Special Interview with Prof. Lee Swanström: Past president of SAGES & Pioneer in Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery

On July 2, 2025, the Editorial Office of Mini-invasive Surgery (MIS, ISSN: 2574-1225) had the honor of interviewing Prof. Lee Swanström, past president of SAGES, pioneer in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery, and Section Editor for Endoscopy at Mini-invasive Surgery.

Below are the details of the interview:

Q1. Your pioneering work in laparoscopic antireflux surgery has significantly advanced the field of minimally invasive surgery. How do you view the role of robotic surgery in antireflux procedures today? Do you believe it can truly surpass laparoscopy in this area?

Q2. As the founder of FLS, FSIE, and other key surgical education platforms, how do you envision the future of minimally invasive surgical training, especially with the growing integration of technologies such as AI and VR?

Q3. You were awarded the George Berci Lifetime Achievement Award by SAGES. What do you see as the future hot spots in the field of endoscopy?

Q4. Looking back on your remarkable career, what moment or accomplishment are you most proud of? Was there an experience that left a particularly deep impression on you?

Q5. Since stepping away from clinical practice, how have you continued to engage with and contribute to the field of surgery? What advice or insights would you like to share with the next generation of surgeons and innovators to help advance the specialty?

Profile:

Prof. Lee Swanström

Prof. Lee Swanström is an internationally renowned pioneer in minimally invasive surgery and one of the most innovative minds in modern surgical care. Widely regarded by his peers as “the greatest laparoscopic surgeon in the world,” Prof. Swanström is celebrated not only for his groundbreaking technical achievements but also for his visionary leadership and dedicated mentorship.

He is the Founder and President of the Foundation for Surgical Innovation and Education (FSIE) and serves as Chief Innovations Officer at the IHU Institute in Strasbourg, France. Prof. Swanström has held numerous key roles in the surgical community, including Past President of SAGES and Editor of Mastery of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgery.

Among his many “firsts,” he was one of the first in the U.S. to perform laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, laparoscopic Heller myotomy, laparoscopic esophagectomy, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (CBDE), and the first endoscopic pyloroplasty. He also founded the first Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship in 1993 and co-created the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) program.

As a clinical professor of surgery at Oregon Health & Science University and former department chair at Legacy Health System in Portland, Oregon, Prof. Swanström has trained and inspired generations of surgeons worldwide. Though he has officially retired from clinical practice, his influence continues through ongoing research, teaching, and innovation. His fearless pursuit of truly non-invasive surgical care continues to redefine the future of surgery.

Editor: Ivy Wang
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Mini-invasive Surgery