Posted on April 27, 2001 at 2:20 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Dr. Selwyn M. Vickers, UAB associate professor and chief of gastrointestinal surgery, was named today as the first occupant of the John H. Blue Chair of General Surgery, by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.

The Blue chair was jointly endowed by a bequest from Blue, an alumnus of the University, and the UAB Department of Surgery.

Vickers, an Alabama native who grew up in Huntsville, joined the UAB faculty in 1994. He was appointed an associate scientist at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1995 and co-director of the UAB Pancreatobiliary Center in 1998. In 1999 he was promoted to associate professor and last year was named to lead the section of gastrointestinal surgery. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, he received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Vickers is a member of many professional organizations, including the Association for Academic Surgery, the American Society for Clinical Oncology, The American Society of Gene Therapy, The Society of Black Academic Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons. He is the author of numerous scientific articles and publications and has worked with community groups to raise the public awareness of colon cancer and other diseases.