Screening Advisor, Dr. Hendrik du Plessis

Dr. Hendrik du Plessis was born and trained as a general surgeon in South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 2008. He settled in the Prairies in a small regional surgical centre, practising general surgery and surgical endoscopy with a small group of dedicated general surgeons. Dr. du Plessis’ academic affiliation is with the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, Department of Surgery, with certification by the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada.

His involvement with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership) started in 2012 when he was invited to attend a Partnership meeting focused on the creation of a national synoptic colonoscopy reporting system with the Medical Advisor for the Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer (SPCRC / ColonCheck) of Saskatchewan at the time.

Dr. du Plessis stepped into the Medical Advisor role for the Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency during COVID-19 as a temporary position and has subsequently held that role.

In 2025, Dr. du Plessis accepted the Colorectal Cancer Screening Advisor role with the Partnership, bringing his experience from a provincial colorectal cancer screening program to support national initiatives aimed at advancing colorectal cancer awareness and screening participation across Canada.

Dr. du Plessis brings a strong passion and clear vision to the CRC Screening Advisor role, focused on raising maximal awareness about the benefits of colorectal cancer screening and increasing participation, particularly within underserved and remote populations, especially northern/remote First Nations communities, the territories and other underserved populations across Canada.