Biography for Dr. Santiago Horgan, SAGES 2013 Program Chair

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
Biography for Dr. Santiago Horgan, SAGES 2013 Program Chair
Current Academic Title: Professor of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health
System.
Current Hospital Title: Professor and Chief, Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery; Director of
the Center for the Future of Surgery; Founder of Bariatric and Metabolic Institute; Director
Minimally Invasive Surgery/Bariatric Fellowship
Professional Activities and Distinctions: Dr. Horgan is currently a member of the SAGES
Program and Development Committees and serves on the Board of Governors. He is one of the
Program Co-Chairs for the 2013 SAGES Annual Meeting in Baltimore. He is an internationally
recognized expert in esophageal, bariatric, robot-assisted surgery and the latest minimally
invasive surgical techniques.
Dr. Horgan performs bariatric and metabolic surgeries including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass,
and gastric banding. A specialist in minimally invasive surgical techniques, Dr. Horgan is skilled
in the use of the da Vinci robot system, which enables surgeons to perform even the most
complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision. Dr.
Horgan is also a pioneer in the emerging field of Natural Orifice Translumenal Surgery
(NOTES). As the director of UC San Diego's Center for the Future of Surgery, Dr. Horgan is
working with colleagues to advance these scarless techniques by investigating, developing,
testing, and teaching procedures that will revolutionize the field of surgery. To date, he has
performed more than 50+ NOTES procedures and is involved in continuing clinical trials. Dr.
Horgan is also a specialist in esophageal disorders, using minimally invasive procedures to treat
conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux, achalasia, esophageal cancer and Barrett's
esophagus.
Before he joined the UC San Diego's Department of Surgery as Professor of Clinical Surgery in
2006, Dr. Horgan was Director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotic Surgery
Department and Co-Director of the Swallowing Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He
was also Director of the Minimally Invasive Bariatric Center in Chicago. In 2005, he was named
one of America's Top Doctors by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Also in 2010 HealthLeaders’ list of

“People Who Make Healthcare Better,” as well as the 65 th edition of Who’s Who in America. He
has been published more than 118 times on a variety of surgical subjects.
Areas of Research and Publication: Over 150 publications in the area(s) of: Techniques in
Minimally Invasive Surgery, Outcomes of NOTES (natural orifice translumenal endoscopic
surgery), Bariatric Surgery, Robotic surgery and esophageal surgery.