloproctology (2002). He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (FASCRS) and most recently was inducted as a fellow of the most prestigious American Surgical Association. He is a member of several national and international professional associations and committees. He is a member of the NIH Advisory Board for the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Network of the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Kaiser has extensive experience in every aspect of even the most complex colorectal diseases and has become a referral center for challenging cases. He provides comprehensive interdisciplinary management for all stages of colorectal and anal cancer, hereditary colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, acute/chronic diverticulitis, functional disorders of the colon and rectum, and benign disorders of the anus.

Dr. Kaiser has written numerous articles and book chapters and also serves as an associate editor of Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, the official journal of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. In addition to his role as Editor-in-Chief of Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, he is also a co-editor of the Journal of Robotic Surgery.

Prof. Dr. Everson L.A. Artifon

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Dr. Everson L.A. Artifon is an Associate Professor of Surgery at University of São Paulo, Brazil. He is a senior expert in Therapeutic ERCP and EUS. Has authored 180 PubMed indexed publications, an editor of 17 Endoscopic Books, written 180 book chapters, is on the editorial board of many indexed Medical Journals, and international invited speaker of many congresses around the globe.

Dr Santosh Shenoy

Department of Surgery, Kansas City Veterans Medical Center, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA

Dr. Santosh Shenoy is a faculty surgeon with Kansas City VA Medical Center and University of Missouri at Kansas City, USA. He is a purpose driven surgeon scientist, educator and researcher, delivering the next generation of surgical trainees. Dr. Shenoy graduated from University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine at Saint Louis University, Missouri and General Surgery residency from West Virginia University, Morgantown. He is certified by American board of Surgery and Medicine. He is also the fellow of American College of Surgeons. He also completed a year of research certificate course in Cancer biology and therapeutics from Harvard Medical School, Boston.

He has numerous publications on gastrointestinal diseases, especially gastrointestinal oncology, and is also an active peer reviewer and on editorial board of scientific surgical and medical journals. His interests include clinical aspects of gastrointestinal medical and surgical pathology, tumor biology and cell signaling, gut microbiome, inflammation and systemic illness.

Professor Wing-Kin Syn

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

Wing-Kin Syn MD PhD is Professor of Medicine and Attending Physician / Physician-Scientist at the Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center and the Medical University of South Carolina, and an honorary professor at the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, Spain. His laboratory research currently focuses on the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and mechanisms of tissue fibrosis. Specifically, his team is evaluating the roles of osteopontin and thyroid hormone signaling in regulating liver disease outcomes. His clinical and translational research is focused on improving diagnostic/prognostic algorithms and treatment of patients with NAFLD through participation in clinical trials and use of novel non-invasive technologies. He also directs a large multi-disciplinary metabolic clinic to provide holistic medical care to patients with NAFLD, and is associate fellowship director for research.

Dr Vipul Yagnik

Department of Surgery, Banas Medical College and Research Institute, Palanpur, India

Dr. Vipul D. Yagnik is a well-respected faculty member at Banas Medical College and Research Institute in Palanpur, Gujarat, India. He has a wealth of experience in surgical science, education, and research and has inspired many budding professionals throughout his career. Dr. Yagnik earned his MBBS and MS degrees from M. P. Shah Medical College in Jamnagar and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition (PGDCN). He has worked as an Assistant Professor at Pramukhswami Medical College, a Consultant Surgeon at Ronak Hospital, and Director and Consultant Surgeon at Nishtha Surgical Hospital and Research Centre in Patan. Dr. Yagnik has received fellowships from prestigious organizations such as the Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India, the Association of Surgeons of India, the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons, and the International Society of Colo-Proctology. He is also a member of the American College of Surgeons.

As an academic, Dr. Yagnik is the Executive and Managing Editor for the Global Journal of Medical Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Update and an active board member of several renowned international journals. He has authored over 178 publications, out of which 128 publications are listed on Pubmed (National Library of Medicine). He also authored a book entitled "Fundamentals of Operative Surgery," and has written many book chapters, and has made significant strides in surgical research. His discoveries include a novel anatomical pathway for the spread of anal fistula, groundbreaking guidelines on postoperative MRI for anal fistulas, and diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for Hi-5 fistulas.

Dr. Yagnik is known for his pioneering work on two-port appendectomy, having reported the first case of ectopic pancreatic tissue in the cecum and the inaugural instance of Castleman disease of the greater omentum from India. His area of interest includes anal fistulas, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries, medical education, Meckel’s diverticulum, and gastrointestinal tuberculosis. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including the Best Researcher Award from the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons for 2022-23. Dr. Yagnik continues to share his vast knowledge and expertise at state and national-level surgical conferences, where he serves as a faculty member.