SAGES Member Spotlight

Dr. Robert Catania recalls that when he joined SAGES in 2002, “it was a small society filled with members who were thinking big thoughts and dreaming big dreams about the future of surgery.” At the time, laparoscopic surgery was still struggling to gain … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Dr. Robert Catania, General and Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Caroline Reinke joined SAGES as a resident at the University of Pennsylvania on the recommendation of Dr. Kenric Murayama.  She remembers that in addition to his praise of the society as leader in surgical care, he specifically made a point that SAGES … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Dr. Caroline Reinke, General Surgeon

“My favorite aspect of being a SAGES member is my involvement in active committees and attending the annual meeting,” says Dr. Timothy Vreeland. “Compared to other associations, SAGES is continuously creating educational material, and the various … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Dr. Timothy Vreeland, MD, HPB Surgeon

Besides SAGES’ unofficial value of FUN, “building members up” is what Dr. Yewande Alimi loves most about SAGES. “I truly enjoy the annual meeting not only as a place to learn, but a place to meet a ton of really cool, laid back people in our field. Also, … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Dr. Yewande Alimi, MIS/Bariatric Surgeon

“SAGES is my surgical family,” says Dr. Carlos Galvani. “I haven’t missed a meeting since 2002 and I don’t plan to in 2021. SAGES annual meetings are the best way to see and catch up with friends.” Dr. Galvani adds that from his very first post-9/11 … [Read more...] about Carlos Galvani, MD FACS FASMBS

"I admire the way SAGES has adapted to advances in technology, the addition of robotics and the growing specialty of hernia repairs. I plan to be a member for life,” says Dr. Shirin Towfigh. While Dr. Towfigh remembers her fellow UCLA surgery residents … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Shirin Towfigh, MD

“So much excitement, so much energy, so much FUN” is how Dr. Amin Madani describes SAGES, adding that the “secret sauce” making SAGES truly special is the desire for surgical excellence through innovation to improve patient care. Dr. Madani also points … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Amin Madani, MD PhD FRCSC

  When Dr. Marian McDonald joined SAGES as a resident in 1995, she remembers “this new cool society doing avant garde surgeries.” Today she adds that SAGES has evolved into a “community of members always looking out for each other while … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Dr. Marian McDonald, General Surgeon

  Dr. Melissa Chang calls SAGES membership a way of staying connected to her "extended family.” Dr. Chang initially joined SAGES as a Mount Sinai Hospital resident and Candidate member in 2017, later upgrading to Active membership as a way to stay … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Dr. Melissa Chang, Colon and Rectal Surgeon

SAGES has been a big part of my professional and personal life since I began residency at the University of Illinois Metropolitan Group Hospitals Residency in General Surgery in Chicago in 1987. My professors believed strongly that endoscopy is best … [Read more...] about SAGES Member Spotlight: Dr. Mark Alan Dobbertien, DO FACS retired Naval surgeon