University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, Endowed Chair Daniel Chu, M.D., MSPH, FACS, FASCRS, has been selected as associate division director of Gastrointestinal Surgery in the Department of Surgery.

Effective May 1, Chu will assist Gastrointestinal Surgery Division Director Greg Kennedy, M.D., Ph.D., with the administrative management of the division, including representation in institutional meetings and committees and supporting new programmatic initiatives.

“Dr. Chu is a proven leader who continues to exemplify how a surgeon-scientist can make a difference in the OR and beyond through research, departmental service, and mentorship,” says Kennedy. “I look forward to seeing the continued impact he has in the division and beyond.”

Chu joined the UAB Department of Surgery in July 2014 as an assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery. In addition to his new role as associate director, Chu also continue to serve as vice chair of Health Services Research and co-leader of Surgical Grand Rounds.

An NIH Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar and K23 grant award principal investigator, Chu is a dedicated researcher and advocate of improved health literacy practices for all patients. He was also selected for an RO1 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his project, "Designing a Plan of Action for Better Access and Quality of Surgery for African-Americans with Gastrointestinal Cancers in the Deep South." In 2021, Chu was awarded the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Professional Excellence Award for his dedication to the Department of Surgery’s tripartite mission of education, clinical service, and research. 

“I am remarkably fortunate to work alongside renowned surgical leaders, compassionate providers, and boundary-challenging researchers,” says Chu. “And I am grateful and honored to take this next step to support the mission of UAB GI Surgery.”