[Strasbourg, France] — [18 March 2025] — Prof. Silvana Perretta, a renowned minimally invasive surgeon and Director of Education at the University-Hospital Institute (IHU) in Strasbourg, France, has been honored with the 2025 SAGES Pioneer in Surgical Endoscopy Award. This prestigious accolade recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of surgical endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery.

Prof. Perretta’s career spans decades of innovation, education, and advocacy in flexible endoscopy and minimally invasive surgical techniques. As Director of Education at the IHU Strasbourg, Prof. Perretta has been instrumental in fostering international collaboration, spearheading advanced training programs, and mentoring the next generation of surgical leaders. Since 2011, she has led the Business Engineering and Surgical Technologies (B.E.S.T.) program, which aims to bridge the gap between medicine and new technology. By providing – free of charge – young professionals, engineers, and medical students with the skills to innovate and lead, the program has become a model for integrating cutting-edge technology into medical practice.

Prof. Perretta was elected Vice President of IRCAD France, a role she held until July 2023. A strong advocate for surgeons performing interventional endoscopy, she has played a pivotal role in developing new endoscopic platforms, devices, and flexible robotics. Prof. Perretta pioneered Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES), performing the world’s first transvaginal cholecystectomy, and introduced POEM and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty techniques in France. She has also led groundbreaking work in hybrid surgical endoscopy, lean endoscopic simulations, and global digital medical education.

Prof. Perretta was awarded the SAGES Career Development Award in 2011, became the first woman in 20 years to be elected SAGES STORZ lecturer in 2020, and was named Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor of France in January 2021. Recently, Dr. Perretta was elected Chair of the EAES Flexible Endoscopy Committee, and she serves on the IFSO Flexible Endoscopy Committee, the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Emerging Surgical Technologies and Education, the WEO Surgical Endoscopy Committee, the AMEE Surgery Track Steering Committee and the SAGES AI Task force. She is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of EVE-Evolving Education, a company focused on democratizing surgical endoscopy training worldwide. In April 2024, she founded the Bariatric Endoscopy World Association (B.E.W.A.), where she now serves as Vice President. Additionally, she is the President and founder of FAIR, an organization dedicated to supporting women in surgery, science, and MedTech by providing opportunities, resources, and networks to help them thrive in historically underrepresented fields.

The SAGES Pioneer in Surgical Endoscopy Award is among the most respected honors in the field, celebrating pioneers who have shaped the future of surgical endoscopy through innovation, research, and leadership. Past recipients include luminaries such as Prof. Jeffrey Ponsky, a trailblazer in endoscopic procedures, and Prof. Lee Swanstrom, an innovator in advanced minimally invasive and flexible surgical techniques, and previously Director of Innovation at the IHU Strasbourg. Prof. Perretta is the first woman surgeon to receive the prize, as well as being the youngest woman overall to receive it, and the first woman after Dr Sybill Storz in 2016.[1]

“SAGES is an organization that has long set the standard for excellence and innovation in minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery,” said Prof. Perretta. “It is an incredible honor to join the ranks of such distinguished pioneers whose work has transformed surgical care globally.”

Prof. Perretta’s work aligns closely with the mission of SAGES, which emphasizes inclusivity, interdisciplinarity, and the global advancement of surgical practice. Her leadership at the IHU Strasbourg has established the institution as a premier center for research and training in flexible endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery. Through her efforts, she has helped to bridge the gap between surgical innovation and real-world clinical application, impacting patient care worldwide.

The award was presented during the 2025 SAGES Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California, an event that convenes the brightest minds in the field to exchange ideas, showcase advancements, and celebrate excellence in gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery.

About Prof. Silvana Perretta
Prof. Perretta is an internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive surgery and surgical endoscopy. As Director of Education at the IHU Strasbourg, she has designed and implemented cutting-edge training programs, fostering skill development and innovation in surgeons worldwide. Her contributions to research, education, and clinical practice have solidified her reputation as a leading figure in the global surgical community.

About SAGES
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is an international organization dedicated to advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques and fostering innovation in gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery. Through education, research, and global collaboration, SAGES strives to improve patient outcomes and transform surgical care worldwide.

Download the press release
(Strasbourg, March 18, 2025), in French and English

For media inquiries, please contact:
Isabella Bolognese
Isabella.bolognese@ihu-strasbourg.eu
0390413628

[1] https://www.sages.org/about/awards/pioneer/