Chair of the University of Kentucky Departments of Surgery (1985-1996) and Neurosurgery
Legacy Obituary
Alfred Byron Young, MD, FACS, former chair of the UK departments of surgery and neurosurgery, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Westerville, Ohio on January 31st, 2025.
The UK Department of Surgery mourns the loss of one of its dynamic leaders and a giant in the field of surgical education and brain tumor research.
Dr. Young grew up in Kentucky and Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree from Transylvania University and was a member of the second medical school class at the University of Kentucky. Following his degree from the UK College of Medicine, he completed a residency in neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University.
After completing two years of military service, Dr. Young returned to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine as a professor of neurosurgery in 1975. As a faculty member, Dr. Young had clinical interests in carotid disease, brain injuries, and the treatment of brain tumors. He was awarded numerous National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants for investigations into brain injuries, particularly in the developing field of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for the treatment of brain cancer.
In 1985, Dr. Young was named the third chair of the surgery department following Ben Eiseman, MD, and Ward Griffen, MD. He would serve in that position for 11 years.
During his leadership, Dr. Young recruited surgical faculty with strong interests in research as well as several full-time PhD investigators. He also recruited faculty with strong commitments to teaching, such as David Sloan, MD, and Richard Schwartz, MD, to enhance resident and medical student education. As a result of his recruitment and support efforts, the UK Department of Surgery became ranked among the top 5 programs in surgical education.
"He was an early and very strong advocate for innovation in surgical education ... and an early proponent of quality initiatives. ... I shall mourn Dr. Young's passing," commented Dr. Sloan.
At the same time, the UK Department of Surgery's clinical services increased dramatically. By the end of Dr. Young's tenure, the number of operative cases increased to 8,500 and out-patient visits to 49,000 cases.
Dr. Young also established the division of otolaryngology at UK Chandler Hospital and recruited Raleigh Jones, MD, as its chief. He was also instrumental in the advent of UK trauma and support to UK Hospital's first helicopter trauma response team with its division chief, Donald Barker, MD.
In 1996, Dr. Young returned to neurosurgery full-time, nurturing its transition from a division to its own department, and served as its founding chair. While continuing his practice and contributing to advanced research, he served on the Council of the NIH Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and had a seat on the advisory committee to the Director of the NIH. In recognition of his contributions to brain tumor research, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons awarded him the prestigious Mahaley Award.
In the last few years of his life, Dr. Young was steadfast in his support of the mission of UK HealthCare and the two departments to which he dedicated so much of his expertise and love. His contributions as a surgeon, professor, and leader at the University of Kentucky continue to have a lasting impact.
