Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)

What Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) does

The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit professional medical society founded in 1981 and headquartered in Encino, California, with operations administered by BSC Management, Inc. under Executive Director Sallie L. Matthews. It serves gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgeons across North America and internationally, with a network of more than 7,000 members organized through 42+ committees and taskforces, and a public-facing database of 735 searchable surgeon profiles.

SAGES' core offerings span three integrated layers: (1) peer-reviewed publishing via the Surgical Endoscopy journal (published with Springer) and Innovative Surgical Trends; (2) clinical standards and training programs including FLS (Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery), FES (Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery), FUSE (Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy), the Safe Cholecystectomy Program, S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery, and the SAGES Robotics and MIS Fellows Courses; and (3) live convening through the Annual Meeting (Tampa 2026, Las Vegas 2027, Charlotte 2028) and the NBT Innovation Weekend for industry-provider dialogue. Supporting assets include clinical practice guidelines, SAGES TV video library, SAGES Manuals, TAVAC technology assessments, the Find a Surgeon database, and patient-facing materials in English, French, and Spanish via the Healthy Sooner initiative.

The revenue model combines six membership tiers (Active $390, Associate Active, Affiliate $165, International $50–$390 tiered, Candidate $75, Medical Student $40), annual meeting registration and exhibits, educational grants and sponsorships from medtech partners (Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, J&J MedTech, Olympus, Stryker, CMR Surgical, Baxter), and paid CME programs (30+ Category 1 CME hours annually). Distribution is event-led and community-led, with cross-promotion partnerships with the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), IRCAD North America, and the American College of Surgeons (ACS), supplemented by a multi-channel media footprint (two podcasts, Bluesky, X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube).

Name

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)

Legal name

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

Website

https://sages.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAGES is a US-based nonprofit professional medical society serving 7,000+ gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgeons worldwide through clinical guidelines, FLS/FES/FUSE certification programs, the SAGES Annual Meeting, peer-reviewed journals, and educational grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Society / Surgical Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOAJAO

Clinical Research Support (CRC/CTA)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Healthcare Allied & Clinical Support Training

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Surgical education programs
• Medical society membership
• Clinical practice guidelines
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Continuing medical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Active ($390), Associate Active, International (tiered $50-$390), Candidate ($75), Medical Student ($40), and Affiliate ($165) members. Includes one-time application fees.
2. Annual Meeting Revenue: Registration fees for the premier global event in minimally invasive surgery, exhibits, industry education sessions, and visibility/marketing sponsorships at SAGES Annual Meetings
3. Educational Grants and Sponsorships: Year-round sponsorship opportunities for Go Global, RAFT Webinars, FUSE, and Safe Cholecystectomy programs. Industry grants for educational activities.
4. CME Credit Programs: Continuing Medical Education credits offered through SAGES programs - at least 30 hours of Category 1 CME Credit available annually including self-assessment CME credits for MOC

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SAGES is a nonprofit professional medical society that serves gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgeons through membership programs, certification curricula (FLS, FES, FUSE), clinical practice guidelines, peer-reviewed journals, podcasts, and in-person events including the Annual Meeting and NBT Innovation Weekend. The society provides continuing medical education, surgical training resources, advocacy, and a networking platform of 7,000+ surgical endoscopic experts.

Product overview

SAGES operates as a professional medical society with a platform of interconnected educational products, publications, and member services. The core offerings center on the Annual Meeting (major scientific conference), peer-reviewed journals (Surgical Endoscopy and Innovative Surgical Trends), and clinical practice guidelines. Educational products include training programs (FLS, FES, FUSE), robotics and MIS fellows courses, and the Safe Cholecystectomy Program. Media products comprise the SAGES Stories and Lead Up podcasts, SAGES TV video library, and SAGES Manuals. Patient-facing offerings include the Healthy Sooner initiative, Patient Information Brochures (available in English, French, Spanish), and the Find a Surgeon database. The organization supports international outreach through Go Global and awards research via the SAGES Education & Research Foundation. Membership tiers provide access to CME, publications, committee leadership, and the 7,000+ member network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Healthy Sooner: Patient education initiative promoting minimally invasive surgery awareness
• FUSE (Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy)
• FLS (Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery)
• FES (Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery)
• RAFT (Resident and Fellow Training)
• SAGES Foundation
• Safe Cholecystectomy Program

Products and services

• SAGES Annual Meeting The premier global scientific congress for minimally invasive surgery, featuring scientific sessions, oral and video presentations, poster presentations, hands-on courses, and industry exhibits for gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgeons.
• SAGES NBT Innovation Weekend Innovation-focused surgical technology meeting featuring the NOSCAR Summit and SDTS Summit tracks, industry exhibition booths inside the meeting room, and networking receptions with exhibitors for surgeons and medical device industry partners.
• SAGES Membership Professional membership organization offering access to a network of 7,000+ surgical endoscopic experts, 30+ hours of Category 1 CME credit annually, journal subscription, annual meeting discounts, research grants, and leadership opportunities through 42 committees and task forces.
• Surgical Endoscopy Journal Official peer-reviewed journal of SAGES covering the surgical aspects of interventional endoscopy, ultrasound, and gastroenterology, obstetrics, gynecology, urology, thoracic, traumatic, orthopedic, and pediatric surgery techniques, published via Springer.
• Innovative Surgical Trends Journal Peer-reviewed journal focused on surgical innovation, multimedia, and rapid distribution, publishing video and dynamic articles, case reports, and case series presenting innovative and novel procedures.
• FLS - Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Educational and certification program teaching fundamental knowledge and manual skills required for laparoscopic surgery, part of the SAGES portfolio of accredited surgical training programs.
• FES - Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery Educational and certification program covering fundamental knowledge and skills for endoscopic surgery, complementing the FLS program within SAGES training offerings.
• FUSE - Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy Educational program educating surgeons and perioperative staff on the safe use of surgical energy devices to reduce complications and enhance patient outcomes through improved knowledge and practice.
• SAGES Clinical Practice Guidelines Systematically researched, reviewed, and approved guidelines for standards of practice in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery, covering achalasia, colorectal surgery, education, endoscopy, GERD, hernia, HPB/solid organ, metabolic/bariatric, and minimally invasive surgery.
• SAGES TV Surgical Video Library On-demand video library providing access to recorded surgical procedures, educational content, and training materials for surgeons and trainees.
• Find a Surgeon Database Public searchable database of SAGES member surgeons (735 profiles) for patients seeking minimally invasive surgery specialists, searchable by name, location, and practice specialty.
• SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program Evidence-based training and decision-making program for surgeons to minimize the risk of bile duct injury during gallbladder surgery and standardize best practices to improve patient safety.
• SAGES Go Global Global affairs initiative bringing SAGES expertise in minimally invasive surgery to international audiences through workshops, visiting professorships, and collaborative training initiatives.
• SAGES S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery Program Enhanced recovery program aimed at improving patient outcomes and reducing recovery times after surgery through standardized clinical protocols.
• SAGES Manuals Portable, concise, illustrated manuals providing authoritative synopsis of major laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures in outline form for practicing surgeons.
• MIS Fellows Course Minimally invasive surgery course specifically designed for surgical fellows, providing advanced training in MIS techniques.
• SAGES Robotics Residents and Fellows Courses Dedicated robotics training courses for surgical residents and fellows designed to build the next generation of surgeons skilled in robotic surgical techniques.
• SAGES Education & Research Foundation Affiliated nonprofit foundation providing scholarships, traveling fellowships, and educational grants to support surgical education and research.

Quantifiable outcome

• At least 30 hours of Category 1 CME Credit available annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Association of Women Surgeons (AWS)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership formed in 2018 offering reciprocal membership benefits. AWS members can join SAGES and SAGES members can join AWS with up to 30% discount on first-year membership fees using Promo Code AWS2026. Founded in 1981, AWS is one of the largest international organizations dedicated to encouraging and empowering women surgeons.
• IRCAD North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRCAD North America has formed a strategic partnership with SAGES to advance surgical education and innovation. This partnership provides IRCAD visiting fellowship opportunities for SAGES members and enhances training capabilities for minimally invasive surgery techniques.
• EAES (European Association for Endoscopic Surgery)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGES and EAES collaboration on Sustainability in Surgical Practice initiative, focusing on environmental sustainability in operating rooms. Joint guidelines, best practices sharing, and shared commitment to safety and sustainable practices in surgery for North American members.
• American College of Surgeons (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAGES works with ACS on advocacy efforts including Medicare payment issues, Change Healthcare cybersecurity event response, and FTC non-compete ban implications for surgeons. ACS Representative Christopher Schlachta, MD serves on SAGES Board.
• SAGES Education & Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation created with vision of healthcare world where all operative procedures are accomplished with least possible physical trauma, discomfort, and loss of productive time. Supports SAGES scholarships, fellowships, and research initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO): Specialty surgical society sharing surgeon membership, annual meeting format, journal publication, and CME offerings. SSO overlaps with SAGES on cancer-related GI procedures and multidisciplinary care.
• Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT): Direct peer focused on alimentary tract surgery, sharing overlapping surgeon members, GI surgery research interests, and DDW co-located programming. SSAT is a comparable-sized surgical society with similar annual meeting, journal, and member-driven governance model.
• American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE): Direct peer professional society for GI endoscopy, with overlapping membership, certification programs, guidelines, and an annual Digestive Disease Week conference. ASGE and SAGES share many of the same surgeons and educational topics but emphasize different procedural and diagnostic aspects of GI care.
• American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS): Specialty surgical society for colorectal surgeons, overlapping with SAGES on colorectal procedures, guidelines, and CME. Comparable member-driven structure with similar annual meeting and journal publishing model.
• Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS): Direct peer society focused on laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery with similar member profile, training programs, and annual meeting. SLS competes for the same surgeon audience and industry sponsorship dollars in MIS.

Broad incumbents

• American College of Surgeons (ACS): The largest US surgical professional society, covering all surgical specialties. SAGES already partners with ACS on advocacy and has a representative on its board; ACS is a broad incumbent offering overlapping CME, meetings, and guidelines but without SAGES' minimally invasive surgery specialization.

Regional players

• European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES): Regional peer for endoscopic and minimally invasive surgery in Europe. EAES and SAGES are direct transatlantic counterparts, collaborate on the joint Sustainability in Surgical Practice initiative, and share guidelines and educational content across regions.
• Royal College of Surgeons of England: UK-based historic surgical professional body with comparable training, examination, and standards-setting functions. Functions as a regional/global peer for surgical education and credentialing.

Others

• Society of American College of Surgeons — Foundation (ACS Foundation): Affiliated nonprofit foundation component of ACS, analogous to SAGES Education & Research Foundation. Comparable grantmaking and scholarship function for surgical education and research, making it a structural peer for the foundation arm of the business.
• Association of Women Surgeons (AWS): Adjacent partner society for women surgeons, with which SAGES has had a reciprocal membership-discount partnership since 2018. AWS shares an overlapping surgeon audience and cross-promotes SAGES membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sages_updates
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SAGESVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/sagessurgery
• Instagraminstagram.com/sages_updates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sages-updates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)