Internationally acclaimed pancreatic cancer surgeon, researcher and leader in health equity, Dr. Vickers leads Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, whose people are united by the singular mission of ending cancer for life. He is guiding the cancer center through an era of groundbreaking discovery and compassionate, patient-centered care, which has led to Memorial Sloan Kettering being named world’s best hospital for oncology in the world this year by Newsweek. Prior to joining the center in 2022, he served as CEO of Birmingham, Ala.-based UAB Health System and UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance, as well as senior vice president for medicine and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine at University of Alabama at Birmingham. His pioneering research in pancreatic cancer led to the development of Minnelide, an investigational therapy now in clinical trials, as well as transformative advances in oncolytic viral treatments. A member of the National Academy of Medicine and former president of several leading surgical societies, Dr. Vickers also sees patients and mentors the next generation of physician-scientists. His leadership is marked by a commitment to advancing scientific innovation, improving access to high-quality cancer care and eliminating disparities in health outcomes worldwide. In 2025, the care center cared for more than 75,000 patients. It also offers access to over 1,800 clinical trials enrolling 5,000 participants annually, providing therapies often unavailable elsewhere. Over the past five years, its research has contributed to more than 40 FDA‑approved cancer treatments, including 10 in 2025 alone.
