Peter Jannetta Lectureship | University of Pittsburgh

Peter J. Jannetta Lectureship

The Peter J. Jannetta Lecture—focusing on innovations in the field of neurosurgery—is held annually in honor of the former chair of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Jannetta was world-renown for his development of microvascular decompression (MVD), an innovative procedure that moved blood vessels away from the trigeminal nerve, alleviating chronic pain and spasms in facial muscles. The procedure became commonly known as the "Jannetta Procedure" around the world and brought relief to thousands.

The annual Jannetta Lecture follows the highly successful Jannetta Symposium that was held in Pittsburgh in April of 2017. The day-long event featured over two-dozen lectures from international leaders in the field of neurosurgery and was attended by more than 120 neurosurgeons and residents. The event took a wide-ranging look at innovations taking place in the field of neurosurgery, as well as a celebration of the accomplishments of Dr. Jannetta.

Prominent figures in the field of neurosurgery, including Stephen Haines, MD; Hae-Dong Jho, MD, PhD; Bruce Pollock, MD; Laligam Sekhar, MD; Chandra Sen, MD; Gregory Thompson, MD; and Howard Yonas, MD, joined department leaders Robert Friedlander, MD; Paul Gardner, MD; L. Dade Lunsford, MD; David Okonkwo, MD, PhD, and Ian Pollack, MD, among others, to discuss the latest advances in skull base surgery, microvascular decompression, vascular surgery, endovascular surgery, radiosurgery and spine surgery.

Dr. Jannetta, who passed away in April of 2016, published more than 400 scientific articles, abstracts and book chapters and won several awards for his contributions to the field. Perhaps more importantly, he helped create one of the most prominent neurosurgery training programs in the world, training scores of residents, many of whom have gone on to be leaders in the field themselves.

Past Jannetta Lecturers:

2024: Michael T. Lawton, MD, Barrow Institute
2023: Douglas Kondziolka, MD, New York University
2022: Martina Stippler, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
2021: Roberto C. Heros, MD, University of Miami
2020: No lecture. Cancelled due to COVID-19.
2019: Elad Levy, MD, L. Nelson Hopkins III Professor, University of Buffalo
2018: Daniel Resnick, MD, University of Wisconsin

2017 Jannetta Symposium Highlights

Watch video below of Robert Friedlander, MD, chairman of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery and course director of the symposium, provide opening remarks at inaugural Peter J. Jannetta Symposium on Innovation in Neurosurgery.