Best Robotic low anterior resection (LAR) Doctors Worldwide — TOP 20

Dr. Vafi Atalay is a colorectal and general surgeon at Anadolu Medical Center. He developed the tube ileostomy technique to eliminate the need for ostomy-closure surgery. This method was published in the journal Colorectal Disease. Dr. Atalay specializes in pancreatic, colon, rectal, and liver cancers.

• Winner of the Gold Medal Award at the Istanbul International Invention Fair.
• Authored over 30 articles in national and international medical journals.
• Received the Best Scientific Research Award from several surgical congresses.
• Practices at a clinic affiliated with the top-ranked Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Abdulcabbar Kartal is a colorectal and general surgeon at Anadolu Medical Center. He specializes in HIPEC and bariatric surgery. He has performed over 500 bariatric procedures. Dr. Kartal holds certification from the European Society of Coloproctology (FEBS-C). He works at a clinic affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine.

• Completed over 650 surgical operations across major hospitals in Turkey.
• Certified by the Turkish Surgical Association for his surgical qualifications.
• Uses laser techniques for hemorrhoidal diseases and interventional endoscopic procedures.
• Member of the Turkish Association of Endoscopic Laparoscopic Surgery.

Specialist in minimally invasive colorectal surgery with Da Vinci robotic certification – Dr. Vasquez works at Infanta Elena University Hospital in Madrid.

• 13+ years focused on digestive system surgery
• PhD in Surgery with Summa Cum Laude honors
• Trained at IRCAD France – Europe's leading laparoscopic center
• Published research on high-risk intestinal anastomoses
• Teaching collaborator at Francisco de Vitoria University

Prof. Nagler pioneered Israel's first cord blood bank and reduced-intensity transplants – a world-renowned hematologist at Sheba Medical Center.

• Over 35 years of experience in hematology and bone marrow transplantation
• Former Chair of EBMT's Acute Leukemia Working Party – Europe's top transplant research group
• Performed nation's first cord blood transplantations
• Stanford-trained expert in advanced stem cell therapies

Recognized by Forbes as one of Israel's top physicians, Prof. Nachmany leads Sheba Medical Center's surgical department specializing in robotic procedures.

• Expert in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)
• Dual fellowship-trained at Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute
• Advocates minimally invasive robotic techniques for better patient recovery
• Senior lecturer at Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Medicine
• Published extensively in leading surgical oncology journals

Dr. Almog Ben-Yaacov has performed over 200 HIPEC procedures since 2018 at Sheba Medical Center.

• Specializes in cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC
• Trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• ESSO-certified in HIPEC surgery
• Senior surgeon with extensive experience in colorectal malignancies

Ranked among Spain's top surgeons by Forbes Magazine, Dr. Canales leads Robotic Surgery Unit at Hospital Ruber Internacional.

• Over 30 years focused on laparoscopic and robotic techniques
• Specializes in complex colon cancer cases requiring precision
• Published author with 70+ scientific publications
• Performs procedures using da Vinci robotic system

Zhang Jinshan, male, China’s First M.D. in the Radiation Medicine, CCI (Chinese College of Interventionalists) Master Interventionalist, Director of the Department of Former Radiological Diagnosis at Chinese PLA General Hospital(No.3 in China) Ph.D. of Medicine, Nagasaki University, Japan.

1980–1985: Completed doctoral studies at Nagasaki University, Japan

1968–present: Department of Radiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital

1988: Third Prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award

1989–present: Member of Radiological Society of North America(RSNA)

1990–2009: Standing Committee Member of the Radiology and Therapeutic Radiology Committee of the PLA

1991: Second Prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award

1992–2008: Group Leader of the Group of Intervention of Chinese Journal of Radiology

1992–2015: Standing Editorial Board Member and Editorial Board Member of Journal of Interventional Radiology

1993: Granted the Lifetime Special Government Allowance of the State Council

1993–2012: Deputy Chief Editor of Chinese Journal of Medical Image Technology

1994: Third Prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award

1997: Second Prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award

1997–2009: Standing Member of Chinese Society of Radiology

1999: Third Prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award

1999–2010: Deputy Director Member of Chinese Society of Interventional Oncology

2002: Second Prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award

2005: Third Prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award

Member of Radiological Society of North America(RSNA)

Standing Member of Chinese Society of Radiology

Group Leader of the Group of Intervention of Chinese Journal of Radiology

Deputy Director Member of Chinese Society of Interventional Oncology

Director Member of Beijing Medical Association Society of Interventional Radiology

Deputy Chief Editor of Chinese Journal of Medical Image Technology

Standing Member of Professional Committee of Radiological Medicine of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army

Standing Editorial Board Member and Editorial Board Member of Journal of Interventional Radiology

Awarded the Special Government Allowance of the State Council

Awarded three Second Prizes and four Third Prizes for Military Science and Technology Progress.

Awarded the honorary title of “Chinese College of Interventionalists(CCI) Master Interventionalist”

Led multiple national and provincial/ministerial scientific research projects, including two projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and two projects funded by the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province.

In the pioneering development of interventional medicine in China, Zhang Jinshan has been an indispensable founder and leading figure. As China’s first overseas-trained doctoral graduate in radiological medicine, he returned to China in the 1980s after completing his studies abroad and introduced cutting-edge international interventional technologies to the country. Over more than four decades of dedicated practice and research, he has helped propel Chinese interventional medicine from its infancy to a position at the forefront of the global field through his exceptional clinical expertise and profound academic accomplishments.

Professor Zhang Jinshan has long been dedicated to the field of medical imaging and has developed distinctive expertise in selective and superselective interventional diagnosis and treatment for solid tumors such as liver cancer, demonstrating exceptional technical proficiency and profound academic accomplishment. Beginning in the 1990s, he led his team in pioneering the clinical application and research of TIPSS and B-ORTO in China, filling major gaps in the domestic field and opening new paths for the interventional management of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis. In addition, he has made groundbreaking contributions to the interventional diagnosis and treatment of peripheral vascular diseases, as well as to preoperative embolization for spinal tumors.

In the field of liver cancer treatment, Professor Zhang Jinshan not only led the development of standardized treatment protocols for liver cancer but also pioneered Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization with temporary Hepatic Vein Thrombosis (TACE-THVO) for primary liver cancer, bringing the efficacy of interventional therapy to a new level. In recognition of his outstanding clinical and scientific contributions, he was awarded the honorary title of “Chinese Master of Interventional Radiology” at the 2019 annual conference of the Chinese College of Interventionalists.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is not only a master clinician but also a driving force in the development of the discipline and a dedicated mentor in talent cultivation. He led his team in establishing one of China’s premier interventional therapy centers. As a doctoral supervisor, he has trained a large number of outstanding specialists and future leaders in interventional medicine, with many of his students and protégés now serving across the country. Academically, he has led multiple key national and military research projects, published more than 300 academic papers, and served as chief editor of three monographs, making remarkable contributions to the establishment of China’s academic framework for interventional medicine and the nationwide dissemination of its technologies.

From the laboratory to the operating room, and from academic podiums to grassroots hospitals, Professor Zhang Jinshan has consistently upheld the principles of “pioneering, innovation, pragmatism, and compassion". He has devoted his life to fulfilling the mission of a physician—relieving patients’ suffering through minimally invasive techniques and advancing the discipline through academic excellence—thereby establishing himself as a truly towering figure and one of the foremost authorities in the field of interventional medicine in China.

Professor Zhang Jinshan’s Academic Achievements

Professor Zhang Jinshan has achieved prolific academic accomplishments, having published over 300 academic papers covering areas such as interventional therapy for liver cancer, minimally invasive treatment of portal hypertension, interventional treatment of vascular diseases, and tumor ablation.

Selected Publications by Professor Zhang Jinshan

1. Zhang Jinshan, Wang Maoqiang. Experiments and Clinical Studies of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS). Chinese Journal of Radiology, 1993，27（6）：361-365.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is the first author. This is one of the early research papers in China that systematically elaborates on the TIPSS technique. Through animal experiments and clinical case analysis, it confirmed that TIPSS is a safe and effective minimally invasive method for treating portal hypertension and its complications, laying an important foundation for the promotion and application of this technique in China.

2.Zhang Jinshan, Li Huai. Clinical study on transcatheter arterial embolization with temporary hepatic vein occlusion for the treatment of primary liver cancer.Chinese Journal of Radiology, 1996，30（8）：521-524.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is the first author. He innovatively proposed the technique of "transcatheter arterial embolization with temporary hepatic vein occlusion." Clinical results demonstrated that this method can significantly increase the drug concentration within liver cancer lesions, reduce damage to normal liver tissue, and effectively improve the therapeutic outcomes for intermediate and advanced liver cancer, providing a novel strategy for the interventional treatment of liver cancer.

3. Zhang Jinshan, Wang Maoqiang, Li Huai. Interventional treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology, 1998，14（3）：189-191.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is the first author. This paper systematically summarizes the early experience in interventional treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome in China, elaborating in detail on the key operational points and therapeutic efficacy of techniques such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement. It confirms that interventional therapy is the preferred minimally invasive method for Budd-Chiari syndrome, promoting the standardized development of treatment for this disease.

4.Zhang Jinshan, Li Huai, Wang Maoqiang. Clinical value of superselective hepatic arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hypovascular liver cancer. Chinese Journal of Radiology, 2000，34（5）：335-337.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is the first author. Addressing the challenges in interventional treatment of hypovascular liver cancer, this paper explores the clinical efficacy of superselective hepatic arterial chemoembolization. The results indicate that this technique can precisely target the lesions and improve the treatment response rate, providing an important clinical basis for the interventional treatment of hypovascular liver cancer.

5. Zhang Jinshan, Li Huai, Wang Maoqiang. Interventional treatment of peripheral vascular stenosis and occlusion.Chinese Journal of Radiology, 2002，36（7）：612-614.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is the first author. This paper summarizes the interventional treatment experience of over 400 patients with peripheral vascular stenosis and occlusion, analyzing the indications and efficacy of techniques such as balloon angioplasty and stent placement. It confirms that interventional therapy is a safe and effective approach for peripheral vascular diseases, providing practical support for its clinical promotion.

6.Zhang Jinshan, Li Huai, Wang Maoqiang. Clinical application of CT-guided percutaneous puncture ablation in the treatment of abdominal tumors. Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology, 2004，20（9）：1395-1397.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is the first author. This paper explores the application value of CT-guided percutaneous puncture techniques such as radiofrequency ablation and chemical ablation in the treatment of abdominal tumors. The clinical results show that this method is minimally invasive with reliable efficacy, offering a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with inoperable abdominal tumors.

7.Zhang Jinshan, Wang Maoqiang, Li Huai. Advances in the application of interventional therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Chinese Journal of Radiology, 2006，40（8）：876-878.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is the corresponding author. This paper systematically reviews the cutting-edge advances in interventional therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia, including the principles, procedures, and efficacy of techniques such as prostatic artery embolization and stent placement, providing new insights for the minimally invasive treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

8.Zhang Jinshan, Li Huai, Wang Maoqiang. Discussion on the standardization of interventional therapy for liver cancer. Chinese Journal of Practical Surgery, 2008，28（10）：856-858.

Professor Zhang Jinshan is the corresponding author. Drawing on years of clinical experience and research findings, he led the discussion on standardized protocols for interventional therapy of liver cancer, covering key aspects such as preoperative assessment, treatment modality selection, and postoperative management, providing important references for the formulation of clinical guidelines for interventional therapy of liver cancer in China.

Professor Zhang Jinshan co-authored monographs

1. Interventional Radiology (People's Military Medical Press, 1995): The first monograph in China to systematically discuss the theories and techniques of interventional radiology. It comprehensively elaborates on the interventional diagnosis and treatment system for tumors, vascular diseases, and non-vascular diseases, becoming a classic essential textbook for interventional physicians in China.

2.Interventional Therapy for Liver Cancer (People's Health Press, 2001): Focusing on minimally invasive interventions for liver cancer, this book systematically summarizes techniques such as TACE, ablation, and vascular intervention, refines operational standards and the prevention and management of complications, and promotes the standardization of interventional therapy for liver cancer.

3.Interventional Treatment of Portal Hypertension (Science Press, 2005): This book systematically elaborates on minimally invasive techniques for portal hypertension, such as TIPSS and B-ORTO, covering experimental research, clinical procedures, long-term follow-up, and efficacy evaluation, filling the gap in monographs on interventional treatment of portal hypertension in China.

Professor Zhang Jinshan’s Research project

1.The National "Eighth Five-Year Plan" Scientific and Technological Key Project—Clinical and Basic Research on Comprehensive Interventional Therapy for Liver Cancer (Project Leader): This project systematically explored multimodal interventional strategies for liver cancer, established the core regimen of superselective TACE combined with local ablation, and significantly improved the therapeutic outcomes for intermediate and advanced liver cancer.

2.The Military "Ninth Five-Year Plan" Key Medical Scientific Research Project—Standardized Research on TIPSS for the Treatment of Portal Hypertension (Project Leader): This project formulated China's first operational standards and postoperative management guidelines for TIPSS, reduced the incidence of complications, and promoted the popularization of this technique throughout the military and across the country.

3.National Natural Science Foundation of China Project — Research on the Mechanism of Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer Using Hepatic Vein Occlusion Combined with Chemoembolization (Project Leader): This project revealed the synergistic enhancement mechanisms of the innovative technique at the levels of hemodynamics, drug metabolism, and the tumor microenvironment, providing theoretical support for precision interventional therapy of liver cancer.

4.Military Clinical High-Tech Major Project-Establishment and Clinical Application of the Interventional Treatment Technology System for Complex Vascular Diseases (Project Leader): This project overcame interventional challenges in complex lesions such as Budd-Chiari syndrome, peripheral vascular occlusion, and vascular malformations, forming a complete technical system that has been promoted and applied widely.

Dr. Cesar Levano Linares specializes in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, performing robotic low anterior resections with precision. PhD in Medicine and Surgery from Autonomous University of Madrid.

• Specialist in General and Digestive System Surgery
• Trained in laparoscopic surgery at Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg
• Holds European Accreditation in Laparoscopic Surgery by EACCME
• Expertise in converting endoscopic surgeries to laparoscopic procedures

Dr. Julio García Aguilar is a surgical oncologist and colorectal surgeon at Publio Cordón Memorial Hospital in Madrid. He treats colon and rectal cancers using robotic surgery. Dr. García Aguilar performs procedures including total robotic mesorectumectomy and robotic low anterior resection (LAR).

He works at a facility accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). The clinic also holds accreditation from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Dr. García Aguilar works with a team of over 100 specialists at this Madrid hospital.

Prof. Dr. Gül Alço is a radiation oncologist with about 27 years of experience. She treats breast, lung, prostate, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, central nervous system, head and neck, soft tissue, and bone cancers with radiotherapy.

Her expertise includes adaptive radiotherapy and radiosurgery. She uses advanced radiation techniques to provide personalized, evidence-based care in a multidisciplinary, patient-centered setting.

Prof. Dr. Abdullah Sakin is a professor of medical oncology. He treats solid tumors, including lung, breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecologic, head and neck cancers, and melanoma.

He delivers personalized, evidence-based care. His treatments include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and precision oncology. He has authored more than 200 scientific publications and takes part in international clinical research. This work advances patient-centered cancer care.

Dr. Przemyslaw Ciesielski is a general surgeon. He completed his specialization in 2008. He graduated from the Medical University of Warsaw in 1999. He earned his Doctor of Medical Sciences degree in 2010. His dissertation assessed clinical and rectoscopic examinations for diagnosing colorectal disease in patients at increased risk of colorectal cancer.

His proctology and colorectal training includes formal courses and fellowships. He completed Proctology Courses at St. Rota Hospital in Vercelli in 2021 and 2022, and in Cologne in 2016. He held clinical fellowships in General Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna in 2014 and at the University of Magdeburg in 2015. He undertook multiple fellowships at the Proctology Department, Solec Hospital in Warsaw from 2005 to 2013. He attended advanced colorectal surgery workshops in Poznan and Lodz. He also completed St Mark’s Hospital courses in London, including Frontiers in Colorectal Diseases and the Advanced Colorectal Workshop.

Dr. Paweł Grochowicz, MD, PhD, is a proctologist with almost 40 years of experience. He works at the Warsaw Proctology Center at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He treats hemorrhoids, anal fistulas and abscesses, anal fissures, fecal incontinence, and pilonidal cysts. He also performs colonoscopy and colorectal polypectomy.

From 1979 to 2016 he worked at the Proctology Unit, Solec Hospital, a reference center and the only one of its kind in Poland. Since 2016 he has worked at the Warsaw Proctology Center at St. Elizabeth Hospital. There he develops and implements new methods and runs diagnostic, rehabilitation, research, and teaching work. The center is the headquarters of the Polish Coloproctology Club.

Academic and research roles: Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polish Academy of Sciences (1979–1997). DAAD scholar at LMU Munich (1983–1984). John Hunter Hospital, University of Newcastle, Australia (1989–1996). There he was Director of the Transplant Research Unit and Principal Scientific Officer (1991–1996).