Surgical innovation and sustainability to take focus at MedTech World Europe 2026 with LERSM workshop

MedTech World Europe 2026, taking place from 11 to 13 November at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, will feature a dedicated surgical workshop led by the Laparoscopic, Endoscopic and Robotics Society of Malta (LERSM).

Taking place on 12 and 13 November in Vassalli Hall, “Cutting Edge, Sustainable Futures” will bring surgeons, academics and healthcare professionals together to examine how surgical practice is evolving through technology, innovation and more sustainable approaches. The two-day workshop forms part of the wider MedTech World Europe 2026 programme, alongside the event’s conference sessions, exhibition and networking opportunities.

The LERSM-led programme will explore topics including AI-guided operating theatres, robotic platforms, telesurgery, image-enhanced surgery and sustainable surgical practice, while also dedicating a session to the role and experiences of women in surgery.

A global faculty in Valletta

The workshop will bring together an international faculty from institutions and organisations including:

• Humanitas University / Humanitas Research Hospital
• IRCAD France
• Delft University of Technology
• Mater Dei Hospital and the University of Malta School of Medicine
• Orlando Health / University of Central Florida
• Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland
• Vilnius University
• Mount Sinai Health System, New York
• Anglia Ruskin University
• Sidelight
• MedicaGP
• Association of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland
• European Association of Endoscopic Surgery

Day one: sustainability, endoscopy and women in surgery

The first day of the LERSM workshop on 12 November opens with an introductory talk from Hon. Mr Predrag Andrejevic, MD, FACS, FRCSI, FEBS/MIS, Consultant General, Colorectal, Emergency and Metabolic Surgeon at Mater Dei Hospital and Consultant at St. James Hospital, Malta. Opening remarks follow, and the morning then moves to a keynote lecture from Dr Patricia Sylla, System Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, New York. Her talk, Environmental Sustainability in Surgical Practice: A Call for Action, will examine the environmental impact of surgical practice and the need for change.

The morning programme continues with sessions on introducing sustainability locally through Surgery Without Footprints, the technologies expected to influence advanced endoscopy in Advanced Endoscopy 2035, and the evolution of surgical innovation over an experienced surgeon’s career, followed by a panel discussion.

The second session focuses on endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) with fundal ablation, followed by a Meet the Experts lunch.

The afternoon turns to the experiences of women in surgery with Women at the Table: Redesigning Surgical Culture for the Next Era. The session will address mentorship and sponsorship, personal career pathways, the transition to practice, the changing role of women in surgery and the perspective of a woman trainee navigating surgical training.

Day two: innovation for impact

The second day, 13 November, opens with Innovation for Impact, examining how software and AI are influencing the operating room. Speakers include:

• Prof. Audrius Dulskas of Vilnius University on detecting leaks before they become losses with iLARS
• Prof. Antonino Spinelli of Humanitas University / Humanitas Research Hospital on robotic, precision and sustainable colorectal surgery and the TTSS revolution
• Prof. Tan Arulampalam of Anglia Ruskin University and others on anastomotic leaks and new approaches to a longstanding surgical challenge

The second session, Surgery for a Sustainable Tomorrow, will explore image-enhanced surgery, tailored robotic platforms and the role of telesurgery in expanding access to surgical expertise. The programme also covers new approaches to GI anastomosis and the evolution of upper GI care from open surgery to robotic and intelligent surgery.

The final session, One Surgical Future: Innovation and Sustainability Across Specialties, opens with Dr Tim Horeman of Delft University of Technology. It will cover Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) and Pressurised Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPEC), vascular repair with Matthew Joe Grima of Mater Dei Hospital and the University of Malta, head and neck solutions, and local innovation with Anthony Pio Dimech of Mater Dei Hospital.

The workshop closes with remarks and awards for the poster presentations, in partnership with Med-In Pharma.

A dedicated workshop within MedTech World Europe 2026

As part of the MedTech World Europe 2026 agenda, the LERSM workshop sits alongside the event’s other experiences, from conference sessions and the exhibition to networking, giving the surgical community a dedicated space within the wider MedTech World ecosystem.

The LERSM workshop adds a specialist surgical focus to the three-day MedTech World Europe programme, bringing together international expertise around the intersection of surgical innovation, technology and sustainability.

MedTech World Europe 2026 takes place from 11 to 13 November at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. Access to the LERSM workshop is included with your MedTech World Europe 2026 ticket. Get your ticket now.