About OHSU Department of Neurological Surgery

The Mission of the OHSU Department of Neurological Surgery is to promote:

• High quality health care delivery in the clinical neurosciences emphasizing innovation and the dissemination of new knowledge;
• Curricula and an environment that stimulates, spirit of inquiry, initiative and cooperation between and among students and staff;
• Research into the prevention and cure of neurological disease and disability;
• Community outreach programs in health education, research and patient care that facilitate our mission as part of an educational institution and as a statewide consultative resource for the clinical neurosciences. This is the foundation upon which the department continues to grow and prepare for the next millennium of neurosurgical care, training and research.
  

Neurological Surgery at OHSU services four hospitals...

• OHSU Hospital
• Doernbecher Children's Hospital
• Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center
• Portland Shriners Hospital

Neurological Surgery History

1930’s
The first neurosurgeon at OHSU (then called the University of Oregon Medical School) was Arthur McClean M.D. who arrived in the early 1930's from the training program of Harvey Cushing M.D.

1936
John Raaf, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic joined Arthur McClean M.D. These two prominent physicians continued to manage and develop the neurosurgical training until Dr. McClean's death in 1940.

1948
Dr. Raaf formed the first formal neurosurgical training program, which was located at Good Samaritan Hospital.

1958
George Austin, M.D. was appointed head of the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Division of Neurosurgery within the Department of Surgery.
First neurosurgical residents are trained at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Division of Neurosurgery.

1966
Harold Paxton, M.D., was appointed chief of the Division of Neurosurgery and recruits A.E. Gallo, Jr., M.D., as the chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery.

1988
Kim Burchiel, M.D., takes the place of Dr. Paxton (Professor Emeritus) as the chief of the Division.

1998
The division of Neurosurgery was granted full department status within the School of Medicine and officially became known as the Department of Neurological Surgery.

Kim Burchiel, M.D., was appointed John Raaf Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery.

The department's mission remains commitment to quality of care, academic excellence and research.