UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Professor and Vice Chair of Perioperative Services Melanie Morris, M.D., FASCRS, has been selected as a member of the American Surgical Association.

The American Surgical Association (ASA), founded in 1880, is the nation's oldest and most prestigious surgical organization -- with members representing renowned surgical departments globally.

To join the ASA, a new member must have the support of six senior members who submit an application on their behalf, which is subsequently reviewed at the annual ASA meeting.

Morris joined UAB as a faculty member in the Department of Surgery in 2010. She earned her undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University and her medical degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Morris completed a general surgery residency at Oregon Health and Science University and a colorectal surgery fellowship at the University of Texas.

Morris's clinical and research interests include minimally invasive surgery for colorectal diseases such as cancer, diverticulitis, and rectal prolapse, as well as inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.