Partnership to advance minimally invasive surgery through expert-led training
August 26, 2025 – Charlotte, NC and Los Angeles, Calif.– IRCAD North America (IRCAD NA) has partnered with the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) to advance surgical training and innovation. In this collaboration between the two organizations, SAGES will contribute to curriculum development, specialized workshops and joint research initiatives at the IRCAD NA facility in Charlotte, N.C., contributing to top-tier education for surgeons at all levels. SAGES is IRCAD NA’s first strategic professional society partner.
“Partnering with SAGES will not only broaden the reach of our curriculum but also deepen the academic mission of IRCAD North America,” said Dr. Dionisios Vrochides, executive director of IRCAD NA and professor of transplant surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “By integrating their expertise and innovative perspectives, we will elevate the standards of surgical education and cultivate a culture of continuous learning and excellence for surgeons worldwide.”
Located at “The Pearl,” Charlotte’s new innovation district, IRCAD NA will attract thousands of surgeons from across the globe for immersive education in cutting-edge surgical techniques and technologies. Founded in 1994 in Strasbourg, France, IRCAD is renowned for its global surgical education centers. IRCAD NA will open as the North American headquarters in September 2025, offering dozens of courses each year across general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery, urology, gynecology, and endoscopy.
The partnership between SAGES and IRCAD NA will foster hands-on learning and skill enhancement in areas like laparoscopy, robotics and AI-driven procedures. SAGES will be represented on the IRCAD NA Scientific Committee by Dr. Christopher Schlachta.
“IRCAD North America and SAGES share a core mission to educate, innovate, and collaborate to improve patient care, making this a natural and synergistic partnership,” said Dr. Brent Matthews, President of SAGES and Professor and Chair of Surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “SAGES is honored to enter into a strategic partnership with IRCAD North America to collectively shape the future of surgery.”
“This partnership between IRCAD North America and SAGES marks a significant milestone in surgical education,” said Dr. Rasu Shrestha, president of the Board at IRCAD NA and EVP & chief innovation and commercialization officer at Advocate Health. “By joining forces with SAGES and its national community of surgeons, we are not only expanding access to transformative experiential learning and innovative industry partnerships, but also building programs with the collective expertise of our two leading organizations.”
About SAGES
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is a leading surgical society representing a global community of more than 7,000 surgeons who bring minimal access surgery and emerging techniques to patients worldwide. SAGES’ mission is to innovate, educate, and collaborate to improve patient care, with a vision of reimagining surgical care for a healthier world. For more information, visit https://www.sages.org.
About IRCAD North America
IRCAD North America is a state-of-the-art surgical training and research center in Charlotte, North Carolina, dedicated to advancing minimally invasive and robotic surgery. As the newest branch of the globally renowned IRCAD network, we bring world-class expertise, innovative technology, and hands-on training to surgeons and healthcare professionals across the world. Our strategic collaborations with leading industry partners, institutions, and professional societies drive meaningful advancements in healthcare, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We will shape the future of surgery.
IRCAD North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Advocate Health and a part of The Pearl innovation district, Charlotte’s transformative hub for healthcare innovation and scientific advancement. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, IRCAD North America empowers local, national, and international investigators to perform and excel in rapid cycle research and development, minimizing the time medical innovation takes to move from bench to bedside. Patient outcomes will improve worldwide as our attendees take their experiences back to their home institutions. To learn more, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn.