B. Mark Evers, MMS, MD
Director, Markey Cancer Center
Professor and Vice-Chair for Research, Department of Surgery
Physician-in-Chief, Oncology Service Line
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) is pleased to highlight alumnus B. Mark Evers, MMS, MD. Dr. Evers received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee and his Master of Medical Science degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in 1991. He has had an accomplished career as a GI and oncologic surgeon with primary clinical and research interests in GI cancers and endocrine tumors of the GI tract. He has also made significant contributions as an educator and administrator and served as the Robertson-Poth Distinguished Chair in General Surgery and Director of the UTMB Cancer Center.
In 2009, Dr. Evers was recruited to the University of Kentucky (UK) to serve as the Director of the UK Markey Cancer Center (MCC), Physician-in-chief of the Oncology Service Line, and Vice-Chair in the Department of Surgery. Under his leadership, the MCC achieved NCI designation in 2013 and successfully competed for renewal of its NCI designation in 2018. Dr. Evers’s laboratory, which has been continuously funded from the NIH for the last 27 years, is focused on signaling pathways regulating the proliferation of both normal and neoplastic intestine. Dr. Evers has published more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and reviews. Throughout his career, he has received more than 30 awards and held numerous leadership positions in national and international organizations including the Society for Surgical Oncology, American College of Surgeons, and the American Gastroenterological Association.
Dr. Evers has been dedicated to the training of the next generation of scientists and clinicians and has mentored over 80 junior faculty, fellows, residents and students in the performance of translational GI cancer studies involving interdisciplinary teams of investigators. He serves as a multi-PI or PI on several grants that provide interdisciplinary research training in cancer biology to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, oncology training to surgeon scientists, and cancer-focused education and training for high school and undergraduate students from rural, low-socioeconomic communities. Congratulations to Dr. Evers as the GSBS 50th Anniversary April alumnus!