Dr. Mike Levitt has been named the next holder of the prestigious Arthur A. Ward Endowed Professorship in Neurological Surgery. Dr. Levitt exemplifies the commitment to academic cerebrovascular clinical work, cutting edge research and educating the future leaders in our field. He is an internationally recognized leader in the treatment of cerebrovascular disease, both clinically and in the research realm. He is a respected and admired leader in the department, at Harborview Medical Center, and at the School of Medicine.
The Ward Professorship was established in 1987 through the Regional Excellence campaign which was conducted jointly by the School of Medicine and University Hospital to raise funds sufficient to endow several professorships and chairs at the University. Included among these was the Arthur A. Ward Professorship in Neurological Surgery, named in honor of the first chair of the Neurological Surgery Department and director of the Epilepsy Center in Seattle. The Ward Professorship was first held by Dr. Daniel L. Silbergeld from 1997-2025. Dr. Silbergeld is a renowned tumor surgeon, beloved educator and former Chief of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center.
Arthur A. Ward, Jr., born in Manipay, Ceylon, received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from Yale University. After serving an internship at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, New York and a residency at Montreal Neurological Institute in Canada, he became an instructor of neurosurgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. In 1948, Dr. Ward joined the University of Washington faculty as assistant professor of surgery and was subsequently promoted to associate professor and then to professor. In 1965, he was appointed the first chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery and served in this capacity until 1981. He retired in 1986 and passed away in 1997.
Dr. Ward, an internationally acclaimed expert in epilepsy, was instrumental in establishing the Regional Epilepsy Center at Harborview Medical Center, one of the first in the nation. He served as president of the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons and held offices and memberships in many other professional organizations and societies. He also served on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals related to the field of neurological science.