2025-2026 Board of Directors
Officers & Executive Committee
President - Lorenzo Ferri
 Lorenzo Ferri
Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
It is an honour to have served on the ISDE Board of Directors over the past several years, currently in the capacity of President and I have served this society faithfully since first attending the congress in Adelaide, Australia almost 20 years ago. I am an esophageal surgeon at McGill University in Montreal Canada and director of the division of Thoracic and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery at this institution.
In addition to being an active clinician directing the multidisciplinary McGill University Program in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers, I am a tenured professor and scientist in the Departments of Surgery and Oncology. Through these roles, I have spearheaded numerous initiatives designed to improve outcomes in esophageal surgery and upper GI cancer through carefully coordinated basic, translational, and clinical scientific research.
Over the past 20 years I have been fortunate to have benefited from numerous peer review grants from funding agencies in North America and Europe for my work into the inflammatory basis of cancer progression and metastasis. In 2019, I was a part of an international team of scientists who received a Cancer Research UK Grand Challenge to investigate the stromal drivers underpinning Barrett’s adenocarcinoma progression.
My roles in ISDE include being the program co-chair of the 2020-2021 ISDE World Congress and serving as associate editor of the Disease of the Esophagus journal since 2015. During my first term as president, I have worked diligently in several domains with a vision to expand the reach and impact of this society. Some of my objectives over the past year include: Increasing membership by 20%; expanding the role and activities of the committees including generating a regular webinar series; increasing outreach to national/regional societies with similar focus by greatly expanding the number of affiliated and associated societies; develop and fund exchange travelling fellowships between ISDE member institutions. I look forward to contributing and continuing my service to the ISDE as President for a second term where I will continue these initiatives and programs.
I am honored to be the Vice President of International Society of Disease of the Esophagus. I have been an active member of ISDE since the early 1990s, and have attended all its congresses since. As an esophageal surgeon, I have special affinity for the society, as my career grew parallel with it. My closer association with ISDE commenced when I became an editor of Diseases of the Esophagus in 1999, and associate editor since 2010. I have served as co-chairman of the scientific committee for the ISDE world congress in Vancouver in 2014. Currently I am co-chairman of the Education Committee. I have been actively involved in development of many international initiatives on esophageal surgery, including as member of the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration, Esophageal Complication Consensus Group, and working group on Enhanced Recovery after Esophagectomy. Engaging with other societies, I also hold positions, such as Consultant for International Society of Digestive Surgery, National Delegate to the International Surgical Society, Secretary General of the American College of Surgeons (Hong Kong Chapter), Asia II Representative of the Member Services Committee of the Society for Surgeons of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT). In addition I am honorary member of the American Surgical Association as well as European Surgical Association. Residing in Hong Kong, I have extensive network with physicians from the Asia Pacific region, not just in countries traditionally with close association with ISDE (such as Japan), but particularly in China, where growing involvement is evident in recent years. I hope that with my experience in the society, my international involvement, my network, I can continue to serve ISDE and form bridges between East and West. I am humbled by the achievement of the ISDE, and will be honoured to contribute more to the society in the future.
President-Elect - Ken Kato
Ken Kato
National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
I am a medical oncologist and currently serve as Chief of the Department of Head and Neck, Esophageal, and Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Japan. I also lead the Biobank Translational Research Support Section and the Clinical Research Coordinating Section. My primary focus is the development of chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy for esophageal, esophagogastric, and gastric cancers.
Over the past three years, I have served as a Director of the ISDE, actively promoting its activities across Asia and contributing to the planning of scientific content as a member of the Program Committee. These experiences have deepened my understanding of ISDE’s global mission and strengthened my commitment to its continued growth.
As a coordinator of the Japan Esophageal Oncology Group within the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG), I have led multiple clinical trials aimed at improving treatment strategies. Notably, I served as the study chair of JCOG0502, which demonstrated the non-inferiority of chemoradiotherapy compared to surgery in stage I esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. I also led JCOG1109, a phase III trial that established the superiority of triplet chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, reshaping the treatment paradigm in Japan.
Internationally, I have contributed as a steering committee member for key global trials, including ATTRACTION-3, KEYNOTE-590, CheckMate-649, and RATIONALE-306, helping to drive the development of new agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors.
In recent years, the importance of multimodal therapy in esophageal cancer, particularly the role of systemic chemotherapy—has increased significantly. As a medical oncologist, I hope to contribute to the advancement of this field.
If elected as President, I will leverage my experience to expand ISDE’s international and multidisciplinary collaboration, foster opportunities for early-career professionals, and enhance the Society’s global visibility. It would be a great honor to serve ISDE in this leadership role.
Vice-President - Suzanne Gisbertz
 Suzanne Gisbertz
Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
It is a great honor for me to be on the ISDE Board. I am currently a consultant upper-GI surgeon and principal investigator at the Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I have been proctoring minimally invasive esophagectomies and gastrectomies at different centers in the Netherlands and abroad. My main research topics are lymph node metastases and extent of lymphadenectomy in esophageal and gastric cancer (e.g. the international TIGER-study), minimally invasive upper GI surgery and postoperative outcome (e.g. the international PANTER trial), quality of life following upper GI surgery and surgical techniques (e.g. international OMEGA-trial, national IVORY-study).
Currently, I serve as oard member of the Dutch Society for Gastro-Intestinal Surgery (NVGIC), the European Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ESDE) and the European Surgical Association (ESA). I am chair of the program committee of the EAES since 2024. Recently, I was part of the organisation of the 2025 ESDE and 2025 IGCC congresses in Amsterdam. Furthermore, I contribute to several other (guideline) committees and editorial boards.
The ISDE is a very important society to me, bringing together disciplines involved in treatment of esophageal diseases from all over the world. This multidisciplinary approach is of great significance. I am an active member since 2013, and have attended all congresses since 2014. I have served on several ISDE committees previously and currently such as the Research & Database Committee; Esodata Membership Bylaws and Budget Subcommittee, the Membership Committee (chair) and the Guidelines Committee.
I am honored to serve on the ISDE board and would make great effort to further develop multidisciplinary and international collaboration in the interests of the international society for diseases of the esophagus.
Past President - Nicholas J. Shaheen
 Nicholas J. Shaheen
University of North Carolina, USA I am a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at UNC. I specialize in endoscopic treatment of precancerous and cancerous conditions of the esophagus, and am an active clinical researcher in these areas. I am a longstanding member of the ISDE and support its mission. The unique multidisciplinary and international nature of the group provides a perspective not found elsewhere, and leads to enriched and stimulating academic interaction. I have enjoyed serving as a co-chair of the planning committee for our upcoming virtual Congress, and addressing the challenges presented by mounting a meeting in the time of a pandemic.
I have extensive administrative experience, both at my institution and in professional organizations, which make me well-suited for this position. In addition to managing our GI division and the clinical research center here at UNC, I have served as the Director of the American College of Gastroenterology Institute, the research and education arm of the ACG. I have also been a trustee of that organization for the past decade. I also served the American Gastroenterological Association as head of the Clinical Practice section, and a member of AGA Council. I am highly collaborative and believe that the best ideas to engage a professional society usually originate from the membership up, not the leadership down. I am honored to be elected in this position, and will work hard to promote the ISDE in national and international venues.
Secretary - Vani Konda
 Vani Konda
Baylor University Medical Center, USA
Vani J.A. Konda, MD is a gastroenterologist with clinical expertise in esophageal diseases including Barrett's esophagus, early esophageal cancer, achalasia, swallowing disorders, eosinophilic esophagitis, reflux, and complex esophageal strictures. She completed her residency and fellowship training and remained on faculty at University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Since 2017, she has served as the Medical Director at the Baylor Scott and White Center for Esophageal Diseases at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Collaborating with other gastroenterologists, surgeons, and otolaryngologists, she has developed a clinical multidisciplinary program for complex benign and malignant disorders of the esophagus. She actively participates in a unique multidisciplinary, translational research program at the Baylor Scott and White Center for Esophageal Research. Her research interests have focused primarily on premalignant lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular Barrett’s esophagus and advanced endoscopic imaging. She has authored over 100 articles, book chapters, and videos. She has been active in the International Society of Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) on the Board of Directors and as Communications Committee Co-chair and in the three major national societies, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).
Treasurer - Daniela Molena
 Daniela Molena
Amsterdam Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA Dr. Daniela Molena is Director of the Esophageal Surgery Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and Associate Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. An internationally recognized thoracic surgeon, she specializes in minimally invasive and robotic approaches for esophageal and lung cancers, benign esophageal disorders, and motility diseases such as achalasia. She performs more than 500 operations each year, cares for over 1,500 patients annually, and leads MSKCC’s Barrett’s esophagus prevention program. Trained in Italy, Dr. Molena completed surgical fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Rochester, followed by thoracic surgery training at MSKCC and Weill Cornell. She previously led the minimally invasive esophageal cancer program at Johns Hopkins before returning to MSKCC to advance innovation and multidisciplinary care. In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr. Molena is an active leader in the global thoracic surgery community. She serves as immediate Past President of Women in Thoracic Surgery, Councilor for the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, and Board Member of the AATS. She is Associate Editor of Diseases of the Esophagus and Co-Chair of the ISDE Membership Committee and Women of ISDE Committee, and serves on the 2025 ISDE World Congress Program Committee. Her research focuses on improving surgical and functional outcomes, developing quality indicators and clinical pathways, reducing disparities in access to care, and advancing image-guided, precision surgical techniques. Dedicated to mentorship, education, and collaborative problem-solving, Dr. Molena brings to the ISDE Board a combination of surgical innovation, leadership experience, and commitment to improving care for patients with esophageal disease worldwide.
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Jie He (CSDE)
 Jie He
National Cancer Center, ChinaProfessor He is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a doctoral supervisor. He serves as a tenured professor at Peking Union Medical College and is a member of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Currently, he holds the positions of President of the Cancer Hospital at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Director of the National Cancer Center of China. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization (WHO).
Professor He has pioneered and promoted standardized clinical diagnosis and treatment systems for thoracic tumors, fostering high-quality development in thoracic oncology surgery in China. With a long-standing focus on the surgical and standardized comprehensive treatment of thoracic malignancies such as lung and esophageal cancers, he has performed over 15,000 thoracic tumor surgeries. He has spearheaded the development of national industry standards, including the "Guidelines for the Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer" and the "Guidelines for the Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer," providing crucial guidance for the standardization of thoracic tumor diagnosis and treatment in China. His leadership in the project "Research and Application Promotion of Key Technologies in the Standardized Treatment of Esophageal Cancer" earned the First Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, playing a decisive role in significantly improving the quality of life and extending survival periods for esophageal cancer patients in China.
Richard Van Hillegersberg (ESDE)
 Richard Van Hillegersberg
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands Richard van Hillegersberg attended medical school in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In 1993 he received his PhD with honor at the Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. From 1994-2000, he was trained in General Surgery in Rotterdam. From 2001-2002 he was fellow of Surgical Oncology in the Academic Medical Center and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Netherlands Cancer Center Amsterdam. Since 2003 he is appointed as staff surgeon at the University Medical Center Utrecht. From 2009 he is a full professor of gastrointestinal oncology. Research is focused on Upper GI minimally invasive and robotic surgery, surgical imaging and genetic profiling. He has authored over 15 chapters in textbooks concerning robotic forgut surgery and over 500 articles in international peer-reviewed journals. From 2018 he is chairman of the Educational committee of the European Society for Diseases for the Esophagus (ESDE) and member of the education committee of ISDE, he is associate editor of Diseases of the Esophagus and Digestive Surgery, founder and chairman of the Upper GI International Robotic Association (UGIRA).
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Sravanthi Parasa
 Sravanthi Parasa
Swedish Medical Group
United States
Dr. Sravanthi Parasa is a Gastroenterologist and Clinical Researcher at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, specializing in esophageal disorders. With over two decades of experience in the healthcare sector, she utilizes advanced technologies to enhance clinical care. She has a background in Epidemiology and Biostatistics with a focus on clinical study design.
Engaging in progressive research, Dr. Parasa is at the forefront of incorporating technology in healthcare, particularly emphasizing the application of AI. An active member of GI society committees and various engineering, and computer science program committees, she frequently shares her insights at conferences, discussing the translation of digital solutions into patient care. Through collaborations with globally recognized institutions, she has published numerous papers and guidelines, particularly focusing on high-fidelity risk prediction models, NLP and computer vision in medicine. She is committed to enhancing patient care through meaningful applications of machine learning, a passion reflected in her research that explores the interface of epidemiology, biostatistics, and artificial intelligence.
Her efforts foster the development of the next generation of esophagologists, equipping them with the skills to handle the multidisciplinary and global challenges of modern healthcare, underscored by technology and innovation.
Seiichiro Abe
 Seiichiro Abe
National Cancer Center Hospital, Japan
Dr. Seiichiro Abe M.D., Ph.D., FASGE graduated from Sapporo Medical University in 2002. He completed his short-term and chief residency training at Endoscopy Division, National Cancer Center Tokyo, Japan. He is now working as an attending endoscopist there.
Dr. Abe specializes in the endoscopic diagnosis of early gastrointestinal cancer in addition to advanced endoscopic therapy, including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers. His role at National Cancer Centre involves managing patients both in the outpatient and in-patient setting in addition to being an attending doctor in the endoscopy center performing many complex EMR/ ESD procedures.
Dr. Abe is an international educator in advanced endoscopy. In addition to training Japanese endoscopy trainees, he also teaches advanced endoscopic techniques to overseas endoscopists through international hands-on training and live demonstration. Furthermore, he is a Fellow of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (FASGE), Fellow of Japan Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy, Co-Editor for Endoscopy International Open, and Associate Editor for Frontier of Gastroenterology. He is a member of the international editorial board in Endoscopy and VideoGIE performing many peer reviews. In addition, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recognized him as the most awarded reviewer in 2020, having 7 awards in the past 4 years.
Wayne Hofstetter
 Wayne Hofstetter
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
Wayne L. Hofstetter, M.D., is currently Professor and Deputy Chair in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and serve as Director of the Esophageal Surgery Program. A graduate of the University of Southern California Medical School, I focused on thoracic surgical disease, completing fellowships in esophageal and foregut surgeries at the University of Southern California, and then thoracic oncology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Broadly trained as a cardiothoracic surgeon and thoracic oncologist at the Texas Heart Institute, I now devote the majority of my time to esophageal cancer.
My primary interests lie in clinical outcomes and translational research. As director of the MDACC research fellowship, trainees spend 2 years doing retrospective and prospective clinical research, obtaining a master’s degree in clinical science under my direction. My laboratory efforts are focused on mechanisms of early metastasis.
Clinically, my interests have been focused on organ-sparing therapies in early to locally advanced cancer, and early local therapy for oligometastatic disease.
Nationally and internationally, I am involved in several organizations. I serve as a surgical advisor within the NCCN and chair of the Upper GI section for the AJCC staging effort.
I am tremendously honored to be a part of the ISDE and on the Directorial board. My hope is that our collaborative efforts within the society lead to close personal and professional bonds with other members across the globe.
Zhigang Li
 Zhigang Li
Shanghai Chest Hospital, China
I am an Associate Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, as well as the Director of Thoracic Surgery and Esophageal Surgery at the Shanghai Chest Hospital. Since 2015, I have served as the Director of the Esophageal Surgery Program at Shanghai Chest Hospital, where I have successfully led the team in establishing the largest center for the treatment of complex esophageal diseases in China, where we have developed a comprehensive clinical treatment platform for esophageal diseases, including a robust diagnosis and treatment system for esophageal cancer, assisted by robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery, radiotherapy/immunotherapy, and unique technology for surgical treatment of GERD. Our center has gained recognition for its outstanding contributions in the fields of robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery and complex esophageal surgery, establishing itself as the largest esophageal surgery center in China and one of the world's leading centers in this field.
I have extensive experience in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of esophageal cancer, focusing on robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery (RAMIE trial) and challenging esophageal surgeries. I am proud to have initiated the Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy for Esophageal Cancer (NICE) trial in China, which is one of the world's first registered clinical studies combining neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy for esophageal cancer. Additionally, I led the completion of an international multi-center clinical trial, the preSINO study, which would have a significant impact on international guidelines for interpreting efficacy after neoadjuvant therapy for squamous cell oesophageal cancer.
I am actively engaged in academic exchanges and educational training within the realm of esophageal surgery. I have developed an extensive training program, authored a clinical manual for esophageal cancer surgery, and established the nation's premier training center for robotic esophageal surgery. My foremost dedication lies in the advancement of esophageal cancer treatment by training more medical professionals within this discipline.
I am honored to accept the role of Director of the ISDE Board. I am dedicated to facilitating international academic exchange and collaboration in the interest of The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.
Hiroya Takeuchi
.JPG) Hiroya Takeuchi
Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
Prof. Takeuchi graduated from Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan, and received his MD in 1992. After completing his training in surgical oncology and earning a PhD from Keio University, he conducted research in molecular oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in California, USA, from 2001 to 2004. He became a staff surgeon at Keio University Hospital in 2006 and was appointed Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine in Shizuoka, Japan in 2017. Since 2025, he has also served as Director of Hamamatsu University Hospital and Vice President of Hamamatsu University School of Medicine.
His clinical and research interests focus on minimally invasive surgery, including robotic techniques, and multimodal treatment strategies for upper gastrointestinal cancers. He has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications in English, including articles in journals such as Annals of Surgery, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, and The Lancet.
Prof. Takeuchi currently serves as President of the Japan Esophageal Society; Board Member of the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association; Vice President of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery; and Chair of the Esophageal Cancer Study Group of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG). He is also an Associate Editor for Esophagus, Gastric Cancer, and Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery.
He has contributed to the ISDE as a member of the Program Committee for both ISDE2024 and ISDE2025. As President of the Japan Esophageal Society, he is currently involved in preparations for ISDE2026 in Kyoto. As a member of the ISDE Board of Directors, he is dedicated to raising awareness of esophageal diseases, improving treatment outcomes, and contributing to the continued growth and success of the ISDE.
Florian Lordick
 Florian Lordick
University of Leipzip Medical Center, Germany Florian Lordick is a Full Professor of Medicine at the University of Leipzig. He was appointed as director of the University Cancer Center Leipzig in 2012, which is one of 15 German Oncology Centers of Excellence and receives funding from the German Cancer Aid. He also is head of the 2nd Department of Medicine (oncology, gastroenterology, hepatology, and pulmonology) at the University of Leipzig Medical Center and in 2024, he was appointed visiting professor at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.
Dr. Lordick’s scientific focus is on clinical and translational research in gastrointestinal tract tumours with a focus on esophageal and gastric cancers. He has a great interest in multimodality treatment of GI cancers, in personalized medicine, and in cancer survivorship. His research is funded by the German Cancer Aid, the German Ministry of Education and Research and by the European Commission. Dr. Lordick has authored and co-authored more than 500 peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Lordick served as Director of Education at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), as president of the International Gastric Cancer Association (IGCA), he is a former member of the executive board of the German Cancer Society and former chair of the EORTC Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Working groups. Since 2024, he is a member of the executive board of the International Cancer Foundation (ICF). He is the Editor-in-Chief of ESMO Gastrointestinal Oncology (Elsevier), official scientific journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology and of Die Onkologie (Springer-Nature), official journal of the German Cancer Society.
ESDE President: Edoardo Savarino
Edoardo Savarino
Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, Italy
 Prof.
Edoardo Vincenzo Savarino received his Medical and Ph.D. degrees from the
University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. He completed his residency training in
internal medicine and gastroenterology at the Department of Internal Medicine,
Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria San Martino of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Presently, he is Associate Professor of Gastroenterology at University of
Padua, Padua, Italy. He is mainly interested in neurogastroenterology and
immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases and
eosinophilic disorders of the gastro-intestinal tract. He has published
extensively (h-index 70, published papers n=530) on gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD), esophageal motility disorders, Barrett’s Esophagus, chronic gastritis, functional GI disorders
(functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome), eosinophilic esophagitis, and
inflammatory bowel diseases. He received various prizes for his work from UEG
Federation, OESO foundation, ISDE, Società Italiana di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia.
He is
Reviewer for various journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, American
Journal Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Gastroenterology, Gut, Alimentary
Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, American
Journal of Gastroenterology, and Neurogastroenterology and Motility (NMO).
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