UAB Department of Surgery will host the Inaugural Frank G. Moody Lectureship on October 11, 2016, at 7am in Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium. Frank G. Moody, M.D., served as UAB’s first Division Director of Gastrointestinal Surgery from 1966-1971. This lectureship was created in memory of Dr. Moody, who passed away on August 12, 2016.

Dr. Moody was an internationally recognized gastrointestinal surgeon who specialized in the research and treatment of digestive disease. He is credited with being an early champion of weight loss surgery in the 1970s as one of the first surgeons to go against conventional thinking and state obesity is a physical disease rather than life choice.

Dr. Moody served as Chair of Surgery at both University of Utah (1971-1982) and University of Texas McGovern Medical School (1982-1994). A dedicated academic, Dr. Moody continued to pursue his research interests and work with medical students after his retirement.

In 2016, Dr. Moody was honored by the American Surgical Association with the 2016 Medallion for Advancement of Surgical Care Award. He also had recently completed his autobiography, Frank Reflections.

Layton Rikkers, M.D., professor emeritus at University of Wisconsin, will serve as the inaugural Frank G. Moody lecturer. As a general surgery resident, Dr. Rikkers trained under Dr. Moody at University of Utah.

“I am honored to present the inaugural Frank G. Moody Lecture at UAB. Dr. Moody was an inspiring mentor and will be remembered for his outstanding contributions to the field of gastrointestinal surgery,” Dr. Rikkers said.