William Thorell, M.D., was awarded the Lyal G. Leibrock, M.D., Chair of Neurosurgery in a ceremony Friday night in the Linder Reading Room of the Sorrell Center.
A 1996 graduate of the UNMC College of Medicine with highest distinction, Dr. Thorell did his internship and residency in neurosurgery at UNMC and a two-year fellowship in endovascular surgical neuroradiology at the Cleveland Clinic. He joined the UNMC faculty in 2004 as assistant professor and was elevated to associate professor in 2011.
The endowed chair, which was created with $1 million in gifts to the University of Nebraska Foundation, honors Dr. Leibrock, a legendary neurosurgeon who served on the UNMC faculty from 1978-2005 and was neurosurgery section chief for 17 years. Dr. Leibrock died in 2005 at the age of 64.
During his career, Dr. Leibrock was instrumental in raising money — and donating his own money — to help establish several professorships, chairs and resident funds designed to strengthen the section of neurosurgery.
Working with the foundation, Les Hellbusch, M.D., Dr. Leibrock’s friend and neurosurgical colleague, started to raise funds for the endowed chair but didn’t get all the money raised before Dr. Leibrock’s death. Dr. Hellbusch promised his friend that he would complete the funding for the chair.
Much of the money raised for the endowed chair came from private practice neurosurgeons and neurologists in Nebraska as well as former residents and fellows who trained in the UNMC neurosurgery program.
“As someone who trained under Dr. Leibrock, I’m truly honored,” Dr. Thorell said. “Lyal was so unique. There was no one like him. Our personas were alike. I see the world very similar to the way Lyal saw the world.”
Among Dr. Thorell’s numerous awards, he received the Kenneth M. Browne Neurosurgery Award (1996), the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award (2008), the Physician of Distinction Award (2008), the Early Career Achievement Award from the College of Medicine Alumni Association (2011), and the Special Professional Achievement Award from the College of Medicine in 2013. In addition, the Midlands Business Journal selected Dr. Thorell in its 2007 class of 40 Under 40.
The endowed chair was presented to Dr. Thorell by Dr. Leibrock’s wife, Judi. Other speakers included Bradley Britigan, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine; Ken Follett, M.D., Ph.D., professor and the Keegan/Voelte Jr. Endowed Chair of Neurosurgery; and Dr. Hellbusch, clinical professor of neurosurgery.
Bill,
Congratulations ! I'm proud of you many accomplishments. Hal Maurer
Bill, proud to be your classmate! I was always early to class but you were there earlier-sitting at the top-usually studying but sometimes reading the sports page. You are proof that hard work pays off
Congratulations, Dr. Thorell, for this well deserved honor! It is a pleasure to know you.
Very well deserved, congratulations!
Congratulations Dr. Thorell – well done!
Congratulations…perhaps it makes up for the seemingly endless hours we spent waiting for trauma CTs to be completed back in the 90s
I couldn't agree more! As a medical student, I learned so much from Dr. Thorell even though I never was even on service with him. He was always teaching on the ward even in residency and had the ability to understand and distill the essence of complex ideas, and then explain them so well that the concepts seemed simple. Congratulations!
You were the best surgery intern ever! Knew you'd go far. Your former 3rd year med student.
Congrats Dr. Thorell. You deserve it! Proud to have worked with you in the old days at Methodist O.R.
Congratulations, Dr Thorell. I very much enjoyed working with you in my time at UMNC
Congratulations on this well deserved honor!
Congratulations Dr. Thorell.. no one better to receive this award!
Congratulations! No one is more deserving, speaking from a personal experience!
Dr. Thorell saved my friend Deborah's life after she had an aneurysm. Congratulations and thank you!
Congratulations Dr. Thorell. My husband Jim Wilkinson & I feel this is a deserved honor for you. We thank you for what you did for Jim, myself, & our family at UNMC.
Congratulations! You are so deserving-so proud to work with you and care for your patients!
Amazing man and surgeon! Congrats Dr. Thorell!!!
Congratulations, Bill! We are so lucky to have you here at UNMC! Kudos on this well-deserved honor!
Bill, your dad once told me "This kid is going to be something!"
So proud of you and he would be too! Uncle Dennis
Congratulations Dr. Thorell. It is an honor to know you and be able to work with you.
Congratulations Bill, you have made the whole old neighborhood proud as can be!
Congratulations to a remarkable doctor and person
As one of your patients Dr. Thorell. What an honor! Congratulations!
Holly
Tears of joy! How absolutely wonderful!
Bill! Congratulations. Well-deserved indeed. Best! Diego
Congratulations, Bill! Most-deserving!
Way to go Bill! Well deserved!
Congratulations! it was an honor to work with you-no one is more deserving of this honor
Congratulations Dr. Thorell! You are an amazing surgeon & teacher, so well deserved.
Congratulations Dr Thorell. I can think of no one I would rather have treating my husband, Don Hammond than you. You are the best!
Congratulations Dr. Thorell..
Congratulations Dr. Thorell – not bad for a middle infielder…well deserved!
I am so glad to have had the luck and opportunity to have been in Dr Billy's brain lab. I am very happy that you have been the recipient of such a prestigious award.
Congratulations Dr. Thorell. Esteemed recognition for years of dedication and achievement.
Congratulations Dr. Thorell! A well-deserved honor for an amazing surgeon, teacher and colleague/friend. Thanks for all you do!
Congratulations my friend!