Neurosurgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital

THE DEPARTMENT OF Neurosurgery of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) is a m ajor neurosurgery program and academic leader in Australasia. In 1998, the RMH marked its 150th anniversary. The department of neurosurgery was establ ished in 1945 under the direction of R.S, Hooper and has produced many dist inguished neurosurgeons since its founding. The department is currently dir ected by Andrew Kaye, who is also the lames Stewart Professor of Surgery at the University of Melbourne. In 1997-1998, the neurosurgery department rec eived 2930 admissions and performed 2225 operations, with 11 neurosurgeons on staff and a strong focus on subspecialization. The neurosurgeons have va rying time commitments to the hospital and to research, but many are on sit e full-time. The RMH is a university teaching hospital as well as a public hospital; therefore, there is no financial burden for any patient. The RMH is closely linked to the adjacent Melbourne Private Hospital, where private ly insured patients are treated. The department of neurosurgery maintains c lose links with the departments of neurology, ophthalmology, and neuropsych iatry, which together form the Melbourne Neuroscience Centre, There is a st rong emphasis on undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, as well as clinic al and laboratory research. Neurosurgery trainees are encouraged to underta ke laboratory research and pursue higher academic degrees. Despite economic restraints, the department continues to grow in strength, and we remain op timistic of exciting times ahead for neurosurgery at the RMH in the new mil lennium.