I am pleased and proud to announce that Kathryn Holloway, M.D., the first female neurosurgeon to join VCU's faculty, will deliver the keynote address at the School of Medicine’s 2026 graduation ceremonies.
Dr. Holloway, who completed her neurosurgery residency training at VCU, has devoted her career to advancing surgical treatments for neurologic diseases, expanding access to care and mentoring the next generation of physicians and scientists. Over the course of more than 40 years at VCU, she has built a busy practice while laying the foundation for what would become a nationally respected functional neurosurgery program.
While her early work focused on epilepsy surgery, Dr. Holloway recognized the transformative potential of deep brain stimulation (DBS) early on. She assembled a multidisciplinary team that ultimately led the Richmond VA Medical Center to become one of only six Parkinson’s Disease, Research, Education and Clinical Centers within the national VA health care system. This collaborative model inspired the creation of the VCU Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center, which is now recognized as a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence.
In addition to her clinical and research achievements, Dr. Holloway has played a leading role in shaping standards for the field by authoring national guidelines, serving on panels for stereotactic neurosurgery societies and now serving on the NIH Neurological Sciences and Disorders C study section.
A deeply committed educator, Dr. Holloway has received annual awards for excellence in teaching and has mentored countless medical students, residents, and fellows. She is especially proud that the VCU neurosurgery residency program is now composed of more than 50% women — a rarity in the field.
Dr. Holloway was elected to the Society of Neurological Surgeons in 2006, one of the few women to achieve this distinction at the time. She previously delivered the commencement address for Rutgers University-Camden in 2013 and is a proud member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Brown-Sequard Chapter at VCU.
We are all looking forward to celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of our graduating class this May, and I am confident that Dr. Holloway’s clinical innovation, research leadership and commitment to teaching will inspire us all.
Sincerely,
Stephen L. Kates, M.D.
Interim dean, VCU School of Medicine
Interim executive vice president for medical affairs, VCU Health
