Pittsburgh, December 20, 2006 -- Douglas Kondziolka, MD, department vice chair of education and co-director of the Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery, was formerly installed as the Peter J. Jannetta Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, December 19 at a cermony in Wesley Posvar Hall.

University chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg presented Dr. Kondziolka with a medal to designate the honor in the official ceremony attended by family, friends and colleagues including Dr. Jannetta and various School of Medicine officials. Dr. Kondziolka marked the installation with a lecture on ‘Restoring Lost Brain Function Through Ablation, Augmentation or Transplantation."

A reception and dinner at the Duquesne Club followed the installment and featured remarks by Amin Kassam, MD, L. Dade Lunsford, MD, Neil Christie, MD, and Dr. Jannetta.

Dr. Kondziolka is an internationally known expert in radiosurgery, stereotactic surgery and neuro-oncology. He is a leading researcher in the study of novel treatments for functional disorders including epilepsy and Parkinson's Disease and has performed groundbreaking clinical studies in neuronal transplantation.

Dr. Jannetta, chairman of the department from 1971-1997, is recognized internationally for his groundbreaking research into the pathology and treatment of cranial nerve compression syndromes, including trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). He developed a microvascular decompression procedure—widely known as the ‘Jannetta Procedure’—that now offers TGN patients an effective therapeutic alternative when medications fail.

The Jannetta Chair is one of five neurosurgery chairs held at the university. A fully endowed chair provides annual benefit to the holder of the chair by facilitating his or her work within the department. Current holders of endowed chairs in the department have achieved national and international recognition for their clinical, research, and teaching abilities.