Named Lectureships

The James D. Prokop, MD Lecture in Neurosurgery series was founded by Mrs. Katherine Prokop in honor of her late husband James D. Prokop, MD a prominent and beloved faculty member in the Department of Neurosurgery for many years. The annual lecture usually takes place in late April or May and features a prominent Neurosurgeon chosen by the residents. The lecture also provides an opportunity for faculty and residents to meet with the speaker, share their research ides, and gain valuable insight. This year marked the inaugural James D. Prokop Lecture in Neurosurgery with Edward Chang, MD from UCSF as the inaugural speaker.

James D. Prokop, MD graduated from Yale University in 1955, and then from the Yale School of Medicine in 1959. Following his training Dr. Prokop practiced neurosurgery for his entire medical career.

Dr. Prokop was a true son of Yale, a “double blue,” an active member of the Medical School Class of 1959 for a myriad of alumni activities, and service to the Association of Yale Alumni Executive Board, as well as a delegate to the Yale University Assembly, representing the School of Medicine. The Class of 1959 considers Mrs. Katherine Prokop a true member of their class, and she regularly attends their class reunions and other special occasions.

Mrs. Prokop is a retired attorney and during her illustrious career served as senior counsel to several corporations. She earned her B.A. from Smith College and her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Mrs. Prokop has been a close friend to the Department of Neurosurgery for more than 20 years. Mrs. Prokop has been active in helping the School of Medicine plan and orchestrate a series of very successful lectures, symposiums and social events in her hometown of Greenwich CT.

In 1997 the Michael S. Voynick Lecture was established through the generosity of Irene Voynick in honor of Michael S Voynick.

The Thudichum Post–Doctoral Research Fellowship in Neuro–oncology was established recently within the fields of cell biology, neurochemistry, and adult stem cell research at Yale to support the study of brain tumors.

The fellowship established by Irene Voynick of Trumbull, honors the 19th century German medical practitioner and surgeon Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Thudichum (1829–1901), who characterized the chemical composition of the brain and is regarded as the pioneer of neurochemistry.

Ms. Voynick previously established two additional funds in this same area of research–the Michael S. Voynick Lecture in Neuro–oncology and the Voynick Visiting Fellowship in the Section of Neuro–oncology.

The Michael S. Voynick Lecture was inaugurated in 1997 in honor of Ms. Voynick’s nephew. The annual award is in recognition of clinicians and scientists who have made lasting contributions to the treatment of patients with brain tumors. The lecture was established in collaboration with the Yale Section of Neuro–oncology and is administered by Joseph Piepmeier, M.D., professor of neurosurgery at Yale.

The Voynick Visiting Fellowship in the Section of Neuro–oncology supports visiting clinicians from international medical centers who study the evaluation and treatment of patients with brain tumors. It is anticipated that the visiting fellowships will be used to establish ongoing collaborative relationships between the Yale Section on Neuro–oncology and medical centers in other countries.

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