Embracing Change: Welcoming New S-ECCO Members

Gabriele Bislenghi © ECCO

Gabriele Bislenghi graduated from the Università degli Studi di Milano in 2009 and trained in abdominal surgery in Milan and Leuven. He became an abdominal surgeon in Italy in 2015 and was recognised as a general surgeon in Belgium in 2017. Specialising in colorectal surgery, he completed a two-year fellowship under Professors D’Hoore and Wolthuis. Since 2019, he has been a staff member in the Department of Abdominal Surgery in Leuven, focusing on colorectal diseases.

Anthony de Buck van Overstraeten  © ECCO

Anthony de Buck van Overstraeten earned his medical degree at the University of Leuven, where he trained in surgery and colorectal procedures. In 2013, he completed a colorectal fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. After four years as a colorectal surgeon at the University Hospital of Leuven, he returned to Toronto in 2017, where he is now an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto and a colorectal surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital. He also holds a Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Toronto. His research focuses on clinical outcomes in IBD, particularly functional and quality-of-life impacts, including the role of minimally invasive surgery.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Omar Faiz and Amy Lightner for their invaluable contributions to IBD healthcare. Though they leave the S-ECCO, we are confident they will continue to advance our mission of improving IBD care worldwide.

Looking ahead, the new S-ECCO Team has designed an innovative, scientifically robust and engaging Masterclass in IBD Surgery that is set to debut at ECCO’2026 in Stockholm. With fresh energy and collaboration across ECCO Committees and IBD surgeons, we aim to push the boundaries of IBD care.