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Neurosurgeon of the Year
Collegial Commentaries Neurosurgeon of the Year
Hildo Azevedo-Filho, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.S.Ed. (S.N.) Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery, Hospital da Restauração, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
I
n selecting Albert Rhoton, Jr., the 2011 Neurosurgeon of the Year, WORLD NEUROSURGERY has paid tribute to one of the most outstanding human beings that I have ever met. Al Rhoton will be always admired for his simplicity and modesty, and above all for his total devotion to his profession, to his family, and to his religion. In one of the many lectures that I have had the privilege to attend, Al figuratively stated that, “if God picking him up from a humble countryside school located in the middle of nowhere in USA, had ordered to go through all the hard work of medical school, residency and training just to save the life of a young person, he would be completely rewarded for this exhausting work, but certainly will do everything again if it was deemed necessary.” However, if I may say, I have no doubt that God chose him not only to save one or hundreds of lives, but also to change the face of the neurosurgical world and to help several thousands of neurosurgeons scattered across the planet to save millions of lives. The way that Al has taught through his lectures and publications to almost every single active neurosurgeon during the last 35 years really modified the understanding of the microneurosurgical anatomy and permitted us to better approach and deal with the most complex operations in the brain. I frequently quote Andres Vesalius as actually the first human neuroanatomist in history. Clearly, Thomas Willis in the XVII century, helped by the drawings of Christopher Wren, produced the first scientific description of the vascular anatomy of the brain. To complete this triad, Al Rhoton put all of this knowledge together and drove us through his microsurgical findings and research to better manage our patients and to achieve better surgical results. WORLD NEUROSURGERY from its beginnings has had a prime commitment to inserting new ideas and new protagonists into this formidable new neurosurgical forum, allowing colleagues, even from less privileged parts of the world, to publish their work, which otherwise would be very unlikely to be appreciated by many international neurosurgical titles. In a similar way, Al Rhoton’s lifelong commitment has been to devote all his strength to bringing all neurosurgeons on Earth to know what he has developed on his laboratories, sharing his knowledge in the noblest way and without ever expecting to have any financial compensation. God bless him and we thank God for have permitted us to know Al Rhoton and to be his pupils and friends. 1878-8750/$ - see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.12.011
192
www.SCIENCEDIRECT.com
Armando Basso, M.D., Ph.D. Director of Neurosciences Institute, Guemes Neurosurgical Institute, Buenos Aires University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
T
he anatomy of the human body—the cornerstone for the development of surgery— has been described throughout history by key figures such as Herophilus (father of scientific anatomy), Galen, Leonardo da Vinci, Vesalius, Willis, Harvey, Malpighi, Cajal, Testut, among so many other anatomists. Their contributions set the foundations for the first attempts to solve, by the end of the 19th century, the surgical pathology of the nervous system. This descriptive and topographic anatomy contributed, to a certain extent, to the modern birth of our specialty (Neurosurgery), enabling its progress in terms of therapeutic results during the first six decades of the 20th century. In the 1960s, the introduction of the surgical microscope truly revolutionized the art of neurological surgery and consequently brought about the development of new techniques to manage certain pathologies that were, until then, considered to be very difficult or impossible to solve. In addition, the advances also contributed to a change in the expectations of patients and society regarding the results of the neurosurgical procedures. To perform this task to its full extent, there was something still missing—the guidance that has always been provided by the anatomy. However, new techniques called for another kind of neuroanatomy. Those beautiful descriptions coined by the great classical neuroanatomists were not enough for the, so to speak, boundless nature of surgical neuroanatomy, which is directly related to its approaches. Thus, the microsurgical view of the surgeon would vary in infinite ways, depending on the chosen path for attaining the goal. To describe these multiple paths, not only an extraordinary neuroanatomist was needed but also a neurosurgeon of outstanding nature. It is then, that the figure of Albert Rhoton comes to light for the benefit of patients all over the globe. Albert Rhoton, through his unequaled scientific work, his direct and indirect disciples, and his tireless academic contribution worldwide— he has travelled the world spreading his wisdom— has paved the way to the knowledge of surgical neuroanatomy like a true master and has become our guide, a reference point for the description of new procedures and instruments that have simplified our job. All this knowledge and experience would not have had such a worldwide reach hadn’t it been for the humane and moral traits that make Al Rhoton a special and unforgettable member of the neurosurgical community. Al was born in a small town in Kentucky and grew up in a house without running water or electricity. His humble origins undoubt-
75 [2]: 192-203, FEBRUARY 2011 WORLD NEUROSURGERY
COLLEGIAL COMMENTARIES
edly shaped his personality, in the clear and simple sense that only through great effort and intelligence we can attain success. During his years of medical school, and to make a living, he had to take the most diverse jobs, while fulfilling his obligations as a student; he knew from an early age that he had been born to be a neurosurgeon. His outstanding curriculum vitae is widely known by all of us; he graduated with Highest Academic Standing, Class of 1959, at the Washington University School of Medicine. He has received numerous honors and distinctions from many institutions and colleagues all over the world; however, we are certain that the decision of WORLD NEUROSURGERY to devote a special issue to Albert Rhoton as Neurosurgeon of the Year will be supported, without any reticence, by the approximately 30,000 neurosurgeons of the world. 1878-8750/$ - see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.12.040
Alvaro Campero, M.D., Mg.Ch. Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital “Angel Padilla” Tucumán, Argentina
W
riting about Dr. Rhoton is indeed an honor; as one of his fellow students, it is also a pleasure. I am sure I can state that Dr. Rhoton, a surgeon who followed wisely the lead and attitude of Halstead, the Mayo brothers, and certainly Harvey Cushing, was unique in the sense that in his person we can find the very essence of Vesalius and Fabritius the great anatomists as well. Thus with all the research he has produced and conducted, and the very teaching of neuroanatomy, with fellows and pupils in many countries, Dr. Rhoton became a towering figure. In addition, I regard him as somebody who did quite a lot for Latin America, not only because of his sound medical knowledge but also thanks to his great humane generosity spreading widely from Kentucky to the South Pacific and the River Plate. Anatomy and surgery, art and science, new techniques, and new ideas, the corpse and the operating microscope in the highest academic synthesis, aiming at better medical education with the suffering patient always in mind. Dr. Rhoton is permanently a most welcome senior colleague in every Latin American neurosurgical meeting. I wish to say for myself, and on behalf of many others in this part of our continent: “Muchas gracias señor; Dios lo bendiga.” 1878-8750/$ - see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.11.028
Paolo Cappabianca, M.D. Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery, Department of Neurological Sciences, Division of Neurosurgery, Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
O
n September 18th, 2010, there was a ceremony in memory of a beloved scientist, dean of medicine in our university, Gaetano Salvatore. One of the speakers really wanted
WORLD NEUROSURGERY 75 [2]: 192-203, FEBRUARY 2011
to praise the incredible spirit of this man, but, surprisingly, he did not mention a single episode of his life, nor did he enunciate his brilliant deeds or his greatness as a scientist. Indeed, the lecturer, Guido Trombetti, former chancellor of the University of Naples “Federico II,” tried to communicate the sense of unique compassion that the great man radiated, reminding us how everyone who knew him had a brief anecdote to tell, even if it had never happened. Speaking about Albert L. Rhoton Jr. as neurosurgeon and man is a similar challenge for me: among the neurosurgical community, his stature makes everyone yearn for the opportunity to share his experiences, to receive a technical hint, or simply narrate a tale in which he figured to be a cornerstone as well. Undoubtedly Dr. Rhoton is a giant: tall and dominant—notwithstanding, he resides in the “sunshine state”— but at first sight he appears dark and reserved. Despite this austere front, his serene and friendly mind and feelings immediately are apparent. He does not preserve the due reverential distance but rather with gentleness, sympathetically (2), he brings every interlocutor into his world. This adds much more to his high-ranking profile. Here is the man whom you have read about so many times, that you have referred to for different surgical procedures, that you, with students, residents, and colleagues, have pointed out as a model to define the basis of our careers. It’s he who offers at your sight those incredibly beautiful pictures of colors and anatomical shapes, which have been captured in his laboratory and that he has taught doctors all over the world to recreate. Up to this date, he has spent, and continues to spend, his efforts to satisfy the vocational call that makes every one of us a doctor with constant adaptation and continuous desire for improvement. He dedicated his studies to prepare himself to help others (2) and always is moved to share his ideas, his knowledge, and his experience with coworkers as well as with all other colleagues throughout the world, understanding the enormous possibilities of widespread compassion and competence (2). He has demonstrated his enthusiastic spirit and, above all, he has never underestimated the younger generations, instead teaching them, in an egalitarian environment to bridge the generation gap, the lessons he has learned. Al Rhoton is the son of a young country and an ancient democracy who has welcomed scientists of every country and has been able to find a common language, based upon study, passion for one’s own work, and classical culture, the same language inspiring great artists, for instance Michelangelo Buonarroti (1). Albert Rhoton expresses the common texture abridging the scientific and humanistic disciplines, the figurative arts, and physiology. His contribution has defined a model and method consistent and reproducible everywhere, one that speaks a universal language to avoid a library of Babel. If the neurosurgeon’s library does not host any of Rhoton’s books or articles, it is definitely incomplete—it lacks a main pillar so that this unwise reader could be risking failure in the surgical theatre. Observing him as an educator, I am reminded of the words of my high school history and philosophy teacher, Vera Lombardi, who said, “The School, what is the School? The School is the Teachers.” Hence, Albert Rhoton is recognized, in addition for his humanity and neurosurgical expertise, for excellence in the field of education.
www.WORLDNEUROSURGERY.org
193
Hildo Azevedo-Filho, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.S.Ed. (S.N.) Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery, Hospital da Restauração, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
I
n selecting Albert Rhoton, Jr., the 2011 Neurosurgeon of the Year, WORLD NEUROSURGERY has paid tribute to one of the most outstanding human beings that I have ever met. Al Rhoton will be always admired for his simplicity and modesty, and above all for his total devotion to his profession, to his family, and to his religion. In one of the many lectures that I have had the privilege to attend, Al figuratively stated that, “if God picking him up from a humble countryside school located in the middle of nowhere in USA, had ordered to go through all the hard work of medical school, residency and training just to save the life of a young person, he would be completely rewarded for this exhausting work, but certainly will do everything again if it was deemed necessary.” However, if I may say, I have no doubt that God chose him not only to save one or hundreds of lives, but also to change the face of the neurosurgical world and to help several thousands of neurosurgeons scattered across the planet to save millions of lives. The way that Al has taught through his lectures and publications to almost every single active neurosurgeon during the last 35 years really modified the understanding of the microneurosurgical anatomy and permitted us to better approach and deal with the most complex operations in the brain. I frequently quote Andres Vesalius as actually the first human neuroanatomist in history. Clearly, Thomas Willis in the XVII century, helped by the drawings of Christopher Wren, produced the first scientific description of the vascular anatomy of the brain. To complete this triad, Al Rhoton put all of this knowledge together and drove us through his microsurgical findings and research to better manage our patients and to achieve better surgical results. WORLD NEUROSURGERY from its beginnings has had a prime commitment to inserting new ideas and new protagonists into this formidable new neurosurgical forum, allowing colleagues, even from less privileged parts of the world, to publish their work, which otherwise would be very unlikely to be appreciated by many international neurosurgical titles. In a similar way, Al Rhoton’s lifelong commitment has been to devote all his strength to bringing all neurosurgeons on Earth to know what he has developed on his laboratories, sharing his knowledge in the noblest way and without ever expecting to have any financial compensation. God bless him and we thank God for have permitted us to know Al Rhoton and to be his pupils and friends. 1878-8750/$ - see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.12.011
192
www.SCIENCEDIRECT.com
Armando Basso, M.D., Ph.D. Director of Neurosciences Institute, Guemes Neurosurgical Institute, Buenos Aires University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
T
he anatomy of the human body—the cornerstone for the development of surgery— has been described throughout history by key figures such as Herophilus (father of scientific anatomy), Galen, Leonardo da Vinci, Vesalius, Willis, Harvey, Malpighi, Cajal, Testut, among so many other anatomists. Their contributions set the foundations for the first attempts to solve, by the end of the 19th century, the surgical pathology of the nervous system. This descriptive and topographic anatomy contributed, to a certain extent, to the modern birth of our specialty (Neurosurgery), enabling its progress in terms of therapeutic results during the first six decades of the 20th century. In the 1960s, the introduction of the surgical microscope truly revolutionized the art of neurological surgery and consequently brought about the development of new techniques to manage certain pathologies that were, until then, considered to be very difficult or impossible to solve. In addition, the advances also contributed to a change in the expectations of patients and society regarding the results of the neurosurgical procedures. To perform this task to its full extent, there was something still missing—the guidance that has always been provided by the anatomy. However, new techniques called for another kind of neuroanatomy. Those beautiful descriptions coined by the great classical neuroanatomists were not enough for the, so to speak, boundless nature of surgical neuroanatomy, which is directly related to its approaches. Thus, the microsurgical view of the surgeon would vary in infinite ways, depending on the chosen path for attaining the goal. To describe these multiple paths, not only an extraordinary neuroanatomist was needed but also a neurosurgeon of outstanding nature. It is then, that the figure of Albert Rhoton comes to light for the benefit of patients all over the globe. Albert Rhoton, through his unequaled scientific work, his direct and indirect disciples, and his tireless academic contribution worldwide— he has travelled the world spreading his wisdom— has paved the way to the knowledge of surgical neuroanatomy like a true master and has become our guide, a reference point for the description of new procedures and instruments that have simplified our job. All this knowledge and experience would not have had such a worldwide reach hadn’t it been for the humane and moral traits that make Al Rhoton a special and unforgettable member of the neurosurgical community. Al was born in a small town in Kentucky and grew up in a house without running water or electricity. His humble origins undoubt-
75 [2]: 192-203, FEBRUARY 2011 WORLD NEUROSURGERY
COLLEGIAL COMMENTARIES
edly shaped his personality, in the clear and simple sense that only through great effort and intelligence we can attain success. During his years of medical school, and to make a living, he had to take the most diverse jobs, while fulfilling his obligations as a student; he knew from an early age that he had been born to be a neurosurgeon. His outstanding curriculum vitae is widely known by all of us; he graduated with Highest Academic Standing, Class of 1959, at the Washington University School of Medicine. He has received numerous honors and distinctions from many institutions and colleagues all over the world; however, we are certain that the decision of WORLD NEUROSURGERY to devote a special issue to Albert Rhoton as Neurosurgeon of the Year will be supported, without any reticence, by the approximately 30,000 neurosurgeons of the world. 1878-8750/$ - see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.12.040
Alvaro Campero, M.D., Mg.Ch. Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital “Angel Padilla” Tucumán, Argentina
W
riting about Dr. Rhoton is indeed an honor; as one of his fellow students, it is also a pleasure. I am sure I can state that Dr. Rhoton, a surgeon who followed wisely the lead and attitude of Halstead, the Mayo brothers, and certainly Harvey Cushing, was unique in the sense that in his person we can find the very essence of Vesalius and Fabritius the great anatomists as well. Thus with all the research he has produced and conducted, and the very teaching of neuroanatomy, with fellows and pupils in many countries, Dr. Rhoton became a towering figure. In addition, I regard him as somebody who did quite a lot for Latin America, not only because of his sound medical knowledge but also thanks to his great humane generosity spreading widely from Kentucky to the South Pacific and the River Plate. Anatomy and surgery, art and science, new techniques, and new ideas, the corpse and the operating microscope in the highest academic synthesis, aiming at better medical education with the suffering patient always in mind. Dr. Rhoton is permanently a most welcome senior colleague in every Latin American neurosurgical meeting. I wish to say for myself, and on behalf of many others in this part of our continent: “Muchas gracias señor; Dios lo bendiga.” 1878-8750/$ - see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.11.028
Paolo Cappabianca, M.D. Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery, Department of Neurological Sciences, Division of Neurosurgery, Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
O
n September 18th, 2010, there was a ceremony in memory of a beloved scientist, dean of medicine in our university, Gaetano Salvatore. One of the speakers really wanted
WORLD NEUROSURGERY 75 [2]: 192-203, FEBRUARY 2011
to praise the incredible spirit of this man, but, surprisingly, he did not mention a single episode of his life, nor did he enunciate his brilliant deeds or his greatness as a scientist. Indeed, the lecturer, Guido Trombetti, former chancellor of the University of Naples “Federico II,” tried to communicate the sense of unique compassion that the great man radiated, reminding us how everyone who knew him had a brief anecdote to tell, even if it had never happened. Speaking about Albert L. Rhoton Jr. as neurosurgeon and man is a similar challenge for me: among the neurosurgical community, his stature makes everyone yearn for the opportunity to share his experiences, to receive a technical hint, or simply narrate a tale in which he figured to be a cornerstone as well. Undoubtedly Dr. Rhoton is a giant: tall and dominant—notwithstanding, he resides in the “sunshine state”— but at first sight he appears dark and reserved. Despite this austere front, his serene and friendly mind and feelings immediately are apparent. He does not preserve the due reverential distance but rather with gentleness, sympathetically (2), he brings every interlocutor into his world. This adds much more to his high-ranking profile. Here is the man whom you have read about so many times, that you have referred to for different surgical procedures, that you, with students, residents, and colleagues, have pointed out as a model to define the basis of our careers. It’s he who offers at your sight those incredibly beautiful pictures of colors and anatomical shapes, which have been captured in his laboratory and that he has taught doctors all over the world to recreate. Up to this date, he has spent, and continues to spend, his efforts to satisfy the vocational call that makes every one of us a doctor with constant adaptation and continuous desire for improvement. He dedicated his studies to prepare himself to help others (2) and always is moved to share his ideas, his knowledge, and his experience with coworkers as well as with all other colleagues throughout the world, understanding the enormous possibilities of widespread compassion and competence (2). He has demonstrated his enthusiastic spirit and, above all, he has never underestimated the younger generations, instead teaching them, in an egalitarian environment to bridge the generation gap, the lessons he has learned. Al Rhoton is the son of a young country and an ancient democracy who has welcomed scientists of every country and has been able to find a common language, based upon study, passion for one’s own work, and classical culture, the same language inspiring great artists, for instance Michelangelo Buonarroti (1). Albert Rhoton expresses the common texture abridging the scientific and humanistic disciplines, the figurative arts, and physiology. His contribution has defined a model and method consistent and reproducible everywhere, one that speaks a universal language to avoid a library of Babel. If the neurosurgeon’s library does not host any of Rhoton’s books or articles, it is definitely incomplete—it lacks a main pillar so that this unwise reader could be risking failure in the surgical theatre. Observing him as an educator, I am reminded of the words of my high school history and philosophy teacher, Vera Lombardi, who said, “The School, what is the School? The School is the Teachers.” Hence, Albert Rhoton is recognized, in addition for his humanity and neurosurgical expertise, for excellence in the field of education.
www.WORLDNEUROSURGERY.org
193