Established July 1998

Norton Healthcare established this chair with a gift that was matched by the Kentucky Spinal Cord and Head Injury Research Board and the state's Research Challenge Trust Fund. The chair's purpose is to advance research and education in neurosurgery, particularly related to treatments for spinal cord and head injuries.

James R. Petersdorf was a former president and CEO of NKC Inc., which established a trust fund for education and research to benefit Norton Hospital and Kosair Children's Hospital and the communities they serve.

Norton Healthcare has provided funding for many of the School of Medicine's clinical and research initiatives.