Dr. Champ Lyons was Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery from 1950-1965. This event is part of the Department of Surgery’s annual Champ Lyons Lecture Series and is supported by the Champ Lyons Lectureship Fund.
Lecturers:
- 2022 Gerard Doherty, M.D.
- 2021 Tracy S. Wang, M.D., MPH, FACS, FSSO, DABS
- 2020 Mary Killackey, M.D.
- 2019 Joseph Woo, M.D.
- 2018 Sandra L. Wong M.D., M.S.
- 2017 Bryan. M. Clary, M.D., MBA
- 2016 John L. Cameron, M.D.
- 2010 Charles M. Balch, M.D.
- 2008 Ronald C. Jones, M.D.
- 2007 Ira M. Rutkow, M.D., MPH., Dr.P.H.
- 2006 Edward E. Cornwell, III, M.D.
- 2005 Courtney M. Townsend, M.D.
- 2004 Joaquin S. Aldrete, M.D.
- 2003 Haile T. Debas, M.D.
- 2002 J. Patrick O’Leary, M.D.
- 2001 Seymour I. Schwartz, M.D.
About Champ Lyons
Champ Lyons was born May 21, 1907, in Lancaster, PA. He received his early education in Mobile, Alabama, and following graduation from the University of Alabama in 1927, he entered Harvard Medical School where he received his M.D. degree in 1931. He was a member of both Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed his internship and residency training at the Massachusetts General Hospital. After World War II, he served on the faculty at Tulane University and remained there until 1950 when he was appointed Chairman at UAB. Dr. Lyons’ major contributions were in the areas of surgical infections and vascular surgery.
In July of 1965, Dr. Lyons was finishing his rounds with his residents when he announced he had one more case to present—his own. He produced his brain scan which showed a lesion occupying the left cerebral space. On Aug. 3, 1965, a craniotomy was performed, and in two months, Dr. Lyons had passed away. Though his career was cut short, Dr. Lyons’ impact on the medical world was in no way lessened. He taught by example and was truly a leader in the art and science of surgery.
