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Meet the Executive… Willem Bemelman
 Professor Dr Willem Bemelman is ESCP's President in Waiting, Consultant in colorectal and minimal invasive surgery, and Lead of the colorectal group at the Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam.

Current position and hospital: Consultant in colorectal and minimal invasive surgery and lead of the colorectal group at the Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam

ESCP Executive role: President in Waiting

Main clinical and research interests: IBD, rectal cancer and complication surgery


My PhD was actually on esophageal surgery. During my training I was exposed to a lot of IBD and colorectal surgery which guided my surgical career in that direction. My first appointment as a consultant in Leiden was chair of benign gastrointestinal surgery which included a lot of IBD. This was a great opportunity to develop my laparoscopic skills, since at that time, laparoscopic surgery for cancer was still thought to be too risky. When I was appointed to the AMC in Amsterdam four years later, my task was the further implementation of laparoscopic surgery including in colorectal surgery. Apart from enjoying the colorectal subspecialty, it has proved a career opportunity.


Definitely operating, being in theatre.

In the Netherlands we do not have a formal colorectal society. For a number of years we have had a coloproctology working group. So, since the beginning of taking up colorectal surgery, I wanted to be involved in ESCP to contribute to the discussion, education and progression of colorectal surgery in Europe. This started with being a national representative.


Friendship, quality and reliability.

Observerships - see what and how different European surgeons do and use their knowledge to safely implement the learned techniques.


