Pittsburgh, May 11, 2011 -- Two of the departments most esteemed professors—Peter C. Gerszten, MD, MPH, and C. Edward Dixon, PhD—were recently named recipients of University of Pittsburgh endowed chairs, one of the highest honors possible for a faculty member.

Dr. Gerszten, professor of neurological surgery and radiation oncology and director of the department’s percutaneous spine service, has been named recipient of the Peter E. Sheptak Chair in Neurological Surgery. The chair honors the career of Peter E. Sheptak, MD, long-time neurosurgeon and former vice chairman of clinical affairs for the department.

An expert and pioneer in the field of spine radiosurgery, Dr. Gerszten’s specializes in minimally invasive approaches in the treatment of spinal disorders and spinal tumors. In 2008, he was co-editor of the book Spine Radiosurgery, the first-ever book of its kind, covering a wealth of topics in this fast-breaking field. He also oversees the instruction of this developing area of neurosurgery for both the American Association of Neurological Surgery as well as the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Known for years as a consummate, energetic and gentlemanly surgeon, Dr. Sheptak was a major teaching influence in the department for almost 40 years. During that period, he assisted in the training of almost 100 neurosurgeons. Dr. Sheptak served the community with great distinction—performing innovative, investigative and clinical work related to spinal degenerative disorders, pain management, cerebrovascular disease, and brain tumors—before retiring from active clinical practice in 2008.

Dr. Dixon—professor of neurological surgery, anesthesiology, neurobiology & physical medicine and rehabilitation and vice-chairman of research for the department—has been named the inaugural holder of The Neurotrauma Chair in Neurological Surgery.

Director of the department’s Brain Trauma Research Center, Dr. Dixon is an expert in the field of traumatic brain injury, publishing nearly 150 papers in refereed journals, one book and over 20 book chapters. He is the principal investigator or coinvestigator on a number of TBI-related grants.

An endowed chair designation recognizes eminence in a field of study that reflects outstanding contributions to a discipline and national and international recognition for those contributions.

Drs. Dixon and Gerszten join four other department faculty members currently holding university endowed chairs: Robert Friedlander, MD (Chair of Neurological Surgery), Douglas Kondziolka, MD (Peter J. Jannetta Chair), L. Dade Lunsford, MD (Lars Leksell Chair), and Ian Pollack, MD, (Walter Dandy Chair).