The Duke Department of Surgery has appointed Alexander Hawkins, MD, MPH, FACS as Chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery.
Dr. Hawkins brings extensive leadership experience to his new role at Duke. In his most recent position, as Associate Professor in Vanderbilt University Medical Center Section of Surgical Sciences, he held multiple leadership roles, including Vice Chair of the Section of Clinical Research and Director of the Colorectal Research Center, which he founded.
He also manages a vigorous health services research portfolio, primarily focused on diverticulitis. He has been Principal Investigator on multiple National Institutes of Health grants, including a currently ongoing R01 grant.
Dr. Hawkins earned a BA in Biology from Amherst College, an MD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and an MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He trained as a Resident in General Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and as a Fellow in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
“Alex Hawkins is a surgeon scientist with a strong track record of outstanding patient care and high-impact research. We’re confident that he will be a transformative inaugural Chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery and help it to thrive for years to come,” Duke Surgery Chair Peter Allen, MD, said.
“I’m energized by the opportunity to join Duke Surgery and to guide the growth of the Colorectal division,” Dr. Hawkins said. He added, “With family roots in the area, coming to Durham feels like a kind of homecoming.”
Dr. Hawkins will be the first permanent Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Duke. He succeeds Julie Thacker, MD, who has served as interim Chief since the division was established in 2025. The department thanks Dr. Thacker for her tremendous leadership in her role as interim Chief, and for her ongoing commitment to the care of patients with colorectal disease.
Dr. Hawkins will join the department this fall. Please join us in congratulating him on his appointment.