Dr. Follett named first Keegan chair

Kenneth Follett, M.D., recently was named the first Nancy A. Keegan and Donald R. Voelte, Jr. Chair in Neurosurgery in honor of Dr. J. Jay Keegan.

“It is an honor to recognize Dr. Follett with the Keegan Chair,” said Bradley Britigan, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine. “Ken is a leading example of excellence in research, teaching and service.”

Kenneth Follett, M.D.

Dr. Follett is professor and chief of the division of neurosurgery and program director of the neurosurgery residency training program. He also is one of the first surgeons in the Midwest to use deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson’s disease.

A trailblazer

The chair was established through a gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation by Nancy Keegan and her husband, Donald Voelte, to recognize Keegan’s grandfather, Dr. J. Jay Keegan, a 1915 graduate of the UNMC College of Medicine.

Dr. Keegan — considered as a pioneer in the field of medicine during his career — was dean of the UNMC College of Medicine from 1925 to 1929 and later was voluntary chairman of the UNMC Department of Surgery for 15 years.

Clinical and research contributions

He established the first neurosurgery practice in Omaha and became widely known as a premier surgeon, educator, administrator and researcher.

Among Dr. Keegan’s contributions in the area of research was the dermatome pattern that is still accepted as standard in most anatomy textbooks.