UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Director Vikas Dudeja, M.D., has been selected for membership in the Southern Surgical Association (SSA).

Founded by the Davis brothers in Birmingham, Alabama in 1887, the society seeks to bring together the best surgeons across the United States. Today, it is a leading organization in the field of surgery and has played an important role in promoting research and clinical innovation.

To become a member of the SSA, a surgeon must be nominated by active or senior members of the Society and receive subsequent support from the membership. The association requires a minimum of ten years of professional experience in the surgery field.

Dudeja has spent the last 14 years evaluating the pathobiology of pancreatic cancer and devising strategies to address its progression and metastasis. His research has been supported by grants from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Veterans Health Administration Merit Program, and foundations including the Society of Surgical Oncology and National Pancreas Foundation.

"It is an honor to be elected as a member of the Southern Surgical Association," says Dudeja. "I look forward to attending future meetings and sharing our laboratory's research with fellow society members and colleagues in the field.”

Written by: Julia Kasmirski