Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Always talk to your child's care team about your child's situation.
Content of this collection
History & Pioneers of Endoscopic Surgery
10 items
Evolution of Endoscopic Techniques2 items
Endoscopy and Surgery
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Jeffrey Ponsky, MD, FACS, professor of surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, OH, and a founder of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, discusses the history of endoscopy, collaboration between ga
video11:29 · Jul 2026
Special Lecture: Dr. Jeffrey Ponsky | St. George's University
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St. George's University presents a special lecture by the Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Jeffrey Ponsky, a distinguished surgeon and gastroenterologist presenting on: "Peptic Ulcer Disease: the Evolution of Treatment, Thought and Therapy in
Medici
video45:44 · Jul 2026
Professional Journey & Leadership7 items
ACS Icons in Surgery | Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD, FACS
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About American College of Surgeons:
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards f
video20:00 · Jul 2026
Meet the Master: Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD, FACS
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In the latest installment from the VideoGIE Meet the Masters series, Dr. Jeffrey L. Ponsky shares insights and advice from his professional experience.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vgie.2019.03.014
video1:05:06 · Jul 2026
SAGES Stories Episode 11 – Jeff Ponsky, MD
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Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 11, we have extraordinary privilege of listening to one of the funniest smart guys (or smartest funny guys) to ever be a part of SAGES: Dr. Jeff Ponsky!
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD an
video1:01:24 · Jul 2026
Residency Advice: Dr. Jeffrey Ponsky | St. George's University
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Preparing for your residency interviews? Tonight's guest lecturer, Dr. Jeffrey Ponsky - named one of America's Top Doctors® for over a decade, offers his advice for residency seekers.
http://www.sgu.edu
video2:20 · Jul 2026
Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD, FACS
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Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD, FACS - PMC Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Here's how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in t
article · Jul 2026
Jeffrey Ponsky: Portrait of a SAGES Pioneer
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Presented during the SAGES 2019 Annual Meeting.
video50:04 · Jul 2026
Jeffrey L. Ponsky Master Educator in Endoscopy
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This is "Jeffrey L. Ponsky Master Educator in Endoscopy" by SAGES Webmaster on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
video · Jul 2026
SAGES & Professional Community1 item
SAGES/ALACE Symposium: Integrating New Technologies, Old Tricks, and Operative Approaches
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Natan Zundel, M.D. & Jeffrey L. Ponsky, M.D., discussion
video12:32 · Jul 2026
Innovations & Surgical Entrepreneurship
5 items
PEG Tube Development4 items
From Idea to Ubiquity - the PEG Journey
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This talk was presented at the Innovation and Investment for the Surgical Entrepreneur (non CME) session by Jeffrey Ponsky on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 during the SAGES 2022 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado
video · Jul 2026
Ponsky and Gauderer invent the PEG tube
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Great story from Jeffrey ponsky about the invention of PEG.
video7:03 · Jul 2026
Lessons learned from the introduction of a new endoscopic procedure: PEG
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Presented by Jeffrey L Ponsky at the Panel: Firsts and Pioneers - Evolutions and Revolutions in Surgery held during the 2017 SAGES Annual Meeting in Houston, TX on Thursday, March 23, 2017
video · Jul 2026
Innovations in Surgery: PEG Tube
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In the fifth episode of the âInnovation in Surgeryâ series, Dan Scheese sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Ponsky to discuss his innovation, the PEG tube. Dr. Ponsky sh
podcast · Jul 2026
From Concept to Clinical Practice1 item
From Idea to Ubiquity
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This talk was presented at the Innovation and Investment for the Surgical Entrepreneur (non CME) session by Jeffrey Ponsky on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 during the SAGES 2022 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado
video · Jul 2026
Advanced Endoscopic Techniques
10 items
POEM (Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy)5 items
International multicenter experience with peroral endoscopic myotomy for the treatment of spastic esophageal disorders refractory to medical therapy (with video)
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POEM offers a logical therapeutic modality for patients with SEDs refractory to medical therapy. Results from this international study suggest POEM as an effective and safe platform for these patients.
article · Jul 2026
Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) leads to similar results in patients with and without prior endoscopic or surgical therapy
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We found favorable outcomes following POEM in patients who have had prior endoscopic or surgical treatments for achalasia, as well as for patients without prior intervention. There were no significant differences between these two groups wi
article · Jul 2026
Retrograde myotomy: a variation in per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) technique
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POEM was developed as a minimally invasive method for the treatment of achalasia. Our retrograde dissection modification allows the most critical portion of the case, namely division of the lower esophageal and upper gastric circular muscle
article · Jul 2026
How i do it: per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
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In our experience, the method appears to be a safe alternative to standard laparoscopic Heller myotomy, but further assessment is needed to understand long-term outcomes.
article · Jul 2026
POEM by Surgeons – Dr. Jeffrey Ponsky
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Lectures from the 32nd annual GTSC meeting March 7 - 10, 2019, Naples, Florida
video · Jul 2026
NOTES (Natural Orifice Surgery)3 items
Comparison of anterior transgastric access techniques for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery
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This study supports the presumption that an anterior transgastric access technique for NOTES procedures is safe. The use of a wire to mark the site and another wire to retain the gastrotomy provided safe, efficient, and reproducible transga
article · Jul 2026
Current status of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)
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Current status of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)
article · Jul 2026
Transgastric natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery peritoneoscopy in humans: a pilot study in efficacy and gastrotomy site selection by using a hybrid technique
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NOTES peritoneoscopy with a gastrotomy on the anterior stomach permits adequate visualization of organs in the right upper and both lower quadrants. Visualization of the left upper quadrant and spleen is, however, limited unless access is g
article · Jul 2026
Intramural & Novel Approaches1 item
Intramural Surgery: A New Vista in Minimally Invasive Therapy
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Intramural Surgery: A New Vista in Minimally Invasive Therapy
article · Jul 2026
Single Incision Surgery1 item
Overview of Single Incision Surgery Tool Box and Technique: Jeffrey Ponsky, M.D.
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Pediatrics Session: Next-Generation Pediatric MAS - A Move Toward Scarless Surgery
video · Jul 2026
General Endoscopy Education
2 items
Endoscopy, An Issue of Surgical Clinics, E-Book
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This issue of Surgical Clinics of North America focuses on Endoscopy and is edited by Drs. John Rodriguez and Jeffrey L. Ponsky. Articles will include: History of Flexible Endoscopy; Quality Measures in Diagnostic Endoscopy; Endoscopic Equi
article · Jul 2026
All About Advanced Surgical Endoscopy
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Endoscopic procedures have undergone a multitude of innovations over the past several decades. Jeffrey Ponsky, MD shares the history of these surgeries and how
podcast · Jul 2026
Summaries and takeaways+ Show
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Key points, with the moment each was said+ Show
Featured picks for families are being prepared — the summaries above are written for you.
Takeaways+ Show
Minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery emerged in the late 1950s when flexible fiber optic technology enabled gastrointestinal visualization . Early therapeutic advances—polypectomy, variceal banding, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)—were driven by surgeons applying surgical principles to endoscopic platforms [e13720-c4, e13720-c5, e13720-c6, e13720-c7]. PEG, developed in 1979 through serendipitous observation of transillumination in pediatric patients, became the first widely adopted minimally invasive procedure [e13683-c5, e13683-c8, e13724-c10]. The 1989 demonstration of laparoscopic cholecystectomy catalyzed explosive growth: SAGES membership expanded from 300 to 2,000 within months, though early adoption was constrained by instrument shortages and the need for proctored training [e13683-c14, e13683-c15, e13723-c4, e13723-c13]. Modern endoscopic surgery now encompasses submucosal dissection for early malignancy, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia, and endoscopic management of surgical complications including leaks and strictures [e13720-c18, e13683-c24, e13727-c28]. Collaboration between surgery and gastroenterology remains essential: gastroenterologists excel at endoscopic ultrasound while surgeons drive therapeutic innovation, but siloed practice limits both specialties [e13720-c23, e13720-c24, e13720-c26]. The field's trajectory points toward transmural surgery, endoscopic anastomosis, and robotic flexible platforms that will render current techniques unrecognizable within a decade [e13720-c29, e13720-c30, e13720-c35].
- PEG (1979) was the first minimally invasive procedure, born from observing transillumination in infants and developed without formal IRB review or commercial interest initially [e13683-c5, e13683-c8, e13724-c10, e13724-c12].
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy's 1989 introduction triggered SAGES membership growth from 300 to 2,000 but faced instrument shortages requiring gynecologic equipment adaptation [e13683-c14, e13723-c4, e13723-c13].
- POEM for achalasia and endoscopic submucosal dissection for T2 tumors now replace open surgery in selected patients, with life-changing symptomatic improvement [e13683-c24, e13683-c26, e13720-c18].
- Surgical-gastroenterology collaboration is mandatory: gastroenterologists lead in EUS, surgeons in therapeutic innovation; siloed practice limits both specialties' potential [e13720-c23, e13720-c24, e13720-c26].
- Future endoscopy will enable transmural resection, endoscopic anastomosis, and robotic flexible platforms; current techniques will be unrecognizable within 10 years [e13720-c29, e13720-c30, e13720-c35].
For patients & families
Minimally invasive surgery began when physicians learned to use flexible fiber optic instruments to see inside the body without large incisions . In the 1970s, doctors discovered they could remove polyps from the colon through these scopes, preventing them from becoming cancer [e13724-c3, e13724-c4]. One major breakthrough came in 1979 when Dr. Ponsky and Dr. Gauderer developed a way to place feeding tubes through the skin using an endoscope to guide them—this was probably the first minimally invasive surgical procedure [e13724-c10, e13723-c1]. The feeding tube (called a PEG tube) can be life-saving for cancer patients who cannot eat during chemotherapy . In 1989, surgeons saw the first video of gallbladder removal through tiny incisions, which changed surgery forever [e13682-c7, e13723-c4]. Today, doctors use scopes not just to look but to perform surgery—dividing muscles in the esophagus to help people swallow, removing early tumors, and fixing leaks after operations [e13720-c21, e13720-c18, e13727-c28]. These techniques work best when surgeons and gastroenterologists (stomach doctors) work together, combining their different skills [e13720-c26, e13720-c27]. The field continues to advance rapidly with new tools and approaches .
Minimally invasive surgery began when physicians learned to use flexible fiber optic instruments to see inside the body without large incisions . In the 1970s, doctors discovered they could remove polyps from the colon through these scopes, preventing them from becoming cancer [e13724-c3, e13724-c4]. One major breakthrough came in 1979 when Dr. Ponsky and Dr. Gauderer developed a way to place feeding tubes through the skin using an endoscope to guide them—this was probably the first minimally invasive surgical procedure [e13724-c10, e13723-c1]. The feeding tube (called a PEG tube) can be life-saving for cancer patients who cannot eat during chemotherapy . In 1989, surgeons saw the first video of gallbladder removal through tiny incisions, which changed surgery forever [e13682-c7, e13723-c4]. Today, doctors use scopes not just to look but to perform surgery—dividing muscles in the esophagus to help people swallow, removing early tumors, and fixing leaks after operations [e13720-c21, e13720-c18, e13727-c28]. These techniques work best when surgeons and gastroenterologists (stomach doctors) work together, combining their different skills [e13720-c26, e13720-c27]. The field continues to advance rapidly with new tools and approaches .
The doctors in this collection+ Show
All expert statements+ Show
Every expert statement below comes from the recorded discussions, with its speaker and moment.
ACS Icons in Surgery | Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD, FACS
Basil Morrison in England was marking the tips of polyps with India ink to track polyp behavior over time.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky6:47 ↗
In 1975, Ponsky injected pelican India ink at the base of polypectomy sites so surgeons could identify the location if pathology returned malignant. The injection needle cost $160 from Olympus.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky7:01 ↗
Endoscopic marking of colonic lesions with India ink remains useful in the laparoscopic era when surgeons cannot palpate the colon.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky7:28 ↗
In the mid-1970s, gastroenterologists at Mount Sinai Hospital could not routinely reach the cecum during colonoscopy because long scopes had not yet been invented.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky6:15 ↗
The first endoscope Ponsky owned (purchased late 1974) was kept in his car trunk and cleaned with green soap before use.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky8:48 ↗
While scoping pediatric patients with Michael Gauer, Ponsky observed transillumination of the abdominal wall and finger indentation visible through the endoscope, which led to development of the PEG procedure.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky9:06 ↗
Jacques Perrisat presented a video on laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a SAGES meeting in Louisville, Kentucky in 1989, igniting widespread adoption.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky10:44 ↗
After Perrisat's 1989 demonstration, Ponsky's Mount Sinai laboratory conducted train-the-trainers courses for surgeons at major hospitals.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky10:57 ↗
The American Board of Surgery invited SAGES to nominate three candidates for a board director position representing minimally invasive surgery; Ponsky was selected and later became chairman.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky12:01 ↗
As American Board of Surgery chairman, Ponsky contributed to developing minimally invasive surgery curricula, board examination questions, and endoscopy training requirements for surgical residents.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky12:42 ↗
Ponsky trained 35 endoscopic surgery fellows, many of whom became SAGES presidents and leaders in the American Board of Surgery.
clinicalJeffrey L. Ponsky13:54 ↗
Dr. Ponsky served as director and chair of the American Board of Surgery, president of both ASGE and SAGES, and vice president of the American Surgical Association and SSAT.
Host summaryThe host summarizes what Dr. Jeffrey L. Ponsky said — not the host's own clinical position14:36 ↗
Ponsky's surgical philosophy: the endoscope is a vehicle (like a car or bus) that transports surgeons to operative sites for procedures such as POEM, POP, Zenker's repair, and NOTES, not merely a tool for mucosal inspection.
opinionJeffrey L. Ponsky19:11 ↗
Ponsky's impact on surgical endoscopy has been foundational through academic advancement of technology and technique, mentorship, and leadership in professional organizations (ASGE, SAGES) to unite gastroenterology and surgery for patient benefit.
Host summaryThe host summarizes what Dr. Jeffrey L. Ponsky said — not the host's own clinical position11:19 ↗
In 1998, Ponsky welcomed a fellow (spk_4) to Cleveland Clinic staff, aligning their clinic and operative schedules so Ponsky was 30 feet away for clinical or intraoperative questions.
clinical16:48 ↗
SAGES Stories Episode 11 – Jeff Ponsky, MD
Ponsky had a 2.027 GPA graduating from Cleveland Heights High School and his college counselor recommended trade school instead of college.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky6:49 ↗
Ponsky's transformation in college came from memorizing everything and studying constantly, discovering he had an exceptional memory that allowed him to 'eat the book and spit it out.'
opinionJeffrey Ponsky9:17 ↗
Gastroenterologists at University Hospitals refused to train surgeons in endoscopy, telling Ponsky 'we're not training any surgeons.'
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky25:21 ↗
Ponsky trained in endoscopy with Jim King in Canton, Ohio, performing approximately 500 cases over 5-6 months during an extended elective.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky25:47 ↗
Early endoscopes were cleaned with green soap and stored in the back of cars, without high-level disinfection protocols. Operators did not wear gloves during procedures.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky26:57 ↗
The PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) was developed in May 1979 by Ponsky and pediatric gastroenterologist Mike Gower, with the first five cases performed on babies with birth asphyxia and psychomotor retardation.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky31:23 ↗
The PEG procedure was developed without IRB approval, only discussing the approach with patients' families.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky31:31 ↗
Ponsky became chief of surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital at age 32 in 1979.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky31:50 ↗
Ponsky performed 1,600 colonoscopies in a single year during his practice.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky41:34 ↗
The distal splenorenal shunt, once considered a great operation based on physiology to reduce variceal pressure without decreasing portal flow, became obsolete when endoscopic variceal banding was introduced.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky40:27 ↗
Ponsky performed 180 vertical banded gastroplasties in one year in the mid-1980s, an operation that later required reversal in many patients.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky41:05 ↗
ERCP was developed primarily in Japan by Itaru Oi and colleagues, with contributions from German physicians and Peter Cotton's group in London.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky43:09 ↗
Ponsky learned ERCP primarily through watching videos and self-teaching, then traded training with George Brodmerkel in Pittsburgh—teaching him laparoscopy under local anesthesia in exchange for learning sphincterotomy.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky43:40 ↗
Walter Pore taught pinch grafting technique at Metro Hospital, where students would inject local anesthesia, harvest small 'postage stamp' skin grafts from the thigh, and apply them to debrided bedsores. Pore emphasized giving patients zinc supplementation.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky21:12 ↗
Early SAGES meetings focused on surgical problem-solving with endoscopy, addressing topics like managing bowel obstruction, evaluating suture lines, and treating intestinal volvulus endoscopically—distinct from ASGE's focus.
clinicalJeffrey Ponsky48:24 ↗
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