Colorectal THRIVE 2027
Congress Where Surgeons THRIVE
Monday 15 - Wednesday 17 March 2027
Masterclass & Courses Sunday 14 + Thursday 18 March
Fribourg, Switzerland
Sharing Knowledge. Actioning Evidence. Building Community.
“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 50 CME credits.”
Prof. Michel Adamina, Founder of Colorectal THRIVE
Senior Consultant, Dept. of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
Professor of Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland
Education Chair, European Society of Coloproctology
Guidelines Coordinator, 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, proctology & pelvic floor disorders in 101 Expert lectures: 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 full sessions 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, both Colorectal THRIVE Masterclass are ideally suited to prepare for the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology Board or to refresh knowledge.
In an era of escalating complexity, technical mastery alone is no longer enough. Surgeons today are expected to be outstanding clinicians, team leaders, negotiators, educators, and resilient professionals - often without any preparation for these roles. Those critical aspects of today's practice are embedded into the program of THRIVE, while the Leadership Essentials workshop: from Innovation to Implementation further develops these essential skills.
The choice is yours: register for THRIVE and discover our Expert lectures: Onsite in the historic city of Fribourg, Switzerland, or Online worldwide - you will not regret it.
In line with its non-profit mission, THRIVE offers free attendance for surgeons from low-income countries and war-torn regions.
Your own registration directly supports global equity in surgical education – because borders shall not prevent care.
Colorectal THRIVE is endorsed by leading societies, including EAES, ESCP, DSCRS, ECCO, ACPGBI, IRCAD, and many others.
This is Colorectal THRIVE - Sharing Knowledge. Actioning Evidence. Building Community.
Five days of state-of-the-art professional education in colorectal surgery.
Earn up to 50 CME credits for 50 hours of structured education provided by the Best among Us.
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 -
The THRIVE Team
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 disorders - a place where surgeons THRIVE.
Prof. Michel Adamina
Prof. Willem Bemelman
Prof. Esther Consten
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Dr. Roel Hompes
Dr. Christos Kontovounisios
Daniela Liegler-Marx
Dr. Georgios Peros
Prof. Patricia Sylla
Patricia Tejedor
Janindra Warusavitarne
Agenda
Program & Speakers
Join us at Colorectal THRIVE 2027: Elevate your expertise in Colorectal Surgery! From Sunday 14 March to Thursday 18 March 2027, 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
101 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 50 CME credits in a dynamic and interactive learning environment
Single-stream onsite + global on-demand access
Masterclasses, Hands-on Courses & Workshop
Book with or without the main congress
Sunday 14 March 2027
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery (7 CME)
o One intensive, interactive day: prepare for the EBSQ Coloproctology examination or refresh your knowledge
Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Disorders (7 CME)
o EBSQ-oriented review of proctology and the pelvic floor, from fistula to prolapse
Hands-on Course Transanal Transection and Single Stapled Anastomosis (TTSS) (7 CME)
o Learn TTSS with the Milan team that developed it: lectures on rationale, technical pearls and outcomes, deferred live surgery, and an afternoon of hands-on practice.
Workshop Leadership Essentials - From Innovation to Implementation (4 CME)
o Lead your team, streamline perioperative workflow, build resilience: tools to take home to your institution
Thursday 18 March 2027
Masterclass & Hands-on Course in Anastomotic Leak Management (7 CME)
o Prevention, early detection and repair, with hands-on endoscopic vacuum therapy, transanal repair, and endoluminal vacuum stenting
Flexible Participation
Attend onsite in Fribourg or join virtually from anywhere
On-demand streaming included until Friday 19 March 2027, in any time zone
Extend your on-demand access until Thursday 30 September 2027 for a small fee (CHF 100 for the main congress, CHF 50 per masterclass)
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 2027, 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 Practice
Perspective Lectures
Proctology & Pelvic Floor
Leadership & Negotiation skills
Main Congress
Monday 15 March 2027
8 CME
08:30
Opening: Welcome to Colorectal THRIVE
08:45
Robotic surgery revisited: new platforms and time-tested solutions
THRIVE Debate – Robotic surgery for every colorectal resection: pro vs con
The ESCP Lecture
Pearls of practice - Colon cancer
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer: who really benefits?
Obstructing colon cancer: stent, stoma and chemotherapy, or upfront resection?
Immunotherapy: no more surgery for the few – and soon for the many?
10:45 – 11:15
Coffee break
11:15
Trust-building and team performance
Resilience knows no age and no gender
The second victim: when a complication hurts the surgeon too
The ACGBI Lecture
13:15 – 14:30
Lunch Break
14:30
Thinking out of the box
Surgery under fire: what war surgery teaches every colorectal surgeon
GLP-1 agonists: what every colorectal surgeon must know
Emergency robotic colorectal surgery: safety, feasibility, and benefits
Bail-out strategies: management of complications
Bowel, ureter, urethra, and bladder injuries: prevention, recognition, and repair
The open abdomen and enteroatmospheric fistula: surviving the catastrophe
16:30 – 17:00
Coffee break
17:00
Peritoneal metastases in 2027: cytoreduction, HIPEC, or PIPAC?
Opportunistic salpingectomy prevents ovarian cancer – should colorectal surgeons offer it?
Rapid Fire: Five Ideas to Remember
19:15
Welcome Reception
Exhibition Hall
Tuesday 16 March 2027
8 CME
08:30
Pearls of practice - Crohn and Colitis
When to operate – and when not to
Hot topics: mastering complex fistulae
Hot topics: which anastomosis to fashion, and how much mesentery to take
Biologics, JAK inhibitors, and the scalpel: what every surgeon must know before operating on IBD
Consultant Corner: complex IBD cases submitted by the audience and discussed by an international expert panel
10:30 – 11:00
Coffee break
11:00
Pearls of practice - Rectal cancer
Total neoadjuvant therapy in 2027: has it kept its promise?
Mid and low rectal cancer: rethinking neoadjuvant treatment in 2027
THRIVE Debate – Diverting stoma for proctectomy: useful or useless?
13:00 – 14:15
Lunch Break
14:15
Early-onset colorectal cancer: why is it rising, and what changes for the surgeon?
Hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes: an actionable primer for the practising surgeon
The overloaded surgeon: mental bandwidth, safety, and wellbeing
16:15 - 16:45
Coffee break
16:45
The DSCRS Lecture
Endometriosis: shave, disc, or resect?
The IRCAD Lecture
Rapid Fire: Five Ideas to Remember
18:45
End of Day Two
Wednesday 17 March 2027
6 CME
08:30
The Times They Are a-Changin
ctDNA: will a blood test decide adjuvant chemotherapy and follow-up?
THRIVE Debate – AI in the operating room: better surgeons or a deskilled generation?
The EAES Lecture
Consultant Corner: complex cancer cases submitted by the audience and discussed by an international expert panel
11:30 - 12:00
Brunch Break
12:00
Functional outcomes: soft facts that matter
LARS: irrigation, neuromodulation, or stoma?
What patients wish we had told them – and how to help them in daily practice
The failed anastomosis: salvage, redo, or permanent stoma?
Incisional and parastomal hernia: which repair, which mesh?
15:00
Closure and Farewell
Masterclasses, Hands-on course & Workshop
Book any of them with or without the main congress.
The two clinical Masterclasses, the TTSS Hands-on Course and the Leadership Workshop take place on Sunday 14 March 2027; the Masterclass & Hands-on Course in Anastomotic Leak Management on Thursday 18 March 2027. Book any of them with or without the main congress.
The two Hands-on Courses and the Leadership Workshop are onsite only. Both Masterclasses can be followed onsite or online: live on Sunday 14 March 2027, then on demand until Friday 19 March 2027, extendable until Thursday 30 September 2027 (CHF 50 per masterclass). Attend one Masterclass onsite and watch the other online, and you won’t miss either
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery
Sunday 14 March 2027, 09:00 - 18:00
7 CME
09:00 - 09:35
Diverticular disease: when to operate – and when not to
09:35 - 10:10
Malignant polyps and T1 cancer: endoscopic resection, CELS, or colectomy?
10:10 - 10:45
Hartmann’s reversal: when and how to get it right
10:45 - 11:05
Coffee break
11:05 - 11:40
Highway to hell: major abdominal and pelvic bleeding – how to stop it
11:40 - 12:15
Colon cancer in 2027: what has changed in the treatment algorithm?
12:15 - 12:50
Dysplasia in ulcerative colitis: segmental colectomy or proctocolectomy?
12:50 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 - 14:35
Synchronous liver metastases: primary first, liver first, or simultaneous?
14:35 - 15:10
The year in review: trials that are changing our practice
15:10 - 15:45
Highway to hell: surviving emergency reoperative surgery
15:45 - 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 - 16:50
Resilience and grit: the path to success in life and medicine
16:50 - 17:25
Robotic colorectal surgery, how I do it: right colectomy with CME, sigmoidectomy, and TME – from port placement to anastomosis
17:25 - 18:00
The perfect stoma in an imperfect situation: siting, construction, and complications – high output, prolapse, retraction, and pyoderma
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 developed with the Chair of the Education Committee of ESCP in collaboration with Janindra Warusavitarne, Lead Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, St Mark’s Hospital, London, Secretary of the Coloproctology Section of UEMS. As such, this Colorectal THRIVE Masterclass is ideally suited to prepare for the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology Board or to refresh knowledge. The course can be booked independently of the main congress. Non-editable PDF copies of the presentations are included.
Masterclass in Proctology & Pelvic Floor Disorders
Sunday 14 March 2027, 09:00 - 18:00
7 CME
09:00 - 09:35
Management of anorectal and perineal sepsis: from the simple abscess to Fournier's gangrene
09:35 - 10:10
From pruritus ani to sexually transmitted proctitis: handling the itch and what the proctologist must not miss
10:10 - 10:45
Anorectal trauma, foreign bodies, and iatrogenic injury
10:45 - 11:05
Coffee break
11:05 - 11:40
OASIS: primary repair in the delivery room and secondary sphincter reconstruction
11:40 - 12:15
Anal stenosis and keyhole deformity after surgery and childbirth: anoplasty and flaps
12:15 - 12:50
Anal fissure: from ointment to Botox to sphincterotomy – a stepwise algorithm
12:50 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 - 14:35
Crohn's fistula – TOpClass in practice: does stratifying fistulae by treatment rather than anatomy work?
14:35 - 15:10
Rectovaginal fistula: from advancement flap to Martius and gracilis interposition
15:10 - 15:45
Regenerative therapies for complex fistula: stem cells, PRP, and stromal vascular fraction – evidence vs hype
15:45 - 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 - 16:50
Read the test, treat the patient: manometry demystified and what to expect from pelvic floor therapy and biofeedback
16:50 - 17:25
Pathways of care for faecal incontinence: medication, irrigation, neuromodulation, implants, and sphincter repair
17:25 - 18:00
Recurrent rectal prolapse: treatment options and results
18:00
Closure
The Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Disorders is an intensive one-day course intended to provide in-depth and interactive learning of topics paramount to the safe practice of proctology and pelvic floor surgery. It has been developed with the Chair of the Education Committee of ESCP in collaboration with Janindra Warusavitarne, Lead Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, St Mark’s Hospital, London, Secretary of the Coloproctology Section of UEMS. As such, this Colorectal THRIVE Masterclass is ideally suited to prepare for the UEMS EBSQ Coloproctology Board or to refresh knowledge. The course can be booked independently of the main congress. Non-editable PDF copies of the presentations are included.
Transanal Transection and Single Stapled Anastomosis Course
Sunday 14 March 2027, 09:00 - 17:00
7 CME
Course Director: Antonino Spinelli
Faculty: Michele Carvello, Georgios Peros, Michel Adamina
This advanced course is designed for colorectal surgeons with experience in minimally invasive rectal surgery. It includes hands-on training sessions on a biological training model to practise TTSS. 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.
Learning objectives will be achieved through:
- In-depth didactic lectures
- Live surgery demonstrations
- Hands-on training sessions
9:00 - 9:10
Welcome and Introduction
9:10 - 9:35
TME: how to do it
9:35 - 9:55
Benefits and pitfalls of taTME in the era of TTSS
9:55 - 10:20
TTSS: indications and step-by-step description of the technique
10:20 - 10:40
Evidence on 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 biological training model
17:00 - 17:10
Course wrap-up
Participants are encouraged to attend in teams of two surgeons to maximise implementation of TTSS upon returning to their institution. The course can be booked independently of the main congress.
Leadership Essentials Workshop: from innovation to implementation
Sunday 14 March 2027, 14:00 - 18:00
4 CME
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 maximise your learning
Workshop objectives
- Understand how system organisation shapes surgical practice and outcomes.
- Understand and develop your leadership skills to drive innovation and implementation.
- Empower surgeons to lead teams effectively.
- Optimise perioperative workflow for efficiency and patient safety.
- Recognise and mitigate burnout; build resilience strategies.
14:00 - 14:30 Introduction & Context
- Welcome and objectives
- Why leadership matters in surgical practice
- Overview of systemic challenges in healthcare
14:30 - 15:00 Systemic Organisation & Workflow
- Mapping surgical workflows
- Identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies
- Strategies for improving coordination and communication
15:00 - 15:30 Leadership Essentials for Surgical Teams
- Identify your leadership style and learn ways to improve your situational leadership
- Building trust and psychological safety in teams
- Assess and improve your decision-making under pressure
- Work more effectively 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
- Recognising 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
Masterclass & Hands-on Course in Anastomotic Leak Management
Thursday 18 March 2027, 09:00 - 17:15
7 CME
Lectures and Debates
09:00 - 09:25
Anastomotic leakage: definition, true incidence, and consequences
09:25 - 09:50
Prevention of anastomotic leakage: risk factors and surgical techniques
09:50 - 10:15
Pathways of care: early recognition of anastomotic leakage
10:15 - 10:40
When leaks go badly – damage control strategies
10:40 - 11:00
Coffee break
Lectures and Debates
11:00 - 11:35
The best repair: take-down & redo vs take-down & divert
11:35 - 12:10
The best repair: endosponge and transanal repair
12:10 - 12:45
The best repair: just stent it?
12:45 - 13:45
Lunch
Hands-on practice
13:45 - 15:15
Hands-on practice: endosponge and transanal repair
15:15 - 15:45
Hands-on practice: endoluminal vacuum stent
15:45 - 16:10
Coffee break
Lectures and Debates
16:10 - 16:45
Prevention of anastomotic leakage: the next frontier
16:45 - 17:15
All you ever wanted to ask but never dared
17:15
Closure
The Masterclass in Anastomotic Leak Management is an intensive one-day course directed by Roel Hompes, Amsterdam, who has extensive experience in the managementof anastomotic leakage. It provides in-depth and hands-on learning on theprevention, early identification, and management of anastomotic leakage incolorectal surgery. The course has been developed by the Chair of the ESCPEducation Committee in collaboration with Janindra Warusavitarne, LeadConsultant at St Mark’s Hospital, London, and Secretary of the ColoproctologySection of UEMS. As such, this Colorectal THRIVE Masterclass offers anexcellent opportunity to update and refine clinical practice in safe anastomotic technique, intraoperative troubleshooting, and the management oftwo of its most feared complications: leakage and stricture. Hands-on practiceon a realistic clinical model covers the transanal management of leakage,including endosponge placement, transanal repair and endoluminal stenting. The course can be booked independently of the main congress and is designed toprovide practical skills and immediately applicable knowledge for theprevention, recognition and management of anastomotic complications. Non-editable PDF copies of the presentations are included.
Our 50 Expert Speakers
Alberto Arezzo
Torino - IT
Christos Kontovounisios
Athens - GR
Ionel Roman
Saxon - CH
Justin Davies
Cambridge - UK
Paul Barach
Philadelphia - US
Patricia Sylla
New York - US
Brechtje Grotenhuis
Amsterdam - NL
Erik van Westreenen
Zwolle - 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
Ken Campbell
Dundee - UK
Tarek Hany
Lancashire - UK
Salvador Morales-Conde
Sevillla - ES
Stéphanie Breukink
Maastricht - NL
George Kohlrieser
Basel - CH/US
Guido Beldi
Bern - CH
Carly Bisset
Glascow - UK
Jacob Reisman
Amsterdam - NL
Perparim Limani
Aarau - CH
Jérémie Lefèvre
Paris - FR
Nader Francis
Yeovil - UK
Oddeke van Ruler
Rotterdam -NL
Carlijn Witjes
Rotterdam -NL
Andreas Kohler
Bern - CH
Georgios Peros
Luzern - CH
Raphaël Bonvin
Fribourg - CH
Stefan Benz
Tübingen - DE
Eloy Espin-Basany
Barcelona - SP
Willem Bemelman
Amsterdam - NL
Gina Brown
London - UK
Christianne Buskens
Amsterdam - NL
Esther Consten
Groningen - NL
Roel Hompes
Amsterdam - NL
André d'Hoore
Leuven - BE
Jim Khan
Portsmouth - UK
James Kinross
London - UK
Rebecca Kraus
Chur - CH
Isacco Montroni
Milano - IT
Jacques Marescaux
Strasbourg - FR
Guillaume Meurette
Geneva - CH
Philip Quirke
Leeds - UK
Frédéric Ris
Geneva - CH
Bruno Roche
Geneva - CH
Antonino Spinelli
Milano - IT
Patricia Tejedor
Madrid - SP
Jurriaan Tuynman
Amsterdam - NL
Janindra Warusavitarne
London - UK
Paris Tekkis
London - UK
Amy Lightner
La Jolla - US
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
Deadlines at 23:59 CET
Early Registration
until Sunday 13.12.2026
Save up to CHF 200
Standard Registration
14.12.2026
to 28.02.2027
Late Registration
Rates apply from
Monday 1 March 2027
Main Congress
Mon 15 - Wed 17 March 2027
630 CHF
740 CHF
830 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
Mon 15 - Wed 17 March 2027
350 CHF
430 CHF
490 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed)
380 CHF
450 CHF
460 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed) Trainee*
285 CHF
360 CHF
400 CHF
Extend your access: Main Congress (6 months)
On-demand access: 18 March–30 September 2027
100 CHF
For registered main congress participants
(onsite or live online)
Colorectal Masterclass
Sun 14 March 2027
370 CHF
430 CHF
470 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass Trainee*
Sun 14 March 2027
290 CHF
360 CHF
390 CHF
Proctology & Pelvic Floor Masterclass
Sun 14 March 2027
370 CHF
430 CHF
470 CHF
Proctology & Pelvic Floor Masterclass Trainee*
Sun 14 March 2027
290 CHF
360 CHF
390 CHF
Extend your access: One Masterclass Colorectal or Proctology (6 months)
On-demand access: 18 March–30 September 2027
50 CHF per masterclass
For registered participants of the same masterclass
(onsite or live online)
Leadership Essentials Workshop
295 CHF
345 CHF
395 CHF
Hands-on course on transanal transection and single-stapled anastomosis (TTSS)
Sun 14 March 2027
740 CHF
830 CHF
890 CHF
Masterclass & Hands-on Course
in Anastomotic Leak Management
Thu 18 March 2027
740 CHF
830 CHF
890 CHF
Special registration options
Trainee eligibility
Participants born after 1 April 1992 are eligible for the Trainee rate. A passport copy must be uploaded during registration to verify eligibility. Otherwise, the full registration fee applies.
Participants from low-income countries or war-torn regions
Participants may request free onsite registration by emailing contact@colorectal-thrive.org.
Low-income countries according to the 2026 World Bank classification:
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, North Korea, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda and Yemen.
Medical students
Medical students may register for onsite attendance at the cost of catering. To arrange registration, please email contact@colorectal-thrive.org.
Visa invitation letters
A visa invitation letter will be issued upon confirmation of a paid onsite registration. Please email your request to contact@colorectal-thrive.org, including your Colorectal THRIVE registration number, full name, date of birth, passport number and full professional address.
If your visa application is denied, your onsite registration will be converted to an online registration at no additional cost. .
Submit an abstract
Share your research with the ColorectalTHRIVE community.
We welcome abstracts reporting previously unpublished work related to colorectal and digestive diseases, including basicand translational research, medical education, leadership, and health resourceutilization.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
- A first author may submit amaximum of two abstracts.
- An abstract must not exceed 500 words.
- Abstracts are reviewed on arolling basis. You will receive an acceptance or rejection decision within oneweek of submission.
- Presentation is conditional onthe first author registering for onsite attendance.
Publication
Accepted abstracts will be published on theinteractive congress platform from February to September 2027. They will alsobe displayed on screens in the congress halls during the main congress.
To support sustainability, no printed abstract collection is planned.
Abstracts will be published under theCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0).
Awards
The three highest-ranked abstracts willreceive certificates and prizes
Submission deadline
Sunday,28 February 2027, at 23:59 CET
What to submit
Required
- Abstract title
- Full names of all authors, including their institutional affiliations and countries
- Abstract text of no more than 500 words, structured as:
Background and Aim
Methods
Results
Conclusion - A photo of the first author:
Format: PNG,JPG, or GIF
Dimensions: 300 × 150 pixels, with a 2:1 aspect ratio
Recommended
- A graphic illustrating yourresearch, in PNG, JPG, or GIF format
- A short video presenting yourresearch, for example recorded using PowerPoint:Submit an MP4file or a video link, such as an unlisted YouTube link.
- Links to the first author’ssocial media profiles, such as LinkedIn, X, or Instagram
How to Submit
The first author should email all required materials, together with any optional materials, to:
abstract@colorectal-thrive.org
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 2027: 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 two 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 2027.
We pledge to share at THRIVE
In 2026, Colorectal THRIVE warmly welcomed 769 participants from 56 countries and five continents - they came for 85 Expert Lectures by 50 Key Opinion Leaders from 15 countries.
As in 2024 and 2025, we waived or reduced registration fees for 90 fellow surgeons from low- and middle-income countries and from war-torn regions.
Because access to education should never depend on income.
12 Travel Grants from the Chair of Surgery at the Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, brought Fellows and Residents to Fribourg to attend and present their work - the Dutch Society for Colorectal Surgery funded two more.
Because we believe in sharing above all.
Impressions
Praise for THRIVE
Sponsors
Thanks to our sponsors of Colorectal THRIVE 2026:
Platin Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
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Bronze Sponsor
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Organizer
MGA Network
Poststrasse 1
9100 Herisau
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© Colorectal THRIVE 2027