Course Overview
Current treatment strategies for patients with complex digestive disorders continue to evolve. This is largely the result of growing technological advances in surgery and endoscopy. The goal of the Minimally Invasive and Novel Therapeutics (MINT) course is to inform physicians on how best to incorporate these technologies into their practice. Using a video-based format, our goal is technique transfer from world-renowned faculty to the community, hospital, endoscopy suite, and operating room. MINT offers an ideal mix of traditional standard-of-care principles with a balanced and unbiased view of new, cutting-edge information. This course engages learners through video-based lectures with recordings of surgical and endoluminal therapies, along with lively multidisciplinary panel discussions.
Digestive disease management requires multidisciplinary care. This course intends to break the barriers of subspecialty medicine by bringing together gastroenterologists, surgeons, psychologists, APPs, nurses, and dietitians to learn from each other. Since many surgeons and endoscopists learn best by “doing”, this course offers hands-on skills sessions in both endoluminal therapies and surgical techniques taught by national and international experts.
Digestive disease management requires multidisciplinary care. This course intends to break the barriers of subspecialty medicine by bringing together gastroenterologists, surgeons, psychologists, APPs, nurses, and dietitians to learn from each other. Since many surgeons and endoscopists learn best by “doing”, this course offers hands-on skills sessions in both endoluminal therapies and surgical techniques taught by national and international experts.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Dieticians, Physician Assistants, and other members of the healthcare team.
Location
Mass General Brigham,
Assembly Row
399 Revolution Drive, Somerville,MA
-AND-
The Row Hotel at Assembly Row, Autograph Collection
360 Foley St. Somerville, MA
Assembly Row
399 Revolution Drive, Somerville,MA
-AND-
The Row Hotel at Assembly Row, Autograph Collection
360 Foley St. Somerville, MA
Date & Time
Hands-On Lab at The Row Hotel at Assembly Row
Wednesday, August 12, 2026,
Didactic Sessions at
Mass General Brigham, Assembly Row
Thursday, August 13, 2026 -
Friday, August 14, 2026
Wednesday, August 12, 2026,
Didactic Sessions at
Mass General Brigham, Assembly Row
Thursday, August 13, 2026 -
Friday, August 14, 2026
Course Directors
Charu Paranjape, MBBS
Faculty at Harvard Medical School
Program Director, Robotic Education,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Associate Chair and Chief of General Surgery, Mass General Brigham,
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Program Director, Robotic Education,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Associate Chair and Chief of General Surgery, Mass General Brigham,
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Kumar Krishnan, MD
Assistant professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School;
Director of Endoscopic Innovation, Technology and Education,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School;
Director of Endoscopic Innovation, Technology and Education,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Alexandra Maltby, PA-C
General Surgery Physician Assistant, Mass General Brigham, Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Invited Faculty
MGB Faculty
Abdelrahman Nimeri, MD
MD, FACS, FASMBS, DABOM
Director of Bariatric Surgery
Faculty, Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Director of Bariatric Surgery
Faculty, Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Ali Tavakkoli, MD
MD, FRCS
Francis Daniels Moore
Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Francis Daniels Moore
Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, MD
MD, FACS
Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Director, Pancreas & Biliary Surgery
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Director, Pancreas & Biliary Surgery
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Denise Gee, MD
MD, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Director, MGH Weight Center
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Director, MGH Weight Center
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Elan Witkowski, MD
MD, MS, FACS
Instructor in Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Instructor in Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Jonah Cohen, MD
MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Director, Bariatric Endoscopy
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Director, Bariatric Endoscopy
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Malcolm K. Robinson, MD
MD, FACS
Vice Chair of Surgery for Clinical Operations
Mass General Brigham
Surgical Director, Perioperative Services
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Vice Chair of Surgery for Clinical Operations
Mass General Brigham
Surgical Director, Perioperative Services
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Nari Sabeti, MD
MD
Medical Director,
Surgical Weight Loss Program
Mass General Brigham
Danvers, MA
Medical Director,
Surgical Weight Loss Program
Mass General Brigham
Danvers, MA
Peter Fagenholz, MD
MD, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Surgical Director, Pancreatitis
Treatment Center, MGH
Boston, MA
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Surgical Director, Pancreatitis
Treatment Center, MGH
Boston, MA
Eric Sheu, MD, PhD
MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Chief, Bariatric & Foregut Surgery
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Chief, Bariatric & Foregut Surgery
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Susana Wishnia, MD
MD, FACS
General & Bariatric Surgeon
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Mass General Brigham
Newton, MA
General & Bariatric Surgeon
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Mass General Brigham
Newton, MA
Domestic Invited Faculty
Ankit Patel, MD
MD, FACS, FASMBS
Professor of Surgery
Texas Christian University
Emory University Hospital
Atlanta, GA
Professor of Surgery
Texas Christian University
Emory University Hospital
Atlanta, GA
Aurora Pryor, MD
MD, MBA, FACS, FASMBS
Professor & Chair of Surgery
Warren Alpert Medical School
Brown University Health
Providence, RI
Professor & Chair of Surgery
Warren Alpert Medical School
Brown University Health
Providence, RI
Charles (Chas) Parsons, MD
MD
Instructor in Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Division of Acute Care Surgery
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA
Instructor in Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Division of Acute Care Surgery
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA
Hany Takla, MD
MD, FACS, FASMBS, DABS-FPMBS
Bariatric & Robotic Surgeon
Orlando Health Weight Loss
and Bariatric Surgery Institute
Orlando, FL
Bariatric & Robotic Surgeon
Orlando Health Weight Loss
and Bariatric Surgery Institute
Orlando, FL
Lee Kaplan, MD, PhD
MD, PhD, FTOS
Professor of Surgery
Geisel School of Medicine
Dartmouth Health
Lebanon, NH
Professor of Surgery
Geisel School of Medicine
Dartmouth Health
Lebanon, NH
Sarah Samreen, MD
MD, FACS
Director, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX
Director, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX
Uzma Siddiqui, MD
MD, FACG, MASGE
Professor of Medicine
Director, CERT
University of Chicago Medicine
Chicago, IL
Professor of Medicine
Director, CERT
University of Chicago Medicine
Chicago, IL
V. Raman Muthusamy, MD
MD, MAS, FACG, FASGE, AGAF
Professor of Medicine
Director of Endoscopy
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA
Professor of Medicine
Director of Endoscopy
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA
International Invited Faculty
Amol Bapaye, MD
MBBS, MS, MD, FASGE, FJGES
Director, Shivanand Desai
Center for Digestive Disorders
Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital
Pune, India
Director, Shivanand Desai
Center for Digestive Disorders
Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital
Pune, India
Hugh McGregor, MD
MBBS, FRACS
General Surgeon
Senior Lecturer, Surgery
University of Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
General Surgeon
Senior Lecturer, Surgery
University of Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
Hassan Mashbari, MD
MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Residency Program Director
Jazan University
Jazan, Saudi Arabia
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Residency Program Director
Jazan University
Jazan, Saudi Arabia
Mohit Bhandari, MD
MBBS, MS, DMAS
Founder Director,
Mohak Bariatrics & Robotics
President, IRCAD India
Indore, India
Founder Director,
Mohak Bariatrics & Robotics
President, IRCAD India
Indore, India
Somyaa Khuller, MD
MBBS, DNB, FMAS, FIAGES, FALS
Lead Consultant, General Surgery
Senior Consultant, MIS & Robotic Surgery
KIMS Hospitals
Bengaluru, India
Lead Consultant, General Surgery
Senior Consultant, MIS & Robotic Surgery
KIMS Hospitals
Bengaluru, India
Suha Kaaki, MD
MD, FACS, FRCSC
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Director, Thoracic Surgery
Fellowship Program
King Saud University
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Director, Thoracic Surgery
Fellowship Program
King Saud University
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Zhifei Wang, MD
MD, MBA, FACS
Chair & Professor of Surgery
Director, Center for GERD
Co-Director, Center for Metabolic
& Bariatric Surgery
Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital
Hangzhou, China
Chair & Professor of Surgery
Director, Center for GERD
Co-Director, Center for Metabolic
& Bariatric Surgery
Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital
Hangzhou, China
Yahya al-Habbal, MD
MRCSI, FRACS, FACS
Upper GI, Bariatric & General Surgeon
Interventional Endoscopist
Hobson Healthcare
Melbourne, Australia
Upper GI, Bariatric & General Surgeon
Interventional Endoscopist
Hobson Healthcare
Melbourne, Australia
IAGES Faculty
Abhay Dalvi
Consultant, Gleneagles Hospital
Mumbai, India
President IAGES 2015
Mumbai, India
President IAGES 2015
Anil Heroor
Head of Robotics, MIS and Surgical Oncology
KIMS Hospital
Thane, India
KIMS Hospital
Thane, India
Arunima Verma
Head, Department of Surgery
Tata Motors Hospital
Jamshedpur, India
Tata Motors Hospital
Jamshedpur, India
Ashish Dey
Senior Consultant, Laparoscopic and General Surgery
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
New Delhi, India
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
New Delhi, India
Ashwin Thangavelu
Hon. Secretary, IAGES
Chairman, Ashwin Hospital
Coimbatore, India
Chairman, Ashwin Hospital
Coimbatore, India
Balaji Singh Krishna
Dean, SriRamachandra Medical College
Porur, Chennai, India
Porur, Chennai, India
Deep Goel
Director, Minimal Access, Bariatric and GI Surgery
BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital
New Delhi, India
BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital
New Delhi, India
Deepak Subramanian
MBBS, MS, MRCS, FIAGES, FICS, FALS, FIBC
Clinical Lead and Sr. Consultant
Dept of MIS and Robotic Surgery
MGM Healthcare
Chennai, India
Clinical Lead and Sr. Consultant
Dept of MIS and Robotic Surgery
MGM Healthcare
Chennai, India
Ganni Bhaskar Rao
Chairman, GSL Group of Institutions
Rajamahendravaram, India
Rajamahendravaram, India
K. Govindaraj
President, IAGES
Chairman, Dr G Viswanathan Hospitals
Tiruchirappalli, India
Chairman, Dr G Viswanathan Hospitals
Tiruchirappalli, India
Kalaivani R
Professor of Surgery
Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences
Bengaluru, India
Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences
Bengaluru, India
M. Kanagavel
MBBS, DNB, MRCS (UK), FIAGES, MNAMS
Head, Dept of General GI and Minimal Access Surgery
St. Isabel Hospital
Chennai, India
Head, Dept of General GI and Minimal Access Surgery
St. Isabel Hospital
Chennai, India
Madhuri Patnaik
Clinical Lead, MIS and Robotics
Sparsh Healthcare
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Sparsh Healthcare
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Mahendra Narwaria
Chairman, Asian Bariatrics
Ahmedabad, India
Ahmedabad, India
Ramen Goel
Lead, Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery
Wockhardt Hospital
Mumbai, India
Wockhardt Hospital
Mumbai, India
Ranbir Singh
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Christian Medical College
Ludhiana, India
Christian Medical College
Ludhiana, India
Rupjyoti Dutta
Consultant Endolaparoscopic Surgeon
Dr. Damani's Nursing Home
Dibrugarh, Assam, India
Dr. Damani's Nursing Home
Dibrugarh, Assam, India
S. Easwarmoorthy
Head of General, MIS and Endotherapy
Lotus Hospital
Erode, India
Lotus Hospital
Erode, India
Sanjay Sonar
MBBS, MS
Director, Laparoscopy Centre
Godrej Memorial Hospital
Mumbai, India
Director, Laparoscopy Centre
Godrej Memorial Hospital
Mumbai, India
Sarfaraz Jalil Baig
Director, Digestive Surgery Clinic
Belle Vue Clinic / CMRI Hospital
Kolkata, India
Belle Vue Clinic / CMRI Hospital
Kolkata, India
Satish Midha
CEO and Founder, Vivekanand Hospital
Ranchi, India
Ranchi, India
Subhash Chawla
Professor and HOD
Maharishi Markandeshwar University
Mullana, India
Maharishi Markandeshwar University
Mullana, India
Sunil Popat
Chairman, Dept of GI and Laparoscopic Surgery
Nidhi Hospital
Ahmedabad, India
Nidhi Hospital
Ahmedabad, India
Suresh Deshpande
Advisor, IAGES
India
India
Vishal Soni
Director & Clinical Lead
Apollo Centre of Excellence for Robotic Surgery
Ahmedabad, India
Apollo Centre of Excellence for Robotic Surgery
Ahmedabad, India
Zameer Pasha
Chairman, Shanawaz Hospital
Tiruchirappalli, India
Tiruchirappalli, India
IAGES Moderators
Karunaharan Thomas
Professor of Surgery
Trichy SRM Medical College
Trichy, India
Trichy SRM Medical College
Trichy, India
Rajavel Kannaiyan
Managing Director, Velan Speciality Hospital
Tiruchirappalli, India
Tiruchirappalli, India
Venkatesh V
Chairman, VG Hospital
Coimbatore, India
Coimbatore, India
Agenda
Agenda Subject to Change
Wednesday, August 12
The Row Hotel at Assembly Row · 360 Foley St, Somerville, MA
Hands-On Labs
12:00 – 5:00 PM
Hands-On Skills Sessions at The Row Hotel
Robotic Lab & Endoscopy Lab
Hands-On
Endoscopy Lab Faculty
V. Raman Muthusamy
Uzma Siddiqui
Amol Bapaye
Jonah Cohen
Robotic Lab Faculty
Susana Wishnia
Hany Takla
Ankit Patel
Sarah Samreen
Hassan Mashbari
Deepak Subramanian
Zhifei Wang
Eran Brauner
Thursday, August 13
Mass General Brigham, Assembly Row · 399 Revolution Drive, Somerville, MA
Morning Block · MINT Foregut
Moderators: Kumar Krishnan · Charu Paranjape · Uzma Siddiqui · Ali Tavakkoli · Amol Bapaye · Suha Kaaki
8:00 – 8:10 AM
Welcome & Overview
Charu Paranjape & Kumar Krishnan
8:10 – 8:20 AM
POEM...Tunneling for Success
Uzma Siddiqui
8:20 – 8:30 AM
Fundoplication: In Search of a Perfect Surgical Wrap
Ali Tavakkoli
8:30 – 8:40 AM
Approach to Persistent Dysphagia in Achalasia
Amol Bapaye
8:40 – 9:05 AM
AI in Bariatric Surgery
Aurora Pryor
Keynote
Technique Transfer Session
Moderators: Aurora Pryor · V. Raman Muthusamy · Eric Sheu · Kumar Krishnan · Amol Bapaye · Uzma Siddiqui
9:05 – 9:15 AM
POEM-F
Amol Bapaye
9:15 – 9:25 AM
10 Preventive Strategies to Prevent an Unhappy Surgical GERD Patient
Eric Sheu
9:25 – 9:35 AM
Zenker's Diverticulum
Kumar Krishnan
9:35 – 9:45 AM
Esophageal EMR
V. Raman Muthusamy
9:45 – 10:05 AM
Panel Discussion / Q&A
10:05 – 10:30 AM
Coffee Break
Non-CME Sponsored Sessions / Product Theater
Moderators: Prakash Gatta · V. Raman Muthusamy · Hany Takla · Uzma Siddiqui · Somyaa Khuller
11:00 – 11:30 AM
TissueCypher: Unlocking Barrett's with Molecular Precision
Castle Biosciences
Non-CME
11:30 – 12:00 PM
The cTIF Revolution: A New Era in Reflux Surgery?
Merit Medical
Non-CME
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch
MINT / IAGES Joint Session
Moderators: Hany Takla · Amol Bapaye · Ali Tavakkoli · Susana Wishnia
1:00 – 1:15 PM
Spyglass as a Saviour in Pregnancy and Altered Anatomy
K. Govindaraj
1:15 – 1:25 PM
Splenectomy
Abhay Dalvi
1:25 – 1:35 PM
Revision Fundoplication
Sunil Popat
1:35 – 1:45 PM
Sequential ERCP and Cholecystectomy in the Same Sitting
S. Easwarmoorthy
1:45 – 1:55 PM
Innovations in Laparoscopic Surgeries: Difficult Gallbladders
Suresh Deshpande
1:55 – 2:05 PM
eTEP Inguinal Outcomes
M. Kanagavel
2:05 – 2:15 PM
Simulation in Advanced Surgical Training
Ganni Bhaskar Rao
2:15 – 2:25 PM
Magnetic Anastomosis
Mahendra Narwaria
2:25 – 2:35 PM
Break
Multidisciplinary Management of Biliary Disease
Moderators: Uzma Siddiqui · Kumar Krishnan · Elan Witkowski · Aurora Pryor
2:35 – 2:55 PM
From Frustration to Fragmentation: The Endoscopic Evolution of Difficult Bile Duct Stone Management
V. Raman Muthusamy
2:55 – 3:15 PM
Choledochoscopy Tips from the Expert
Elan Witkowski
3:15 – 3:35 PM
Beyond the Basics: Biliary Disease in Post-Operative Anatomy
Uzma Siddiqui
3:35 – 3:55 PM
CBDE Exploration: Panel Discussion
Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo & Peter Fagenholz
3:55 – 4:10 PM
Questions & Break
4:30 – 6:30 PM
Welcome Reception with Industry (Exhibit Hall)
The Row Hotel · Attendees & Industry
Reception
Friday, August 14
Mass General Brigham, Assembly Row · 399 Revolution Drive, Somerville, MA
Bariatric Surgery & Medicine
Moderators: Ramen Goel · Susana Wishnia · Lee Kaplan · Ankit Patel · Abdelrahman Nimeri
8:05 – 8:25 AM
Optimizing Outcomes After RYGB: Tips from the Expert
Abdelrahman Nimeri
8:25 – 8:45 AM
The Perfect ESG...A Stitch in Time
Mohit Bhandari
8:45 – 9:15 AM
Reflux Disease in Obesity: Surgical and Endoscopic Options
Ankit Patel
9:15 – 9:45 AM
Surgical Approach to Weight Gain in the Era of GLP-1 Agonists
Yahya Al-Habbal
9:45 – 9:55 AM
Questions
10:00 – 10:30 AM
A New Era in Obesity Management: What Every Surgeon/Endoscopist Needs to Know About Pharmacotherapy's Impact
Lee Kaplan
Keynote
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Break
Non-CME Event: Fatty Liver in the Bariatric Population
11:00 – 12:00 PM
Resmetirom as an Adjunct to Bariatric Surgery/Procedures for MASLD
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
Non-CME
11:30 – 12:00 PM
TBD
Non-CME
12:00 – 12:30 PM
Lunch
MINT Best Video Session
Moderators: Eran Brauner · Hassan Mashbari · Kanagaraj Govindaraj · Suha Kaaki
12:30 – 12:40 PM
Robotic Esophagectomy
Suha Kaaki
12:40 – 12:50 PM
Difficult Cholecystectomy
Ranbir Singh
12:50 – 1:00 PM
Conversion of MGB to RYGB for Reflux
Sarfaraz Jalil Baig
1:00 – 1:10 PM
Robotic D2 Gastrectomy
Anil Heroor
1:10 – 1:20 PM
Robotic Adrenalectomy
Zameer Pasha
1:20 – 1:30 PM
Endoscopy for Foreign Body Removal
Rupjyoti Dutta
1:30 – 1:40 PM
Hydatid Cysts of Liver and Spleen
Subhash Chawla
1:40 – 1:50 PM
Masquerading Appendix
Satish Midha
Hernia Session · Chairs: Hany Takla & Elan Witkowski
Moderators: Hany Takla · Elan Witkowski · Nari Sabeti · Arunima Verma · Rajavel Kannaiyan · Karunaharan Thomas · Deepak Subramanian · M. Kanagavel
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Robotic Neurectomy: When and How
Hugh McGregor · President, Australian Hernia Society
2:15 – 2:30 PM
Robotic TAR
Vishal Soni
2:30 – 2:45 PM
IPOM vs IPOM-Plus vs Sublay: Choosing and Executing the Right Repair
Nari Sabeti
2:45 – 3:00 PM
Fasciotens
Sanjay Sonar
3:00 – 3:15 PM
PeTEP for Ventral Hernia
Ashwin Thangavelu
3:15 – 3:30 PM
Robotic Approach for Emergency Hernias
Chas Parsons
3:30 – 3:45 PM
Robotic Component Separation: Why and How
Hany Takla
3:45 – 4:00 PM
Simulation in Advanced Surgical Training
Ganni Bhaskar Rao
4:00 – 4:15 PM
From Simulation to Scalpel: Training Proficiency in Foregut and Hernia Surgery
Zhifei Wang
4:15 – 4:30 PM
Break
4:30 – 4:45 PM
Robotic RAMPS
Deep Goel
4:45 – 5:00 PM
Preperitoneal Plane: Road Less Travelled
Deepak Subramanian
5:00 – 5:15 PM
Lap vs Robotic TAPP: When and How?
Somyaa Khuller
5:15 – 5:30 PM
Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome
Ashish Dey
5:30 – 5:45 PM
Perioperative Challenges in Hernia
Arunima Verma
Sponsors
We gratefully acknowledges support from the following companies:
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