Special Interview with Dr. Natan Zundel-Winner of SAGES Foundation's Annual Pioneer in Surgical Endoscopy Award

On August 23, 2024, the Editorial Office of Mini-invasive Surgery (MIS) had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Natan Zundel, a Guest Editor of MIS from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, United States.

As the recipient of the SAGES Foundation's annual Pioneer in Endoscopy Award on April 17, 2024, Dr. Zundel is internationally recognized for his influence and expertise in minimally invasive surgery, especially in endoscopic surgery, making this interview particularly exciting.

Here are details of the interview:

Q1: What motivated you to explore and innovate within the field of surgical endoscopy? Can you share pivotal moments that impacted the direction of your work?

Q2: What were some of the major obstacles you encountered while developing your groundbreaking techniques, and how did you overcome them?

Q3: Can you share a memorable experience or story from your career that still brings a smile to you?

Q4: With this award recognizing your contributions to the field, what future projects or areas of research are you most excited about exploring?

Q5: What are the most critical skills that surgeons must develop to excel in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery, and how can they best acquire these skills?

Q6: What do you think are the most important qualities of a high-impact publication?

Profile:

Dr. Zundel is an internationally recognized thought leader, lecturer, professor, trainer, and innovator in metabolic and bariatric surgery.

He holds numerous prestigious positions, including Clinical Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University at Buffalo in New York. He also serves as a Consultant in the Department of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery of the Foundation Program in Santa Fe de Bogota, Columbia, and is the Medical Director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at Jackson North Medical Center in Miami. Additionally, he is a bariatric surgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital and serves as both a Clinical Professor of Surgery and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University.

Dr. Zundel has lectured extensively worldwide on minimally invasive and bariatric topics. He has trained and mentored hundreds of surgeons, fellows, and surgical residents on bariatric and minimally invasive procedures. He earned his medical degree from Pontifical Xavierian University in Colombia in 1982, completed his surgical residency there in 1988, and concluded his general surgery residency at West Penn Hospital in the United States in 2007.

With extensive experience with minimally invasive and bariatric surgical procedures, he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded to certify surgeons who meet a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

A world-class leader in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery, Dr. Zundel currently serves as President and Governor for the ACS South Florida Chapter. His leadership roles include past presidencies of several international surgical societies and meetings, including the World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery (2012), the International Federation for Obesity Surgery (IFSO) (2015-2016), the Latin-American Chapter of IFSO (2013-2015), the VI IFSO LAC Congress in Los Cabos, Mexico, (July 8-11,2015), and the International Federation of Societies of Endoscopic Surgeons (IFSES, 2019-2021).

Dr. Zundel has served as a founder, active or/and honorary member of surgical, laparoscopic and/or bariatric societies in 44 countries worldwide. He is also an active member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgery, the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, the International Federation of Societies of Endoscopic Surgeons, the Latin American Federation of Surgeons, and Asociación Latinoamericana de Cirujanos Endoscopistas.

In October 2018, Dr Zundel was elected by his peers as a new member of the ASMBS Executive Council.

His research has garnered more than 22 awards globally, including the SAGES International Ambassador Award (2015), the ASMBS Master Educator Award (2017), the ASMBS Surgical Innovation Award (2018), the Masters of Colombian Surgery (August 2020), and the IFSO Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award (2022).

Dr. Zundel has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and other educational platforms. He has edited or co-edited seven books, and currently serves on editorial boards of several publications, including: Bariatric Times, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD), Obesity Surgery, Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy, Percutaneous Techniques, Surgical Endoscopy, Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care, and six other international publications. He is also an ad hoc reviewer for JACS, World Journal of Surgery, and Annals of Surgery.

Dr. Zundel resides in South Florida and has three children. His hobbies include reading, attending the theater, listening to music, and watching sports.

Ongoing special issue led by Dr. Natan Zundel “Bariatric Endoscopy: Treatment of Obesity and Management of Complications”. Welcome to participate if you’re interested, please contact editorialoffice@misjournal.net for more info.

Submission:

https://oaemesas.com/login?JournalId=mis&SpecialIssueId=mis220615

Editor: Irene Liu
Language Editor: Emma Chen
Production Editor: Yan Zhang
Respectfully Submitted by the Journal Editorial Office Mini-invasive Surgery