Dorothy and Judson Rikkers Lectureship
Layton (Bing) F. Rikkers, MD, a native of Fon du Lac, Wisconsin, obtained his bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He went to medical school at Stanford University.
Dr. Rikkers continued with his surgical training at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. During his residence he completed a research fellowship in hepatology with Dame Shelia Sherlock at the Royal Free Hospital in London, England. Following his surgical training, Dr. Rikkers completed a fellowship in surgical hepatology at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. He then returned to Utah where he spent two years as a research associate at the Salt Lake Veteran Administration Hospital. He rose through the academic ranks becoming chairman of the division of general surgery in 1983.
In 1984 Dr. Rikkers came to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. During his tenure at UNMC, Dr. Rikkers demonstrated immense support for department of surgery and the university as a whole. He had numerous contributions to the university. He served as chairman of the department of surgery from 1984 to 1995, was named the M.M. Musselman Professor of Surgery in 1990, and he served as interim dean for the college from 1991 to 1993.
In 1996, he became the A.R. Curreri Professor of Surgery and chairman of the department of surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he remained until his retirement.
In 2001, Dr. Rikkers was invited back to UNMC to become the first speaker for the Dorothy and Jusdon Rikkers Lectureship.
In 1986 Dr. Layton Rikkers and his wife, Diane (DeeDee), established an endowed fund with the University of Nebraska Foundation. The Dorothy and Judson Rikkers Research and Educational Fund was established in honor of Dr. Rikkers' parents. It supports clinical, educational, and research advances for the Department of Surgery, which includes the Dorothy and Judson Rikkers Lectureship. Dr. Rikkers understood the importance of inviting outside experts in the field to the University to share their insights. He saw this as a valuable means to stimulate additional research programs.
Historic guest lecturers:
- 2021, Peter Angelos, MD, PhD, FACS, MAMSE
- 2019, John C. Alverdy, MD
- 2018, Brian J. Dunkin, MD
- 2017, James W. Fleshman Jr., MD
- 2016, Philip R. Schauer, MD
- 2015, David M. Mahvi, MD
- 2014, Michael G. Sarr, MD
- 2012, Nathaniel Soper, MD*
- 2012, Daniel T. Dempsey, MD*
- 2011, Thomas Cogbill, MD
- 2010, Kenric M. Murayama, MD
- 2009, Merril Dayton, MD
- 2006, Bruce Harms, MD
- 2005, William P. Schecter, MD
- 2002, Frank Moody, MD
- 2001, Layton F. Rikkers, MD
*lectureship was held twice in 2012 but was not held in 2013