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Medical School Names New Surgery Leader
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (June 5, 2006) -- The University of Minnesota Medical School has named Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, head of the Department of Surgery. An accomplished surgeon and researcher, he comes to Minnesota from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he served as professor of surgery and chief of gastrointestinal surgery. He will arrive at the University in August.
“Dr. Vickers is an outstanding addition to a group of surgical leaders who have made the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota great,” said Deborah Powell, M.D., dean of the Medical School. “He is a surgeon dedicated to the care of his patients, to collaborative scientific research partnerships, and to educating the next generation of surgeons.”
Vickers is recognized for his achievements as a surgeon, and he is a leader in pancreatic cancer research. He is the principal investigator of a $4.5 million Pancreatic Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute, in addition to two NIH grants. Areas of interest for his research include gene therapy for treating pancreatobiliary tumors and the role of growth factors and receptors in pancreatic cancer. He is working on a book on pancreatic cancer and has authored several book chapters as well as more than 80 journal articles.
He has received nationwide recognition as a distinguished surgeon for his work. He has been awarded Best Doctor in Birmingham Magazine Annual Best Doctor Issue from 2004 through 2006, along with earning a position as one of the Best Doctors of America for two years. In 2005–2006 he was named one of America’s Top Doctors.
Vickers is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University where he earned his B.A. in Natural Sciences and Doctor of Medicine degree. He remained at Johns Hopkins for his residency and postdoctoral fellowship. After serving as an instructor at John Hopkins, he moved to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1994 where he was promoted to leadership roles and was highly regarded as a researcher and instructor. One of his distinguished roles includes his position as the co-director of the UAB Minority Health & Research Center. He is a member of the American Surgical Association and serves as the President of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons.
The Academic Health Center is home to the University of Minnesota’s six health professional schools and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes. Founded in 1851, the University is one of the oldest and largest land grant institutions in the country. The AHC prepares the new health professionals who improve the health of communities, discover and deliver new treatments and cures, and strengthen the health economy.
Contact: Sara E. Buss, Academic Health Center, 612-624-2449
Liz Bryan, Academic Health Center, 612-624-5680
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