NEUROSURGERY AT THE UNIVERSITY-OF-VIRGINIA

BEFORE 1937, MEMBERS of the Department of Surgery and Gynecology pract iced emergency neurosurgery at the University of Virginia in the same fashion as in other hospitals in the United States. In 1937, Claude C. Coleman, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical Co llege of Virginia in Richmond, organized a Division of Neurosurgery as part of the Department of Surgery and Gynecology at the University of Virginia. He designated one of his staff members, John M. Meredith, a s Neurosurgeon-in-charge. Dr. Coleman served as Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Virginia from 1937 to 1941, while also working in Richmond. This arrangement attracted increasing numbers of patients, leading to the formation of a separate department , under the direction of William Gayle Crutchfield, in 1941. In conjun ction with juan de Dies Martinez-Galindo, who joined the faculty in 19 43, Dr. Crutchfield built and directed the neurosurgical training prog ram until his retirement. In 1969, John A. jane, Sr., became Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery. Pursuing the Jefferso nian intent of attracting ''... those of due degree of science and of talents for instruction,'' the Department has been enhanced by the arr ival of Neal F. Kassell in 1984, Ladislau Steiner in 1987, Edward R. L aws, Ir., in 1992, Dheerendra Prasad in 1995, Gregory Helm in 1996, an d Mark Shaffrey in 1997. Resident training has been a priority of the Department of Neurosurgery; many academic neurosurgeons were trained a nd practiced their specialty in the Department early in their careers. Sixty years after its foundation, the Department of Neurosurgery cont inues its commitment to patient care, research, and the ''... instruct ion of those who come after us.''