THRIVE 2027
Congress Where Surgeons THRIVE
Monday 12 - Wednesday 17 March 2027
Sunday 14 & Thursday 18 March 2027
“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
.png)
.jpeg)
.png)
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!
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
_quadratisch.png)
Dr. Roel Hompes
Dr. Christos Kontovounisios
Dr. 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
Transanal Transection and Single-Stapled Anastomosis Course (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.
Leadership Essentials Workshop: 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 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 · 22 CME
Monday 15 March 2027
8 CME
Opening
08:15
Welcome to Colorectal THRIVE 2027
Michel Adamina, Bern – CH
08:30
The THRIVE Lecture:
Against all Odds – how surgical innovation changed lives
Willem Bemelman, Amsterdam – NL
Diverticular disease
09:00
The ACPGBI Lecture:
Emergency robotic colorectal surgery: safety, feasibility, and benefits - how to make it happen
Jim Khan, Portsmouth – UK
09:30
Perforated diverticulitis and peritonitis: damage control or Hartmann?
Maximilian Sohn, Munich – DE
How I do it – video session
10:00
– Hartmann reversal
– Colovesical fistula
– Sigmovaginal fistula
10:30
Coffee break
The SPCG Session – peritoneal surface malignancy
11:00
Cytoreductive surgery step by step: the Lyon standard for peritonectomy – and when HIPEC adds value
Olivier Glehen, Lyon – FR
11:30
PIPAC revisited: neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches and surgical technique – dare to add a resection?
Olivia Sgarbura, Montpellier – FR
12:00
Histology report: regression scoring and clinical outcomes
Wiebke Solass, Bern – CH
12:20
Radiology report: can resectability be predicted and treatment response be monitored?
Max Lahaye, Amsterdam – NL
12:40
Neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and palliative chemotherapy for peritoneal cancer
Thibaud Koessler, Geneva – CH
13:00
Lunch
Bail-out strategies
14:15
Surprise in the abdomen: peritoneal nodules, T4 tumour, ovarian metastases, dilated appendix or free mucin – what to do on the table
Olivier Glehen, Lyon – FR
14:45
When things go wrong: ureteric injury and major abdominal / pelvic haemorrhage – prevent, recognise, manage
Christos Kontovounisios, Athens – GR
Leadership
15:15
The path to success in life and surgery: the European view
Olivia Sgarbura, Montpellier – FR
15:30
The path to success in life and surgery: the American view
Amy Lightner, La Jolla – US
15:45
Husband, father, academic surgeon: can you succeed at all three today?
Frédéric Ris, Geneva – CH
16:00
Podium discussion and audience participation
16:15
Coffee break
Pearls of practice
16:45
Prevention of incisional and stomal hernia: how and why bother ?
Antonino Spinelli, Milano – IT
17:15
Bowel endometriosis: shave, disc, or resect? Technique, pitfalls and complications
André D'Hoore, Leuven – BE
17:45
Molecular surgery in colorectal cancer: Integrating AI and genomics into operative decision-making
Ismael Gögenur, Zealand – DK
The THRIVE Lecture
18:15
THRIVE in surgery, flourish in life: sustaining meaning, performance and humanism across a surgical career
Raphaël Bonvin, Fribourg – CH
18:45
Welcome reception – Exhibition hall
Tuesday 16 March 2027
8 CME
The IBD Session – Ulcerative colitis
Chairpersons: Christianne Buskens, Gabriele Bislenghi
08:30
Biologics, small molecules and the scalpel: what every surgeon must know before and after operating on IBD
Sebastian Zeissig, Bern – CH
09:00
Acute severe ulcerative colitis: when and how to operate – and how to manage the stump, the stoma, and all that may go wrong
Willem Bemelman, Amsterdam – NL
09:30
Now that the colon is gone - how I counsel the patient: pouch, ileorectal anastomosis, continent ileostomy or a permanent stoma
10:00
Thirty years of the ileal pouch: who gets one, how we build it, and how we fix it
André D'Hoore, Leuven – BE
10:30
Coffee break
The IBD Session – Crohn’s disease
Chairpersons: André D'Hoore, Sebastian Zeissig
11:00
Ileocaecal Crohn’s disease: reactive or strategic surgery – my best practice
Antonino Spinelli, Milano – IT
11:30
Perianal Crohn’s fistula: classify, stratify, then treat – TOpClass, calprotectin and risk-adapted surgery
Christianne Buskens, Amsterdam – NL
12:00
Consultants’ Corner on IBD: complex cases from the audience, discussed by an international expert panel
Amy Lightner (US)
Caroline Nordenvall (SE)
André D’Hoore (BE)
Sebastian Zeissig (CH)
Antonino Spinelli (IT)
The Times They Are a-Changin’
12:30
Regenerative medicine at work: what failed, what is approved, what is coming
Amy Lightner, La Jolla – US
13:00
Lunch
Rectal cancer – tailoring treatment
14:15
MRI-based decision-making: dynamic staging and tailored care
Gina Brown, London – UK
14:45
Radiotherapy for rectal cancer in 2027: short-course, chemoradiotherapy, total neoadjuvant therapy – or none?
Rob Glynne-Jones, Northwood – UK
15:15
It takes two to Tango – early rectal cancer: radiotherapy first or excision first?
– Radiotherapy first: lessons from STAR-TREC
Simon Bach, London – UK
– Excision first: lessons from TESAR
Jurriaan Tuynman, Amsterdam – NL
– Discussion / Presentation of a research abstract
16:15
Coffee break
Rectal cancer – saving the rectum, or operating well
16:45
The DSCRS EAES Lecture
Debate: near-complete response after neoadjuvant therapy – boost, wait, or excise?
– Excise: local excision after neoadjuvant therapy
Alberto Arezzo, Torino – IT
– Boost and wait: contact X-ray brachytherapy and the OPAXX study
Brechtje Grotenhuis, Amsterdam – NL
17:25
When organ preservation fails: regrowth, salvage surgery and outcomes
Quentin Denost, Bordeaux – FR
17:55
Function after TME: what VANTAGE tells us about laparoscopic, robotic and transanal surgery
Esther Consten, Groningen – NL
18:15
Discussion / Presentation of a research abstract
18:30
Consultants’ Corner on colorectal cancer: complex cases from the audience, discussed by an international expert panel
Michel Adamina (CH) - Moderator
Gina Brown (UK) - Panel
Rob Glynne-Jones (UK) - Panel
Quentin Denost (FR) - Panel
Alberto Arezzo (IT) - Panel
Erik Westreenen (NL) - Panel
Wednesday 17 March 2027
6 CME
Pearls of practice – cancer of the colon
08:30
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pMMR colon cancer: who really benefits?
Dion Morton, Birmingham – UK
09:00
Staging and re-staging of colon cancer: let your radiologist help you
Gina Brown, London – UK
09:30
How I manage obstructing colon cancer: stent, stoma and chemotherapy, or upfront resection
Patricia Tejedor, Madrid – ES
10:00
From the few to the many? Immunotherapy and ctDNA in colorectal cancer – what the surgeon needs to know
London – UK
10:30
Coffee break
The Times They Are a-Changin’
10:45
The tumour has gone, or not? Deciding whether to operate after neoadjuvant therapy
Jérémie Lefèvre, Paris – FR
11:15
Robotic right CME with intracorporeal anastomosis: step by step – and how I get out of trouble
Ellen Van Eetvelde, Brussels – BE
11:45
Quick surgeon’s lunch
Perspective lectures
12:15
Advanced visualisation systems: perfusion, lymph nodes, peritoneal carcinomatosis and the surgical plane
Luigi Boni, Milano – IT
12:45
Surgery as a service: what global surgical data teach every health system
Dion Morton, Birmingham – UK
Pearls of practice – the stoma and the anastomosis
13:15
Diverting stoma: neither always nor never – selection criteria and pathways of care
Quentin Denost, Bordeaux – FR
13:45
Coffee break
How I do it – video session
14:00
– Robotic intracorporeal single-stapled anastomosis in anterior resection
– Local excision for organ preservation
– Laparoscopic left colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis and CME
Bail-out strategies
14:30
Leak happens - early recognition, swift management, best outcomes
Roel Hompes, Amsterdam – NL
Leadership
15:00
The cases that shaped me: getting out of trouble from trainee to lead consultant
Deena Harji, Manchester – UK
15:30
Closing and farewell
Michel Adamina, Bern – CH
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 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
The ovaries and the colorectal surgeon: from opportunistic salpingectomy to the suspicious mass at cancer resection
Jeremy Meyer, Geneva - CH
09:35
Malignant polyps and T1 cancer: endoscopic resection, CELS, or colectomy?
Eric Westreenen, Zwolle - NL
10:10
The open abdomen and enteroatmospheric fistula: surviving the catastrophe
Christos Kontovounisios, Athens - GR
10:45
Coffee break
11:05
Prevention and treatment of parastomal hernias
Frédéric Ris, Geneva - CH
11:40
Robotic colorectal surgery, how I do it: right colectomy with CME, sigmoidectomy, and TME – from port placement to anastomosis
Jim Khan, Portsmouth - UK
12:15
Hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes: an actionable primer for the practising surgeon
Isacco Montroni, Milano - IT
12:50
Lunch
14:00
Delayed coloanal anastomosis in practice - clinical and functional results
Jérémie Lefèvre, Paris - FR
14:35
DIABOLO and beyond: diverticular disease – what the trials say and what we actually do
Esther Consten, Groningen - NL
15:10
Early-onset colorectal cancer: why is it rising, and what changes for the surgeon?
Paris Tekkis, London - UK
15:45
Coffee break
16:15
Dysplasia and early cancer in IBD - endoscopic resection, segmental resection, or more?
16:50
Postoperative ileus starts in the OR: my tips for prevention, from incision to discharge
Patricia Tejedor, Madrid - SP
17:25
Clinical implementation of an AI-based decision support for patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery
Ismael Gögenur, Zealand - DK
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 and Pelvic Floor Disorders
Sunday 14 March 2027, 09:00 - 18:00
7 CME
09:00
Management of anorectal and perineal sepsis: from the simple abscess to Fournier's gangrene
09:35
From pruritus ani to sexually transmitted proctitis: handling the itch and what the proctologist must not miss
10:10
Anorectal trauma, foreign bodies, and iatrogenic injury
10:45
Coffee break
11:05
OASIS: primary repair in the delivery room and secondary sphincter reconstruction
11:40
Anal stenosis and keyhole deformity after surgery and childbirth: anoplasty and flaps
12:15
Anal fissure: from ointment to Botox to sphincterotomy – a stepwise algorithm
12:50
Lunch
14:00
Crohn's fistula – TOpClass in practice: does stratifying fistulae by treatment rather than anatomy work?
14:35
Rectovaginal fistula: from advancement flap to Martius and gracilis interposition
15:10
Regenerative therapies for complex fistula: stem cells, PRP, and stromal vascular fraction – evidence vs hype
15:45
Coffee break
16:15
Read the test, treat the patient: manometry demystified and what to expect from pelvic floor therapy and biofeedback
16:50
Pathways for faecal incontinence: medication, irrigation, neuromodulation, implants, and sphincter repair
17:25
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
Welcome and introduction
9:10
TME: how to do it
9:35
Benefits and pitfalls of taTME in the era of TTSS
9:55
TTSS: indications and step-by-step description of the technique
10:20
Evidence on TTSS: short-term and long-term outcomes
10:40
Coffee break
11:00
Recorded live surgery: laparoscopic and robotic TME with TTSS
13:00
Lunch
14:00
Hands-on training: transanal transection, purse-string suture, and single-stapled anastomosis on a biological training model
17:00
Course wrap-up
Participants are encouraged to attend in teams of two surgeons to maximise implementation of TTSS upon returning to their institutions. 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 & self-assessment ahead of the workshop is required to maximise your learningWorkshop 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 Introduction & Context
- Welcome and objectives
- Why leadership matters in surgical practice
- Overview of systemic challenges in healthcare
14:30 Systemic Organisation & Workflow
- Mapping surgical workflows
- Identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies
- Strategies for improving coordination and communication
15:00 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 teams, governing boards, and system partners
15:30 Coffee break
16:00 Empowerment & Innovation
- Creating a culture of innovation
- Tools for implementing change in complex systems
- Case studies: successful implementation in surgery
16:30 Burnout & Resilience
- Recognising signs of burnout in yourself and your team
- Evidence-based resilience strategies
- Peer support and institutional resources
17:00 Interactive Session: Leadership in Action
- Interactive action planning for participants’ own institutions
- Key takeaways and resources for continued learning
- Feedback and closing remarks
Masterclass in Anastomotic Leak Management
Course director: Roel Hompes, Amsterdam
Thursday 18 March 2027, 09:00 - 17:15
7 CME
Lectures and Debates
09:00
Anastomotic leakage: definition, true incidence, and consequences
09:25
Prevention of anastomotic leakage: risk factors and surgical techniques
09:50
Pathways of care: early recognition of anastomotic leakage
10:15
When leaks go badly – damage control strategies
10:40
Coffee break
Lectures and Debates
11:00
The best repair: take-down & redo vs take-down & divert
11:35
The best repair: endosponge and transanal repair
12:10
The best repair: just stent it?
12:45
Lunch
Hands-on practice
13:45
Hands-on practice: endosponge and transanal repair
15:15
Hands-on practice: endoluminal vacuum stent
15:45
Coffee break
Lectures and Debates
16:10
Prevention of anastomotic leakage: the next frontier
16:45
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 management of anastomotic leakage. It provides in-depth and hands-on learning on the prevention, early identification, and management of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery. The course has been developed by the Chair of the ESCP Education Committee in collaboration with Janindra Warusavitarne, Lead Consultant at St Mark’s Hospital, London, and Secretary of the Coloproctology Section of UEMS. As such, this Colorectal THRIVE Masterclass offers an excellent opportunity to update and refine clinical practice in safe anastomotic technique, intraoperative troubleshooting, and the management of two of its most feared complications: leakage and stricture. Hands-on practice on 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 to provide practical skills and immediately applicable knowledge for the prevention, 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
Sevilla - ES
Stéphanie Breukink
Maastricht - NL
George Kohlrieser
Basel - CH/US
Guido Beldi
Bern - CH
Carly Bisset
Glasgow - 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 - ES
Willem Bemelman
Amsterdam - NL
Gina Brown
London - UK
Christianne Buskens
Amsterdam - NL
Mark Fox
Alresheim, CH
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
Milan - 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 // No VAT is charged for education
Onsite and Online Registration Fees are Identical
Deadlines at 23:59 CET
Early Registration
until 13.12.2026
Save up to CHF 200
Standard Registration
14.12.2026
to 28.02.2027
Late Registration
Rates apply from
28.02.2027
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 to the congress and clinical masterclass 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 Colorectal THRIVE community.
We welcome abstracts reporting previously unpublished work related to colorectal and digestive diseases, including basic and translational research, medical education, leadership, and health resource utilization. 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 a maximum of two abstracts.
- An abstract must not exceed 500 words.
- Abstracts are reviewed on a rolling basis. You will receive an acceptance or rejection decision within one week of submission.
- Presentation is conditional on the first author registering for onsite attendance.
Publication
Accepted abstracts will be published on the interactive congress platform from February to September 2027. They will also be 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 the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0).
Awards
The three highest-ranked abstracts will receive 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 your research, in PNG, JPG, or GIF format
- A short video presenting your research, for example recorded using PowerPoint:Submit an MP4 file or a video link, such as an unlisted YouTube link.
- Links to the first author’s social 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
A medieval city on the language border
Switzerland
Founded in 1157, Fribourg rises above the meanders of the Sarine river. Its old town of Gothic façades is crowned by St Nicholas Cathedral.
Bilingual French and German, Fribourg bridges Switzerland's two great cultures. It is a fitting home for a congress that gathers surgeons from five continents.
→ Discover Fribourg · Fribourg City Card
Getting to Fribourg
Easily reached by train and via 7 international airports.
- Zurich and Geneva airports: direct trains every 30 minutes, about 1½ hours
- Basel EuroAirport: bus to Basel SBB station, then about 1½ hours by train
- Milan, Lyon, Stuttgart and Munich: onward connections through the Swiss rail network
- By train from Swiss cities: Bern 25 min · Lausanne 50 min · Zurich and Basel 1 h 30 · Geneva 1 h 45
Plan your trip door to door here. Enter "Forum Fribourg" as your destination.
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
.png){kind=logo}
Bronze Sponsor
.png)
.png){kind=logo}
Organizer
MGA Network
Poststrasse 1
9100 Herisau
Follow us
© Colorectal THRIVE 2027