Professor
Vice Chair, Perioperative Services
Chief of General Surgery, Birmingham VA Hospital

Areas of Interest
minimally invasive colorectal surgery, colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), diverticulitis, and rectal prolapse

Biography

Joining the faculty in 2010, Dr. Melanie Morris is an associate professor and Vice Chair of Perioperative Surgery in the UAB Department of Surgery and the Chief of General Surgery at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. A native of Tennessee, she completed her undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University and her medical degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She completed her surgical residency in general surgery at Oregon Health and Science University and a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Morris is a specialist in minimally invasive colorectal surgery, colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), diverticulitis, and rectal prolapse.

Selected Publications

Cannon JA, Altom LK, Deierhoi RJ, Morris MS, Richman JS, Vick CC, Itani K, Hawn MT.  Preoperative Oral Antibiotics Reduce Surgical Site Infection Following Elective Colorectal Resections.  Diseases of the Colon and Rectum.  2012 Nov;55(11):1160-1166.

Toneva GD, Deierhoi RJ, Morris MS, Richman JS, Cannon JA, Altom LK, Hawn MT.  Oral Antibiotic Bowel Preparation Reduces Length of Stay and Readmissions after Colorectal Surgery.  Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2013 April;216(4):756-762.

Heslin MJ, Taylor B, Hawn MT, Davies JE, Morris MS, et al.  100% Departmental Mortality Review Improves Observed to Expected Mortality Ratios and University Health System Consortium Rankings.  Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2014 Apr,218(4):554-562.

Morris MS, Deierhoi RJ, Richman JS, Altom LK, Hawn MT.  The Relationship Between Timing of Surgical Complications and Hospital Readmission.  JAMA Surgery 2014;149(4):348-354.

Korb ML, Hawn MT, Singletary BA, Cannon JA, Heslin MJ, O’Brien DM, Morris MS.  Adoption of Preoperative Oral Antibiotics Decreases Surgical Site Infection for Elective Colorectal Surgery.  American Surgeon 2014 Sep;80(9):e270-3.

Morris MS, Graham LA, Chu DI, Cannon JA, Hawn MT.  Oral Antibiotic Bowel Preparation Significantly Reduces Surgical Site Infection Rates and Readmission Rates in Elective Colorectal Surgery.  Annals of Surgery 2015 Jan 20 Epub.

Gunnells D, Morris MS,  DeRussy AJ, Gullick AA, Malik TA, Cannon JA, Hawn  MT, Chu DI. Racial disparities in readmissions for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) after colorectal surgery. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. (In Press).

Education

Medical School
University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Residency
Oregon Health Science Center
General Surgery

Fellowship
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Surgical Oncology, Endocrine Surgery

Contact

Campus Address
KB 428

Phone
Patient Scheduling and Questions: 205-975-3000

Email
msmorris@uabmc.edu