Vikas Dudeja, MBBS, FACS, has been appointed chair and department executive officer of the Department of Surgery in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. He will begin in his new role on June 30, pending approval by the Iowa Board of Regents.
An expert in pancreatic cancer and other hepatobiliary cancers, Dudeja currently serves as a tenured professor and the director of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). His research primarily focuses on understanding the pathobiology of pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis, with the goal of developing innovative treatment strategies for these challenging diseases. He is dedicated to translating laboratory discoveries into clinical applications and currently serves as the principal investigator of two multi-institutional clinical trials aimed at evaluating novel therapies for pancreatitis. His laboratory is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and Veterans Affairs merit awards.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Dudeja to Iowa as he is an exceptional surgeon-scientist who will bring a wealth of expertise to UI Health Care,” says Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the Carver College of Medicine. “His blend of surgical leadership, clinical expertise, and dedication to research will build upon the department’s focus on providing leading-edge patient care, the education of future surgeons, and first-rate research.”
Dudeja completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Minnesota and completed fellowship training in surgical oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He earned his medical degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Dudeja is a distinguished member of several esteemed organizations, including the American Surgical Association, the American Society of Clinical Investigation, the Halstead Society, the Society of Clinical Surgery, the Society of University Surgeons, and the Southern Surgical Association. His exceptional contributions to the field have also earned him the prestigious James IV Association Travelling Fellowship. Additionally, Dudeja was recently elected president-elect of the Association for Academic Surgery, further solidifying his reputation as a leader in academic surgery.
Beyond his leadership roles, Dudeja is a prominent figure in the academic and medical publishing world. He serves as associate editor for Frontiers in Immunology and Pancreatology and is a member of the editorial boards for both American Journal of Physiology and Surgical Oncology Insight.
Dudeja has been instrumental in starting innovative treatment programs for cancer patients at UAB, such as the Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Program for patients with colon cancer liver metastases, and the Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Program for patients with peritoneal malignancy, the only such programs available in the Deep South.
"I’m honored and excited to join the University of Iowa Health Care team," says Dudeja. "I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to provide exceptional surgical care, train the next generation of surgeons, and continue research to find innovative cures. Together, we will carry forward Dr. Denise Jamieson’s vision to help Iowans and build upon the strong foundation set in the department by Dr. Ronald Weigel.”
Jamieson expressed her gratitude to Ronald Weigel, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS, for continuing to serve as the department’s chair and department executive officer until his successor begins. Weigel will remain a part-time faculty member, continuing his research activities alongside his role as the medical director for cancer programs with the American College of Surgeons.
Jamieson also thanked members of the search committee—led by Matthew Howard, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, and Douglas Van Daele, MD, vice dean for clinical affairs and executive director of UI Physicians—for their work in conducting a national search for the position.
As the chair and department executive officer, Dudeja will oversee all aspects of the department, representing faculty and serving as the spokesperson within the Carver College of Medicine, UI Health Care, and in interactions with practitioners across the state and nation.