UAB announced that Dr. Selwyn Vickers is leaving his roles as CEO of the UAB Health System, CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance, and dean of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Vickers will become President and CEO of New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in September.
“Dr. Selwyn Vickers has been a jewel of the Birmingham health care system,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “While I'm happy that he's moving on to new opportunities, I'm very sad to see him leave the Magic City. Dr. Vickers has been invaluable to our city's health and well-being, not only as a top recruiter of medical talent for UAB Health Systems but as wise counsel as Birmingham navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for keeping us healthy and strong, Dr. Vickers.”
UAB President Dr. Ray Watts, who is also chair of the UAB Medicine and UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance boards, says Vickers was an important part of a team that built unprecedented momentum.
“Our community is grateful to Selwyn for his service to UAB since his return to Birmingham almost a decade ago, and I wish him the best,” Watts said. “He helped recruit and retain incredible talent to advance our mission, and that fact is among the many reasons UAB remains in a position of strength to ensure a smooth transition as we continue to grow and thrive and serve the people who count on us.”
Vickers is a native of Demopolis. His family later moved to Tuscaloosa and then Huntsville. He and his wife, Janice, have four children. He is an internationally known pancreatic cancer surgeon and researcher. He served on the UAB faculty from 1994 to 2006.
In 2013, Vickers became senior vice president of Medicine and dean of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. On January 1, 2022, Vickers assumed the roles of CEO of the UAB Health System and CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance, while retaining his role as dean of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.
The $5.8 billion, 11-hospital UAB Health System is anchored by UAB Hospital, the eighth-largest hospital and the fourth-largest public hospital in the U.S. The UAB Health System also includes UAB Hospital-Highlands, UAB Callahan Eye Hospital, and management relationships with Medical West, Baptist Health Montgomery, Russell Medical, John Paul Jones, Whitfield Regional, Northwest Regional Health, and Regional Medical Center of Central Alabama hospitals. The system also has affiliate relationships with Infirmary Health in Mobile and Northeast Regional Hospital in Anniston. Additionally, the system includes Cooper Green Mercy Health Services and the UAB Health System/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance.
UAB President Ray Watt announced new interim leadership for UAB Medicine on Wednesday.
Heersink School of Medicine Executive Vice Dean Anupam Agarwal, M.D. will serve as interim senior vice president of Medicine and interim dean of the School of Medicine for a second time, as well as interim chair of the Health Services Foundation Board. He first served in these interim roles in 2013 when Watts vacated them to become president. Agarwal also directed the Division of Nephrology from 2008-2021 and serves as the Program Director of the NIDDK funded O’Brien Center for Acute Kidney Injury Research while maintaining an active role in clinical medicine, teaching, research and administration.
Dawn Bulgarella will serve as interim CEO of the UAB Health System and continue to serve as president of the UAB Health System and CFO for the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance. Bulgarella spent 15 years in operations before becoming the senior associate dean of Finance and Administration in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and ultimately the first president and CFO of the UAB Health System.
Reid Jones will continue his role as CEO of UAB Medicine. Jones has been at the center of UAB’s health care administration and operations for more than 30 years and has served in several key positions, including executive vice president for the UA Health Services Foundation, Chief Operations Officer of UAB Medicine and his current role among many others.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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