LEXINGTON, Ky. — B. Mark Evers, director of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, has been named president-elect of the American Surgical Association, one of the nation's most prestigious medical organizations. Evers, a surgical oncologist and professor of surgery at the UK College of Medicine, will serve as president-elect during 2026-27 before assuming the presidency in 2027-28, following his election at the organization's 146th annual meeting in Seattle this month.

The American Surgical Association, founded in 1880, draws members from leading academic medical institutions across the United States and internationally. Evers becomes the latest in a long line of prominent surgical leaders to hold the position, bringing more than three decades of research and clinical experience to the role.

"It is an honor to be elected by my peers to serve in this role," Evers said. "The ASA has long been the premier home for surgical science and scholarship, and I look forward to building on that legacy."

Evers previously served as treasurer of the American Surgical Association and held leadership positions with the Society of University Surgeons and Southern Surgical Association. Since joining UK in 2009, he has transformed the UK Markey Cancer Center into a national powerhouse in cancer research and treatment. Under his direction, the center earned National Cancer Institute designation in 2013 and achieved NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center status in 2023, a designation held by only 57 cancer centers nationwide.

His research focuses on colorectal cancer and signaling pathways that drive cancer growth and spread. Evers has published more than 450 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, and his laboratory has maintained continuous National Institutes of Health funding for more than 30 years. He also co-leads two NCI training grants supporting graduate students and surgeon-scientists at Markey.

Evers is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors American medical scientists can receive, as well as the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He serves on the board of directors of the Association of American Cancer Institutes and has received numerous accolades including the Flance-Karl research award from the American Surgical Association and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of University Surgeons.