Board of Directors
Prof. Dr. Emre BALIK
(President)
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Emre Balık was born in 1973 in Gaziantep. He graduated from Gaziantep Anatolian High School in 1991 and from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine in 1997. He completed his general surgery specialty education again at Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine between 1997 and 2002.
Between 2004 and 2005, he worked in the field of minimally invasive surgery at Columbia University, School of Medicine, in the colorectal surgery department. Between 2002 and 2010, he worked as a research assistant in the Department of General Surgery at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine and in 2010 he earned the title of associate professor.
In 2013, he passed the European Coloproctology proficiency exam. Working as a faculty member at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine until August 2014, Emre Balık has been working as a lecturer at Koç University School of Medicine, Department of General Surgery as of August 2014.
Prof. Dr. Aras Emre CANDA
(Vice President and Virtual Academy Supervisor)
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Aras Emre Canda was born in Izmir, Türkiye in 1976. He graduated from Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine in 2000. After receiving his General Surgery Specialization training at the same institution in 2006, he continued his studies on treating colon, rectum, and anus diseases and peritoneal surface malignancies.
He became Assistant Professor in 2010 and Associate Professor in 2012 at Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, where his academic and working life continues. He was appointed as a Professor in 2018 at the same institution. He has been serving in his private practice clinic since 2020.
At the end of the exam held by the Turkish Surgical Association in 2006, he was entitled to receive the 'Turkish Surgery Competence Certificate'.
In 2013, he completed the European Board of Surgical Qualification exam and received the title of Colorectal Surgery Specialist (European Colorectal Surgery Specialist Member).
He has participated in many national and international congresses, symposiums, and courses as a guest speaker and panelist. His academic studies have been published in many national and international journals.
Prof. Dr. Cihangir AKYOL
(Secretary and Competency Board Representative)
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Prof. Dr. Cihangir Akyol was born in Yozgat, Türkiye, in 1976. He graduated from Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in 2002 and completed his General Surgery residency between 2003 and 2008 at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, where he has continued his academic career.
In 2014, he was awarded an international training scholarship by the Turkish Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery and completed advanced clinical and academic training at the Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease Institute, Department of Colorectal Surgery, focusing on inflammatory bowel disease and minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery. In the same year, he successfully obtained the title of Associate Professor (2014).
In 2016, Prof. Dr. Akyol passed the European Board of Coloproctology Examination in Italy and was awarded the FEBS-Coloproctology diploma. In 2017, he received the FASCRS title from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). He was promoted to Professor of General Surgery in 2022 at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine.
Prof. Dr. Akyol actively serves in several national and international professional bodies, including the Education Committee of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP), the EBSQ-Coloproctology Examination Committee, and the ASCRS Continuing Education Committee. He has also held major leadership roles such as Chair of the Turkish Surgical Society Examination Committee and Secretary of the Proficiency Board of the Turkish Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery. In 2024, he was elected as a Board Member of the Turkish Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery.
He has organized numerous national and international educational workshops in colorectal surgery and continues to serve as faculty in courses focusing on minimally invasive surgery, endoluminal surgery, and cadaveric anatomy–based surgical training.
Prof. Dr. Akyol has published extensively in leading national and international peer-reviewed journals and serves as a reviewer for several scientific journals. His main areas of interest include colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer biology, ERAS protocols, minimally invasive surgery, surgical anatomy, and surgical education.
Prof. Dr. Metin KESKİN
(Treasurer)
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Metin Keskin was born in Istanbul in 1978. He began his medical education in 1996 and graduated from Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in 2002. Between 2002 and 2008, he completed his residency training in General Surgery at Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine.
After completing his compulsory public service and military duty, he started working as a chief resident in the Department of General Surgery at Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in 2012. Between 2014 and 2015, he worked for one year as an international research fellow in colorectal cancer under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Julio Garcia-Aguilar at the Department of Colorectal Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the United States.
He was awarded the title of Associate Professor in 2017 and Professor in 2023. He currently continues to serve as a faculty member in the Department of General Surgery at Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. He is married and has one child.
Prof. Dr. Sezai LEVENTOĞLU
(ESCP and International Relations)
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Sezai Leventoglu, MD, is consultant of endoscopy, proctology and stomatherapy units at Gazi University School of Medicine. He is a Professor of Surgery at Gazi University School of Medicine.
Dr. Leventoglu specializes in treating patients with benign anorectal disease (especially fistula ani), pelvic floor disorders, colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. He performs minimally invasive procedures such as robotic and laparoscopic colorectal resections, pelvic floor recostructions, transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) and transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS). He has a special interest in complex perianal fistulas such as horseshoe fistula and rectovaginal fistula. Dr. Leventoglu is also a national expert in the surgical management of benign anorectal disease such as complex anal fistula (horseshoe fistula), anal fissure, hemorrhoidal disease, and pelvic floor disorders such as fecal incontinence, rectal prolapse and constipation.
Dr. Leventoglu has published extensively in academic research journals on colorectal surgery. He is the co-editor of the book Anorectal Region Benign Diseases (on behalf of The Turkish Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery) published in 2011. He lectures both locally and internationally on invited topics including benign anorectal disease, pelvic floor disorders, ulcerative and Crohn's colitis, and rectal cancer.
In addition, he is a member of numerous surgical societies including the Turkish Surgery Association (TSA), a The Turkish Society of Colon and Rectum Surgery (TKRCD), the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP), the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and International Society University Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ISUCRS).
Prof. Dr. Fahrettin ACAR
(Assistant School and Education Comitte Chair)
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After graduating from Konya Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine in 1994, Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Acar completed his General Surgery Specialization training in Selcuk University Meram Medical Faculty General Surgery Service between 1994-2004. He was appointed to Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine as Assistant Professor in 2008 and received the title of Associate Professor in 2015.
In 2019, he received training on Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Colorectal Surgery Department. He received the title of Professor in the field of General Surgery in 2020 and still continues to work as a General Surgery Faculty Member at Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine.
Prof. Dr. İlknur ERENLER BAYRAKTAR
(Website and Social Media Supervisor)
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Professor İlknur Erenler Bayraktar, MD, PhD, born in Erzurum in 1976, graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2000. She completed her residency training in General Surgery at the Department of General Surgery, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, in 2007.
In 2005, she successfully passed all steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and obtained ECFMG Certification. Between 2007 and 2009, she fulfilled her compulsory service at Sivas Şarkışla State Hospital. From 2010 to 2011, after successfully passing the chief residency (senior residency) examination, she worked at Derince Training and Research Hospital.
In 2010, she passed the Turkish Surgical Board Examination organized by the Turkish Surgical Association and was awarded the Turkish Board of Surgery Certification. In 2012, she worked as an observer at the Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease Institute, Department of Colorectal Surgery, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
She was appointed Associate Professor at Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University in 2014 and promoted to Professor at Demiroğlu Bilim University in 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, she served as Head of the Department of General Surgery at Demiroğlu Bilim University. In 2015, she completed an observership at the Department of General Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Germany.
In 2021, she successfully passed the European Board of Surgery Qualification in Coloproctology (EBSQ-C) and obtained certification in coloproctology. She has been a member of the Turkish Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery (TSCRS) since 2006 and is also a member of several national and international surgical societies. Between 2021 and 2025, she served as Associate Editor of the Turkish Journal of Colorectal Disease. Since 2025, she has been providing clinical services at her private practice.
Prof. Dr. Erman AYTAÇ
(Journal Supervisor)
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Prof. Dr. Erman Aytaç was born in 1982 in Saray, Tekirdağ, Türkiye. He is a graduate of Kabataş Erkek Lisesi and completed his medical education and general surgery residency at İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2012.
Between 2011 and 2016, he completed advanced fellowship training in Colorectal Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic (Ohio, USA), gaining experience in inflammatory bowel disease, advanced gastrointestinal cancer surgery, and minimally invasive techniques, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
He served as Chief of the General Surgery Clinic at Acıbadem Atakent Hospital (2020–2025) and as Director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Unit (2023–2025). He is currently practicing at Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital and serves as Head of the Department of General Surgery at İstanbul Arel University Faculty of Medicine.
Prof. Dr. Aytaç has authored more than 300 scientific publications, received over 8,000 citations, and has an H-index of 43. He is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Colorectal Disease and holds active roles in several national and international professional societies, including the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS).
Prof. Dr. İsmail Cem ERAY
(Public Relations and Education Comitte Chair)
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İsmail Cem Eray was born in 1975 in Amasya, graduated from Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine in 2000. Between 2000 and 2001, he worked as a general practitioner in Sivas–Şarkışla, and between 2001 and 2002, he served as a research assistant in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Trakya University Faculty of Medicine.
He completed his residency training in General Surgery at Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery in 2009. Following the completion of his compulsory service at İslahiye State Hospital and his military service at Samsun Military Hospital, he began working in 2012 as a General Surgery Specialist at Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery. In 2016, he successfully passed the European Board of Surgery Qualification in Coloproctology (EBSQ-C) and obtained certification in coloproctology.
In 2018, he worked as an observer in the Coloproctology Unit of the Department of General Surgery at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen–Nürnberg, Germany. He was appointed as Associate Professor in 2020. He is currently working as a faculty member in the Department of General Surgery at Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine. He is married and has two children.