The mission of the Department of Surgery is to make an impact on the lives of patients worldwide. This mission is driven by the concept that research should span from the bench to the bedside and to the population. The scientific studies conducted by the departmental faculty include studies of fundamental biology, disease processes, and clinical research on outcomes and health policy. Most of these studies are funded by extramural grants from across all nine divisions of the department, totaling more than $8 million annually. The support comes from a variety of federal, non-federal and industry sponsors.

Promoting Research Advancement

The Department fosters an environment of success for research by providing essential infrastructure that includes space, instrumentation, computation resources and administrative support for investigators. Scientists in the Department of Surgery are also affiliated with and benefit from the resources available through a large array of other UAB centers and programs including the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science, UAB Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, UAB Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, and through UAB Institutional Core facilities. 

Training Surgeon-Scientists of the Future

Educating the next generation of surgeon-scientists is imperative for a bright future of advances in patient care. In the Department of Surgery, we provide opportunities for high school students, undergraduate and graduate students, medical students, residents and fellows to participate in meaningful research experiences. Our goal is to provide an understanding and appreciation of the research process at all levels, encouraging students to pursue careers investigating novel approaches to improve patient care and patient outcomes.