The UAB Department of Surgery mourns the loss of Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Professor Emeritus Joaquin S. Aldrete, M.D., M.S.
Known for his dedication to research and educational outreach, Aldrete served as vice chair of the UAB Department of Surgery from 1986-1999. During his tenure, he also was chief of staff at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Assistant Dean for both Veterans Affairs and the now Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.
In his role at UAB, he pioneered the institution’s kidney and liver transplantation programs. He is recognized as performing the southeast’s first 20 recorded liver transplantation procedures.
In honor of his memory and legacy, the UAB Department of Surgery hosts the annual Aldrete Lectureship in Gastrointestinal Surgery – a department tradition for more than 20 years.
“We are grateful for the innumerable contributions Dr. Aldrete made in shaping our department as a leader in global surgery education, transplantation, and gastrointestinal surgery,” says Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery Gregory Kennedy, M.D., Ph.D.
A native of Mexico City, Mexico, Dr. Aldrete attended Centro Universitario Mexico where he received his B.S. degree in biological sciences and his M.D. degree from the School of Medicine of the National University of Mexico.
Dr. Aldrete completed a surgical internship and first-year residency at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York, and subsequently completed a surgical residency at the Mayo Clinic.
He also received an M.S. degree in surgery from the University of Minnesota for his postgraduate work at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine.