Brent Matthews Elected to SAGES Presidency

The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) has a new leader. The organization recently elected Dr. Brent Matthews as its 2025-26 president.

Dr. Matthews is professor and chair of Surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Surgeon-in-Chief for Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. He is Enterprise Senior Vice President for Surgical Services, Advocate Health Southeast Region, and also chair of the Scientific Committee for IRCAD North America.

A SAGES member since 1998, Dr. Matthews has served on the SAGES board since 2014 and Executive Committee since 2020. He also chaired the Resident and Fellow Training Committee, chaired the Hernia Committee, and chaired the Bylaws Committee, and was SAGES’ representative to the Fellowship Council. Dr. Matthews currently co-chairs the Governance Committee. He’s served on multiple SAGES committees, including Acute Care Surgery, Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery, Fundamental of Endoscopic Surgery, Global Affairs, Program, Finance, Awards, and Nominating.

Dr. Matthews is past president of the Americas Hernia Society, president-elect for the Fellowship Council and a director of the General Surgery Board for the American Board of Surgery. He is a founding member of ERAS Society, USA chapter, and the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative.

“SAGES is actively shaping the future of patient care through innovations like digital and robotic assisted surgery, artificial intelligence, data science, telepresence, and advanced visualization, while simultaneously advocating for our patients and surgeons and providing education in emerging and state-of-the art technologies,” Dr. Matthews said. “SAGES is blessed with many dedicated surgeon volunteers who care deeply about surgery and promote a collaborative environment to improve patient care. It’s an honor to be able to serve as the next President of SAGES.” 

The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is a surgical society representing a global community of more than 7,500 surgeons bringing minimal access surgery and emerging techniques to patients worldwide. SAGES’ aims to innovate, educate, and collaborate to improve patient care, and reimagine surgical care.