Dr. Andranik Aleksanyan, MD, PhD, is a general surgeon and a professor at the Department of Surgery No. 1 of Yerevan State Medical University. He graduated from the Faculty of General Medicine at YSMU, followed by a clinical residency in general surgery. He has dedicated his scientific work to improving the surgical treatment of colon cancer. He has authored 24 scientific papers, four of which have an impact factor and were published in the last five years. Andranik Aleksanyan is a member of the Armenian Association of Surgeons and the European Association of Surgeons.

Dr. Sahakian is the Director of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy at the Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California. He is a board-certified gastroenterologist with specialized training in advanced endoscopic techniques and medical treatment of complex biliary and pancreatic disorders. He completed his gastroenterology fellowship at Yale University, where he was awarded the Samuel Kushlan award in 2012 as the most outstanding clinical fellow of his class. After his gastroenterology fellowship, Dr. Sahakian spent an additional year at Yale to complete his advanced endoscopy fellowship. During this time, he trained with renowned experts in the field, gaining extensive experience in advanced endoscopic procedures, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Dr. Sahakian also has a special interest in submucosal 3^rd space endoscopy and endoscopic removal of mucosal tumors of the GI tract. He completed a one-month fellowship at the National Cancer Center in Japan to acquire specialized training in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD), a technique used to remove large superficial gastrointestinal tumors in a minimally invasive manner. He then furthered his training to include esophageal POEM, gastric POEM, and Zenker’s diverticulectomy and other third space techniques. His research interests include ESD/EMR resection of colon polyps, per oral endoscopic myotomy, and use of artificial intelligence in gastroenterology.

Dr. Aramayis Galumyan, MD is an interventional radiologist. He is recognized for his pioneering contributions to Non-vascular Interventional Radiology and Interventional Oncology in Armenia. He is the founder of the Interventional Radiology Center in Armenia. With a deep expertise in radiofrequency ablation of tumors and thyroid nodules, Dr. Galumyan is at the forefront of minimally invasive procedures for the biliary system, significantly advancing the treatment of complex medical conditions. Dr. Galumyan began his education at Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, earning his degree in General Medicine. He then pursued postgraduate training in General Surgery and Interventional Radiology at Kuban State Medical University in the Russian Federation, where he further specialized in advanced techniques. His expertise was further refined through training at the National Oncology Center and the A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical and Biophysical Center in Moscow, focusing on liver and biliary surgery, coloproctology, and transplantology.

Dr. Armen Aboulian, MD is board certified in General and Colorectal Surgery. He completed his residency at University of California-Harbor program and colorectal fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. He currently enjoys a busy cancer and inflammatory bowel disease practice out of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. His research interests lie in outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures and quality improvement. He is also currently involved in international colorectal cancer screening programs.

Dr. Armen C. Gregorian, MD, FACS, FARCS is an experienced surgeon and educator specializing in general, colon, and rectal surgery. He currently serves as the Chair of Surgery at PIH Health Physicians, where he has been a faculty member since 2012. Dr. Gregorian's extensive experience includes serving as Chief of the Department of Surgery, and he has dedicated his time to medical missionary work in underdeveloped countries, teaching minimally invasive surgery.He holds a medical degree from the Rosalind Franklin School of Science and Medicine and completed a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Brown University. Dr. Gregorian is also recognized for his research, with publications and presentations focused on topics such as mesenteric angiography and localizing rectal cancer.

Dr. Armenuhi Galstyan, MD, PhD, is an oncologist-radiologist and the Head of the Diagnostic Department at the V.A. Fanarjyan National Oncology Center in Yerevan. She received her medical degree at Yerevan State Medical University.

Dr. Avetik Petrosyan, MD is a surgeon at the Abdominal Surgery and Endoscopy Department of the National Oncological Center in Yerevan, Armenia. He specializes in laparoscopic abdominal procedures, with a focus on colorectal, upper GI, and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgeries. With over five years of experience at the Center and prior service at Abovyan Medical Center, Dr. Petrosyan has extensive expertise in both elective and emergency surgical care, including acute cases and trauma management.

Dr. Evgeny D. Fedorov, MD, PhD is Professor of Abdominal Surgery, Gastroenterology, and Digestive Endoscopy at the N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University and Clinical Head of the Endoscopy Department at Moscow University Hospital No. 31. He serves as Vice-President of the Russian Endoscopy Society and advisor to the Ministry of Health of Russia. Prof. Fedorov has authored over 190 scientific publications and books, organized Russia’s first Elective Endoscopy Course and Training Center, and received multiple national awards, including the Russian Endoscopic Society’s Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to endoscopy. His research focuses on advanced interventional endoscopic methods and clinical applications of therapeutic ERCP, cholangio-pancreatoscopy, and complex enteroscopy and colonoscopy.

Dr. Gennaro D. LaBella, MD, is an attending surgeon at Bethesda North Hospital and faculty member of the TriHealth General Surgery Residency Program in Cincinnati, Ohio. He specializes in colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, perineal proctology, fecal incontinence, and minimally invasive surgery, including robotic and laparoscopic approaches. Board-certified in both General Surgery and Colon & Rectal Surgery, Dr. LaBella is widely recognized for his commitment to resident education and has been named a Cincinnati “Top Doctor” for over a decade.

Dr. Geokchyan-Kzhdryan, MD, PhD, is an Oncologist / Chemotherapist, Chief Oncologist of Yerevan city, Head of Department of Oncology of EREBOUNI Medical Center. Dr. Haykuhi Geokchyan-Kzhdryan carries out treatment of patients with hard tumors of CNS, breast, maxillofacial region, respiration system, urinary-genital system, gastrointestinal tract, bone, neuroendocrine systems, melanomas, soft tissue, and gynecological oncologic diseases. She is an active member of MASCC, ESMO, ESGO, and ASCO. Dr. Gyokchyan is the author of over 40 scientific papers and the book Nutrition and Cancer.

Dr. Harry R. Aslanian, MD, FASGE is a Professor of Medicine in the Section of Digestive Diseases at Yale School of Medicine, where he serves as Director of Endoscopic Ultrasound and the Yale Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Program. Dr. Aslanian specializes in advanced therapeutic endoscopy, with expertise in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), ERCP, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and complex polypectomy. His clinical focus includes pancreaticobiliary disorders, Barrett’s esophagus, early GI cancers, and difficult colonoscopy. Dr. Aslanian is a graduate of Brown University and its medical school, completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic and gastroenterology fellowship and advanced endoscopy fellowship at Yale.

Dr. Julia Ismael, MD, MPH, is a physician with a focus on cancer prevention, population screening, and early diagnosis strategies in gastrointestinal malignancies. Her work centers on improving access to high-quality colorectal cancer screening, optimizing risk-stratified pathways, and translating evidence into practice and policy. She has participated in multidisciplinary initiatives and international forums addressing early detection and screening program design. At the 4th International Medical Conference on Colon Cancer, she will present on “Challenges in early diagnosis: Is it necessary? To change the screening age?”, highlighting practical considerations for implementing age-lowered screening, risk-based approaches, and program quality assurance in diverse health systems.

Dr. Karine Soghomonyan, MD, is a clinical oncologist at the National Center of Oncology after V.A. Fanarjian in Yerevan, Armenia. She received her M.D. from Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) and completed her residency in General Oncology at the same institution. Her earlier training included surgical oncology and interventional radiology at ArtMed Medical and Rehabilitation Centre. Dr. Soghomonyan is an active member of several professional societies, including the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the Armenian Association of Hematology and Oncology, the Armenian Psycho-Oncology Association, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). She has participated in multiple international conferences, masterclasses, and preceptorships across Europe and the U.S., with particular focus on breast, gastric, brain, gynecological, and lung cancers.

Dr. Kevork Kazanjian, MD is a colon and rectal surgeon at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, with more than 20 years of clinical experience. He earned his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed advanced training in colorectal surgery. Dr. Kazanjian specializes in the surgical management of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), hemorrhoids, and complex anorectal disorders. Widely respected by patients and colleagues alike, he is recognized for his expertise in colonoscopy and advanced colorectal procedures.

Dr. Levon Grigoryan, MD, general surgeon with primary clinical interests in endoscopy, minimally invasive oncocoloproctology, herniology and bariatry, also a lecturer at Yerevan State Medical University department of General Surgery. After graduating from the Yerevan State Medical University he went on to complete his clinical residency at the St.Petersburg Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (Russia). Dr Grigoryan has undergone numerous trainings since 2004 in abdominal MIS. He is actively involved in bariatric surgery and the introduction and development of minimally invasive hernia treatment methods. Since 2015, undergoing trainings with such renowned surgeons as Professors P.Zharkov, Amjad Parvaiz, Richard Hild, Alexei Karachun and actively introducing MIS treatment methods of colorectal cancer in his practice. Currently he is completing his residency in oncology at National Institute of Health (Armenia) and is mainly engaged in the introduction and development of new approaches to minimally invasive surgery for GI cancer, obesity and hernia surgery field. Within the framework of introduction and popularization of minimally invasive hernia treatment methods Dr Levon Grigoryan has participated in the organization of the first international hernia conference in Armenia organized by the International Hernia Collaboration (IHC Armenia 2019), during which he also participated as the faculty member and speaker and performed surgeries, which were broadcasted live to the target audience. Dr Grigoryan is a member of the European Society of Coloproctology, Russian Society of Colorectal Surgeons, European Hernia Society and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).

Dr. Linda Rabeneck, a gastroenterologist, physician scientist, and health care executive, is former Vice President, Prevention and Cancer Control at Cancer Care Ontario (Ontario Health). She is Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and Senior Scientist at IC/ES in Toronto. Dr. Rabeneck received her medical degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC). She completed post-graduate training in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UBC and the University of Toronto. She received her Master’s degree in Public Health from Yale University, where she trained as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. Dr. Rabeneck is a leader in health services research and evidence-based health policy. She played a leadership role in launching ColonCancerCheck in Ontario, Canada’s first organized, province-wide colorectal cancer screening program. She is the author of over 300 peer reviewed publications and has made critical research findings that shaped our understanding of the quality and effectiveness of cancer screening. Dr. Rabeneck is a past President of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS), recipient of the American College of Gastroenterology’s Berk/Fise Clinical Achievement Award, UBC’s Medical Alumni Association Wallace Wilson Leadership Award, the American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice Section Research Mentor Award, and the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Visiting Research Professor Award. In 2024 Dr. Rabeneck was appointed Member of the Order of Canada.

Dr. Rodrigo Jover Martinez, MD, PhD, is a gastroenterologist with over 25 years of experience in digestive diseases. He specializes in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, including gastroscopy and colonoscopy, with particular expertise in colorectal and colon cancer, obesity, and irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Jover earned his medical degree and PhD in Medicine from the University of Alicante. He currently practices at Vithas Hospital and serves as a professor at Miguel Hernández University of Elche. He is the author of more than 100 publications in international journals.

Dr. Tatul Saghatelyan, MD, PhD is a distinguished radiation oncologist with over 20 years of professional experience. He is nationally recognized for his contributions to the field of radiation oncology in Armenia. Dr. Saghatelyan completed his medical studies at Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), graduating with honors, and subsequently completed his residency in oncology and radiotherapy at the National Institute of Health (NIH) of Armenia, as well as 2 long-term IAEA fellowships in radiation therapy. Dr. Saghatelyan was appointed Head of the Radiation Oncology Department at the National Center of Oncology (NCO) in Yerevan, where he has successfully led the department for the last nine years. Under his leadership, the department has advanced in implementing new radiotherapy techniques and improving patient care standards. Dr. Saghatelyan’s expertise is further recognized through his role as the National Counterpart for multiple IAEA Technical Cooperation projects. He serves as the Vice-Chair of the Scientific Council at NCO and is an expert member of Armenia's National Cancer Control Board. Dr. Saghatelyan has been a dedicated faculty member at YSMU since 2009, contributing to the training and education of future oncologists. He has participated in various national and international scientific events as an invited lecturer, expert, and faculty member.

Dr. Vladimir Nahapetyan, MD is an endoscopist at the National Centre of Oncology named after V.A. Fanarjyan in Yerevan, Armenia. He previously practiced as a general surgeon at Elite-Med Medical Center and as a specialist at Erebuni Medical Centre. Dr. Nahapetyan earned his medical degree and completed his residency in general surgery at Yerevan State Medical University, where he also undertook professional training in endoscopy.