Dr. Belinda De Simone was born in Rome (Italy) and graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the University “Sapienza” of Roma. She moved to Parma (Italy) to accomplish her dream to become a visceral surgeon at the University of Parma. There she observed her Mentor, Prof. Fausto Catena, who trained her in emergency and trauma surgery and scientific research.
Then, following the advice of her Mentor, she left Italy and went to Paris to be educated by one of the pioneers of minimally invasive surgery, an expert in bariatric surgical procedures, Prof. Elie Chouillard, at the academic Hospitals of Poissy and Saint Germain en Laye.
Dr Belinda DE SIMONE was responsible for scientific research from 2020 to 2023 at the Poissy and Saint Germain en Laye Hospitals, and was the principal investigator for the ChoCO-W global observational study focused on the management of severe cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic; the Artificial Intelligence in emergency and trauma surgery (ARIES) project; the Operative management of acute abdomen injury after BAriatric surgery (OBA) project; the management of surgical patients in the emergency setting during the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency surgery in elderly patients (CO-OLDER ongoing project).
Dr Belinda De Simone splits her professional life between France and Italy, cultivating her multiple interests in surgical research and life as a female surgeon, committed to promoting the importance of education in emergency surgery for improving the management of frail and critically ill surgical patients.
Dr. Belinda De Simone believes in humanity, loyalty, equality, inclusivity, and equal opportunities without boundaries or restrictions, and is grateful to be still supported by the surgeons and friends she has met during her personal and professional journey.
Research interests: emergency surgery and trauma management; geriatric emergency surgery; treatment of intra-abdominal infections and proper use of antibiotics; long-term outcomes of metabolic surgery; abdominal wall surgery and complex hernia repair; Artificial Intelligence implementation in emergency and trauma surgery.
Prof. Fausto Catena was born on 1 November 1971. He completed his degree in Medicine and Surgery (MD) at the University of Bologna, Italy. He received a Ph.D. in Physiology and Physiopathology from Bologna University. From 2000–2011, he was a Consultant General Surgeon at the Department of General, Emergency and Transplant Surgery at St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, Italy. He has been a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (UK) since 2012. In 2013, he received the Italian national certification as a full professor of general surgery. From 2012 to 2020, he was the Chief of the Department of Emergency and General Surgery at Parma University Hospital, Italy. Since 2021, he has been the Chief of the Department of General and Emergency Surgery at Bufalini Hospital Cesena, Italy.
Prof. Catena has written more than 800 scientific papers (more than 400 on PubMed, H index = 49), 40 book chapters, and 5 Books. He won 20 national and international scientific prizes. He has performed more than 4000 medium–high-level surgical procedures. Prof. Catena is the Editor-in-Chief of the World Journal of Emergency Surgery and is the Editor of more than 10 other journals.
Prof. Fausto Catena’s research activity is focused on emergency surgery (acute cholecystitis, adhesions, intra-abdominal infections, trauma), renal transplantation (graft preservation), oncologic surgery (GIST and carcinomatosis–HIPEC), colorectal surgery (elective and emergency colorectal cancer, diverticular disease), and abdominal wall surgery (biological prostheses).
He is consultant surgeon at Department of General and Emergency Surgery, Macerata Hospital, Area Vasta 3, ZT n°9 (Italy) – Coordinator of Scientific Activities – Member of the Hospital Infection Control Committee.
He has performed more than 3,500 operations of general and emergency surgery.
His scientific activity is documented by publications in international scientific journals (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=sartelli). He is author/co-author of nine manuals of emergency surgery.
In the last years he has devoted his updating to the study of surgical infections and sepsis.
He coordinated WSES Guidelines for Management of Intra-abdominal Infections, WSES Guidelines for Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections and WSES Guidelines for Management of Clostridium difficile Infection in Surgical Patients.
He designed and coordinated four multicenter prospective studies (CIAOW Study, CIAO Study, WISS Study and PIPAS study) involving medical institutions worldwide defining epidemiological and management profiles of intra-abdominal infections worldwide.
In 2016 he designed AGORA Project. A global Alliance for Rational and appropriate use of antibiotics in managing intra-abdominal infections with the participation of clinicians from 79 countries worldwide.
He is deputy editor of the “World Journal of Emergency Surgery” and member of the Board of Directors of the “World Society of Emergency Surgery”.
He is founder and acting director of the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery. The Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery is an independent alliance promoted in 2016 by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), for a cohesive and global approach to promoting research and education in the field of infections in surgery. Experts from 86 countries worldwide joined the International Advisory Board of the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery. (www.infectionsinsurgery.org).
Professor Kirkpatrick graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Ottawa, with fellowships in Surgery and Critical Care at the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree in Epidemiology at the University of British Columbia. He is past President of the Trauma Asociation of Canada and Abdominal Compartment Society.
Dr. Kirkpatrick has more than 500 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, mainly concerning telemedicine, intra-abdominal hypertension, and aerospace medicine. He is a past-President of the Trauma Association of Canada and the Abdominal Compartment Society, as well as past executive member of the Canadian Emergency Ultrasound Society and the Canadian Asociation of General Surgeons Evidence Based Reviews in Surgery Committees. He has consulted for the Canadian Space Agency and the National Space and Aeronautiocal Agencies. He retains a reserve commision in the Canadian Forces and has served oversees in both Gulf War One and in Aghanistan. He is a former Paratrooper and Flight Surgeon and currently maintains a private pilots license. He has completed over 500 parabolas of parabolic flight research.
He is also the Global Principal Investigator for the Closed or Open after Laparotomy for Source Control or COOL Trial (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03163095), and the Director of the TeleMentored Ultrasound Supported Medical Interventions (TMUSMI) Reseach Group.
Prof Walter Biffl
Research in Surgery Editor
Prof. Haytham Kaafarani
Quality and Patient Safety Editor
Prof. Fikri M. Abu-Zidan
Statistical Editor
Prof Luca Ansaloni
Prof Vanni Agnoletti
Advisory Editors
Prof. Tadeja Pintar, MD, PhD, is currently working in the UMC Ljubljana as consultant surgeon, lecturer and teacher and also in the Medical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana and Faculty of Medical Sciences of Ljubljana, where she mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students in research and clinical work. She has been working in the field of obesity since 2005 and she is a member of the World Association for Obesity Surgery (IFSO), a member of the Scientific Committee of the European Association, and was the past President of MNAG 2018-2022. She is a reviewer and editorial board member of Obesity Surgery and the Journal of Medical and Surgical Errors (JMESE) and a reviewer for a number of journals with a significant impact factor.
She is the President of TUGSS Europe and a member of TUGSS since its inception and a TUGSS Endoscopy board member. Her major areas of interest are the rational use of antibiotics in surgery and the treatment of infections, as well as emergency surgery.
She is an active member of WSES and the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery and participates in the professional and scientific activities of both associations. She is an invited lecturer at international and national scientific and professional meetings on the treatment of obesity, surgical infections and a mentor to PhD students in obesity surgery, other surgical sciences and medical disciplines.
Edoardo Picetti is an anesthesiologist and intensivist working in the ICU of the Parma University Hospital. His field of interest is largely represented by neurocritical care. He is author of several publications on PubMed and collaborates, as reviewer, with different medical journals.
Dr. Hüseyin Kemal Raşa has worked on several national Turkish guidelines. He is also President of a Turkish Surgical Society (http://cerrahienfeksiyon.org.tr/).
He was a past president on the European Congress on Surgical Infections. Dr. Hüseyin Kemal Raşa was also a founding member of the World Surgical Infection Society, as well as National Delegate of the
World Society of Emergency Surgery. He serves on the editorial board of several journals such as the
Surgical Infections Journal, amongst many others.
Professor Aitor Landaluce Olavarria is a master of pelvic floor disorders and expert on the transanal hemorroidopexy technique. He serves on the Editorial committee(SoMe internacional) of the Journal of trauma and acute care(JOTACS). Prof Aitor is also a MUSEC and DSTC instructor. He also serves as a board member on the European polytrauma course, amongst several other important academic societies.
Dr Giovanna Di Meo is a renowed specialist in thyroid and gastrointestinal surgery. She is a member of multiple professional societies and also serves as a board member of several international journals. She conducts professional training courses across Italy and has published several papers and book chapters of importance.
Dr Genevieve Deeken is a well published specialist and researcher, with Master’s experience in Public Health, as well as medical and bioethical studies in the United States. She is currently working with the Institute National De La Santé Et De La Recherche Médicale in France (INSERM) on pediatric cancer research with the Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Statistiques (CRESS). Also researching with the World Health Organization, she has dedicated much of her research to the study of medical disparities, barriers to digital health, emergency surgery, and maternal/child health.
Professor Elie Chouillard is a prominent French surgeon, having been awarded “Best French Surgeons” by the French Capital Honour List. He is President of the iNOELS society of Minimally Invasive Surgery. He has authored 14 books, > 100 book chapters, > 250 scientific articles and delivered more than 1000 lectures and presentations.
Dr Carlo Alberto Schena is a skilled laparoscopic and robotic surgeon. A former fellow of the World Society of Emergency Surgery and recipient of a Masters in robotic surgery.
Dr Nikolaos Pararas is a Consultant in Saudi Arabia. He has performed 1873 operations. He served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Surgery at Alfaisal University since 2019. He is also an Academic Scholar of the 3rd Surgical Clinic of the University of Athens of the Attica Hospital of Athens.
Dr Sara Saeidi is a dedicated General and Emergency Surgeon at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran, with a profound interest in Gastrointestinal Surgery and Surgical Education. She has actively engaged in surgical research, embraced leadership roles, and contributed to international collaborative efforts. She is currently a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Reviewer of the British Journal of Surgery and International Journal of Surgery.
Dr Haytham Kaafarani is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He has served extensively in Doctors Without Borders, traveling to provide surgical aid to countries in need. He has served as an expert consultant in multiple international bodies, and is a Director of multiple programs in Harvard Medical School. He sits on the editorial board of 10 international journals and bodies.
Dr Francesco Marchegiani is a colorectal and digestive surgeon. A young and promising specialist with > 50 publications to his name.
Professor Giuseppe Borzellino is a world renowned surgeon. With a total of 90 publications in national and international journals and books. He is also an Associate Editor for Bio-Med Central Surgery and a reviewer for 19 international journals.
Professor Ciro Paolillo is Chief of Emergency Medicine at Verona University Hospital. He sits on the board of several international emergency medicine journals.
Professor Phil Stahel is the Chief Medical Officer for the Mission Health system in North Carolina and Professor of Surgery at East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine. He is a board-certified academic trauma surgeon who trained at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and at Charité University Medical Center in Berlin, Germany. Phil is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the open-access, peer-reviewed journal Patient Safety in Surgery (www.pssjournal.com) and the editor of several textbooks in the field of surgical patient safety, including “Patient Safety in Surgery” (2014), “Blood, Sweat and Tears – Becoming a Better Surgeon” (2016), “Surgical Patient Safety: A Case-based Approach” (2018), and “Textbook of Polytrauma Management” (2022).
Professor Ernest Moore was the Chief of Trauma at the Denver General Hospital for 36 years, Chief of Surgery for 28 years, and is a Distinguished Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado. In July 2018, the center was renamed the Ernest E Moore Shock Trauma Center at Denver Health. Prof Moore has served as president of ten academic societies, including the Society of University Surgeons, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, International Association for the Trauma and Surgical Intensive Care, and the World Society of Emergency Surgery. His awards include the Robert Danis Prize from the Society of International Surgeons, Orazio Campione Prize from the World Society of Emergency Surgery, Philip Hench Award from the University of Pittsburgh, Florence Sabin Award from the University of Colorado, Medallion for Scientific Achievement from the American Surgical Association, and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Society of University Surgeons, American Heart Association, American College of Critical Medicine, Shock Society, and International Association for Trauma and Surgical Intensive Care. He has honorary fellowships in the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand. He has >2000 publications and has lectured extensively throughout the world.
Professor Adra Isik is a General Surgeon at the Istanbul University Hospital. He is board certified and has extensive international publications.
Pr Nicola de’Angelis (MD, PhD) is the Chief of the Colorectal and Digestive Surgery Unit of the Beaujon University Hospital of Clichy, and Full Professor of Digestive Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université Paris Cité (Paris, France).
Pr de’Angelis graduated from the Medical School at the Università degli Studi di Parma (Italy) in 2005 and completed his residency in General Surgery at the Università degli Studi di Pisa (Italy). He obtained his PhD at the University of Naples “Federico II” in 2016.
He was trained at the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, AP-HP (France), at the King’s College Hospital in London (UK), and at the CHUM St. Luc of Montreal (Canada). From 2012 to 2022, he worked as consultant general surgeon at the Henri Mondor Hospital of Creteil (France), where he developed a special interest and expertise in minimally
invasive and robotic digestive surgery. Pr de’Angelis authored more 200 scientific articles published in peer reviewed journals in general and digestive surgery, he is editor of the book “Emergency Surgical Management of Colorectal Cancer” (Springer). He is also the director of the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) Fellowship in “Gastrointestinal Emergencies and Robotic Surgery”.
Dr Gaya Spolverato is an Assistant Professor at the University Hospital of Padova, Italy. Dr Gaya was founder and past president of the “Women in Surgery Italia” and also served as General Secretary of the Italian Society of Surgical Oncology. Dr Gaya is also Editor of 2 International Journals.
Dr Pantalone is a well respected, multi-skilled surgeon. With a wide range of experience in trauma, colorectal and hepatobiliary surgery. She also serves on the editorial boards of multiple international journals.
Prof. Mehmet ERYILMAZ, MD, MBAH, FACS, FEBS (EmSurg), FTBS
Dr. Mehmet Eryılmaz was born in 1965, Türkiye and graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the Gulhane Military Medical Academy in Ankara.
He works now as General Surgeon & War Surgeon, Department of General Surgery, Gülhane Medical Faculty, University of Health Science, Gülhane Education & Training Hospital, Ankara, TÜRKİYE
Working in the fields of General Surgery, Trauma Surgery, Emergency Surgery, Military Health Services, Mass Casualty Management, Disaster Medicine and Emergency Health Services, Dr Mehmet ERYILMAZ completed his second bachelor’s degree in sociology. His studies focus on the sociological transformation of medicine.
In his work on trauma and emergency surgery, he focuses on medical publication, post-graduate education dynamics, the importance of technology, triage principles, research methods, innovation, communication and synergistic working methods. He believes that the solution in all areas of professional interest will be realised by making reason, science, technology and goodwill essential.
Dr Eryılmaz’s research activities are focused on trauma and emergency surgical diseases. In recent years, he has particularly focused on acute traumatic wound, sepsis, surgical infections and surgical education.
He is President of Turkish National Association on Trauma and Emergency Surgery (TATES),
He is President of The XII. Congress of The World Society of Emergency Congress, which will be held on Oct, 21st-25th, 2025, Antalya, Türkiye… www.wses2025antalya.com
Dr Eryılmaz believes that local, national and international unity among colleagues is an absolute necessity. And he works relentlessly for this purpose under all circumstances.