Sacral Neuromodulation Therapy with the InterStim™ systems. Remarkable legacy. Bright future.

SYMPOSIUM IS ORGANISED AND SUPPORTED BY Medtronic

Chair: John P.F.A Heesakkers
Speakers: Dean Elterman and Charles Knowles

Sacral Neuromodulation therapy is an established treatment option for both Overactive Bladder and Fecal Incontinence as well as for non-obstructive urinary retention. The Medtronic InterStim™ systems have been available for more than 25 years and in this symposium, you will learn how this therapy and its patient selection has evolved over time, what the future holds plus understand the extensive clinical data demonstrating it is an effective treatment option for patients suffering from incontinence.

John P.F.A Heesakkers
John Heesakkers studied Medicine at the Radboud University of Nijmegen and Business Administration at the Rotterdam School of Management. He started his training in Urology in 1993 at the University Hospital Maastricht. In 1997 he successfully defended his thesis titled: ‘Dynamic Urinary Graciloplasty’ at the University of Maastricht. From 2000 to 2020 he was a full time staff urologist at the Department of Urology of the Radboud UMC and consultant at the Rehabilitation Clinic St Maarten in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He headed the Unit of Functional Urology and Neurourology. Since 2020 he is the chairman of the Department of Urology of the Maastricht UMC, the Netherlands. From 2007 till 2022 he chaired the Society of Functional and Reconstructive Urology, a body of the Dutch Association of Urology. John Heesakkers is an active member of the AUA, EAU, ICS and SUFU. Since 2019 het is the Treasurer of the ICS. He is a faculty member of the European School of Urology and of the Scientific Congres Office. He is the Secretary General of the Association of Academic European Urologists. He is the author of 200 peer-reviewed papers, book-chapters and books on urological topics.

Dean Elterman:
Dr. Dean S. Elterman completed his medical degree followed by residency in urologic surgery at the University of Toronto. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2011. Dr. Elterman completed a two-year fellowship in Voiding Dysfunction, Neuro-Urology, Female Urology and Pelvic Reconstruction at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.
He has worked in the areas of men’s health and survivorship at the Iris Cantor Men’s Health Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College and at the University of Toronto. He is the Medical Director of the Prostate Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic at Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Centre.
He completed his Masters degree in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
He is a member of several professional societies including the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction, the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons, the International Neuromodulation Society, and the International Society of Men’s Health.

Charles Knowles:
Professor Knowles is Deputy Director of the Blizard Institute and Honorary Professor of Experimental Therapeutics at UCL. He is the Director of the National Bowel Research Centre, and Chair of the several research committees including those of European Society of Coloproctology, Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland and International Continence Society. He is also Chair to UEG-led international working groups in anorectal physiology and GI neuromuscular diseases. He has authored over 180 peer reviewed publications as well as contributing several book chapters to major international colorectal and general surgical texts. He also holds an Honorary Consultant appointment at Barts Health NHS Trust.
Professor Knowles undertook his preclinical training at Cambridge University and then moved to the London Hospital Medical College, qualifying in 1992. Prior to specialist training, he undertook research based at Barts & the London and funded by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, leading to the degree of PhD at the University of London in 2000. He entered the Specialist Register in 2005 as a general and colorectal surgeon. In 2006, he was appointed Senior Lecturer in Colorectal Surgery on the basis of a prestigious award from HEFCE.