The Board of Trustees of the SSAT Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Layton F. Rikkers, MD, Master Clinician Fund. This tribute fund acknowledges Dr. Rikkers’ exceptional record of service and leadership for the SSAT and his longstanding commitment to excellence in clinical surgery.
Layton (Bing) Rikkers, MD, FACS is Professor Emeritus of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served as the A.R. Curreri Professor of Surgery and Chairman from 1996 – 2009. A master surgeon and internationally recognized authority on surgical disorders of the liver, Dr. Rikkers has written more than 200 publications on portal hypertension, hepatobiliary surgery, education, and leadership. Dr. Rikkers served the SSAT as the Recorder (1988 – 1991), Secretary (1997 – 2000) and then as President in 2001 – 2002. He was recognized for many contributions to the organization with the award of the SSAT Founders Medal in 2010. Among many leadership positions Dr. Rikkers has held in American surgery, most notably he completed a 14-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Surgery in 2011, and from 1988-1995 served as a Director and Chair of the American Board of Surgery.
The purpose of the unrestricted Rikkers Fund is twofold:
- To help the SSAT achieve its ongoing mission of research and education by advancing the science and practice of surgery in the treatment of digestive disease; and
- To honor an outstanding surgical clinician and mentor at the SSAT meeting at Digestive Disease Week via presentation of an annual Layton F. Rikkers Master Clinician Award.
Please consider a generous donation to the Layton F. Rikkers Master Clinician Fund at this time. The Foundation welcomes secure online donations via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express), as well as gifts of checks and securities. The endowment of this fund will truly be a fitting tribute to Dr. Rikkers. SSAT Members may donate via the Members Only Area; non-members may donate via the public donation page.
