We recognise outstanding individual achievements in digestive health
Each year, we honour individuals with a career of at least 30 years whose remarkable achievements have improved the lives of people in relation to digestive health.
The Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 will be formally presented during the Opening Plenary Session at UEG Week Barcelona 2026. The UEG Council acts as the nominating committee and oversees the decision-making process for the award of this prestigious recognition. In case you need more information or wish to contact UEG Council please contact Katharina Gattermayer.
Lifetime Achievement Awardees 2026:
Regina Beets-Tan, Professor of Radiology at Maastricht University, The Netherlands, is one of the leading voices in oncological imaging and artificial intelligence. She pioneered the clinical implementation of high-resolution MRI for rectal cancer staging, directly informing international guidelines, and has long championed closer collaboration between imaging specialists and digestive health professionals within UEG.
Guido Costamagna, Professor of Surgery at the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome, Italy, is one of the pioneers of modern therapeutic digestive endoscopy. In 2002 he founded the European Endoscopy Training Center, which has since trained more than 1,000 endoscopists from around the world. He served UEG through the Scientific Committee and as Independent Councillor.
Axel Dignass, Head of the Department of Medicine at Agaplesion Markus Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany, is an internationally acclaimed authority on inflammatory bowel disease. He is the founding chair of what is now UEG's Quality and Care Committee and later became UEG President. In that position, he helped to launch the UEG Associate Programme, which today counts more than 36,000 subscribers.
Contact
