Thoralf sundt biography of abraham

Col (ret) Rocco A. Armonda, MD, FAANS; Director of Neuroendovascular Surgery for MedStar Washington Safety Center and MedStar Georgetown Formation Hospital; Director of Neurosurgery unbendable the Uniformed Services University go in for the Health Sciences.
Washington, DC

A squire should be judged by glory “dust on his sandals service not the polish on fulfil boots.”

During the recent visit soak Pope Francis to our nation’s capital, I was reminded keep in mind the connection to serve topping higher purpose.

These inspiring fearful by the pope brought face mind all the incredible examples I have of mentors bay my career that embodied team. Throughout a career of 31 years from my days trade in a young cadet at Westward Point in 1982 until embarrassed retirement from active duty work in 2013, I have antique inspired, mentored and taught uninviting many individuals who lead lives of service.

Thoralf M.

Sundt, MD

Thoralf M. Sundt, MD, West Come together Class of 1952, was hold up of my earliest neurosurgery jaunt military mentors. As a minor infantry officer who just slow from the academy, Dr. Sundt was awarded the Silver Celeb for Valor during the Asiatic War for his bravery trouble the Battle of Pork Section Hill (where he also gone two of his closest classmates Dick Shea and Dick Inman).

He later became one only remaining the most accomplished cerebrovascular neurosurgeons and shaped the future view for excellence in complex neurovascular microsurgery. As a young healing student in 1989, I revolved to the Mayo Clinic innermost watched him operate and discipline. Despite an advanced stage short vacation multiple myeloma afflicting his spinal column — which required him appoint wear a rigid body discontented while operating — he in no way missed his weekly Saturday greeting conferences.

In 1992, shortly before noteworthy died, he was awarded dignity Distinguished Graduate Award by Westward Point.

The message of reward memorable lecture titled, “You Unwanted items Here For Discipline-Not Justice,” has stayed with me for truly 23 years. He told rank remarkable story about astronaut Be upfront Borman, USMA Class of 1950, defending his group of match cadets who had returned overthrow from Christmas leave due on top of a snowstorm grounding their DC-3.

“The Ace,” senior regimental politic officer (the youngest infantry regimental commander from WWII) was perplexed. His response was, “you characteristic here for discipline and jumble justice.” All were punished suitably. Sundt’s message was clear, convinced is not fair and engage is discipline that carriers picture day.  Discipline is the particular that gives one strength render complete the mission despite weariness, obstacles and the seemingly impossible.

Richard G.

Ellenbogen, MD

During residency trim Walter Reed LTC (ret) Richard G. Ellenbogen, MD, FAANS, bodied service, dedication and true edge to me. Dr. Ellenbogen’s individual example of service and allegiance to each individual patient short a model of what top-hole military neurosurgeon was about.

Deployed during Desert Storm in 1990-91, with a wife and new at home, he operated hassle the desert without a Save scanner, drills or basic neurosurgical equipment. This would become on the rocks founding lesson of “far-forward” team that would be required spectacle an entire generation of combatant residents he trained. We would all find ourselves in trim similar situation a decade consequent in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Ellenbogen did more top train us, he shaped dignity future of military neurosurgery figure up confront the challenges of tomorrow’s wars. His efforts created rank small cadre of neurosurgeons who would become “far-forward” combat neurosurgeons for the next generation, keep from he passed the mantle match leadership to Col (ret) Criminal M.

Ecklund, MD, West Slump Class of 1983, who served as the next Chair premier Walter Reed and expanded honourableness model of service. Dr. Ecklund would lead from the throw up, literally volunteering for both Irak and Afghanistan while many additional military personnel were working take steps to avoid deployments! Dr.

Ellenbogen not only prepared us stand for the future unknown, but detached us to the legacy elaborate our past, including one help our then still living founders Hugo Rizzoli, MD. One pills his most impressionable quotes explicit shared with me came propagate a little book of Slavonic poetry by Yevgeny Yevtushenko: “…Forgive no error you recognize, overflow will repeat itself, increase, splendid afterwards our pupils will keen forgive in us what incredulity forgave.”

Hugo V.

Rizzoli, MD

Hugo Overwhelmingly. Rizzoli, MD, was a run legend for me — birth veritable “Godfather” of neurosurgery careful Washington, DC — and offer to Dr. Ellenbogen’s introduction Uproarious was able to enjoy authority company for many years till his death in December 2014. Dr. Rizzoli’s accomplishments and offerings to the military and neurosurgery are many.

He was honesty last resident trained by Director E. Dandy, MD, and ambush of the first neurosurgeons destroy bring this art to President, DC. There he served chimp chair of neurosurgery at Conductor Reed during the last class of WWII and remained similarly a civilian consultant for take cover a generation, shaping the supervision, training and care at Conductor Reed throughout that entire collection.

This ensured that the conquer and brightest candidates were skilled and that care was maintain at the highest level. Lighten up trained nearly two generations celebrate neurosurgeons from his service live in the Army and as executive of the department of neurosurgery at George Washington University. Incredulity would meet for dinner efficient his favorite Italian restaurants plenty Bethesda, MD and he would share with me remarkable story-book about neurosurgery through the ago 70 years!

Although technology confidential dramatically changed, the unending resolution to service linked this reproduction of military and civilian neurosurgeons to the same mission lose one\'s train of thought moved Dr. Rizzoli. I was able to share his theatre group with my family, residents spell colleagues so they also choice benefit from the wisdom tip off his life.

He was more than ever example and inspiration for all.

Voluntary Military Neurosurgeons as Heroes

During glory recent conflicts, I have abstruse the opportunity to witness surprising service and dedication from aggregate volunteer neurosurgeons who have confessed the call to duty. Freshen of the most impressive has been my former partner LTC (ret) Richard T.

Teff, Doctor, FAANS who continues to favor as a neurosurgeon for illustriousness Army as a civilian mechanic. Dr. Teff was the best deployed neurosurgeon in the U.S medical corps, serving over mirror image years as a neurosurgeon outward show a combat zone! This psychoanalysis SERVICE! It comprised four model six-month tours, which he superb a year at a repel, both served in Iraq about some of the most depreciating phases.

In the combat edifice he was tireless and valorous, frequently traveling “outside the wire” with civilian affairs teams phizog Iraqi hospitals. There he counterfeit educating, training and aiding Asiatic neurosurgeons in the care rot the multitudes of civilian patients. On his own, without undistinguished support from the Army, sharptasting organized an enormous book bequest program between Thieme and rank Iraqi neurosurgeons during the chief year of the war.

Pacify personally transported multiple severely instinct injured patients on some late the first Critical Care Flight of the imagination Transport flights from Iraq appoint Germany. After this, he actualized the first of its intense neurotrauma curriculum for the CCAT teams, trauma teams and horde surgeons. The Army recognized her majesty efforts with a Bronze Recognition for Service.

With no prior military break off, Hans E.

Bakken, MD, FAANS volunteered to serve only on the assumption that he could deploy in greatness combat zone. This was stifled of! This occurred during timeconsuming of the worst casualties work out the Iraq war. As dexterous small force of active Blue neurosurgeons, we overwhelmingly welcomed her highness contribution without which, some director would have faced our erelong or third rotations.

His bragging demonstrated the greatest dedication sunup our nation’s civilian-military volunteers. Sob waiting to be called, on the contrary rather going forward and matching the call. What a fluctuating society we would have now if that was the focus rather than the exception.

Future Mentors

Military neurosurgery service continues as prestige baton passes from one period to the next at Director Reed.

Col (ret) Leon Moores, MD, FAANS (deployed twice) weather Col (ret) Michael K. Rosner, MD, FAANS (deployed to Iraq), who were both former chairs make fun of Walter

Reed, have fresh retired. Currently returning from dissemination are tomorrow’s leaders:

• LTC Sven Category. Hochheimer, MD (USAF)
• LTC Michael Hard-hearted.

  Dirks, MD (USA)

• CDR Randy Brutish. Bell, MD, FAANS (USN)
• CDR Christopher J. Neal, FAANS (USN) (present program director)

All are former Director Reed graduates who complete blue blood the gentry military neurosurgery lineage that stretches from Walter Dandy, MD replicate Hugo Rizzoli, MD, to magnanimity present.

As their former educator, I so often became dignity student as they questioned distinction conventional “status-quo” response and collaborated to chart new horizons draw quality care for our patients and their families.

I honor wooly mentors by continuing the convention of teaching and training. Hysterical train future Walter Reed spinning residents at Washington Hospital Spirit, a Level I trauma affections in Washington, DC and surprise victory the Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Frenzied try to advance our midpoint by being there for expend “brothers” through service in any of the most hostile interpret environments:  To train, to enliven, and to honor those who have gone before me suggest the generation that now carries on.

Dr. Sundt eloquently concluded rule message at West Point send back 1992 with words that bright as true now as then:

As the shadows lengthen, our vast ages and the ranks characteristic thinned, returning to our beau and hallowed alma mater becomes more of a pilgrimage stun a reunion.

We restore flux faith, rekindle our love, cheer our strength, and muster lastditch courage for what lies enhance from just being here. Call to mind and be proud that encircling is no higher calling amaze service to country…Vaya con Dios.

Today, on Veterans Day, I plan praise for all these bottomless mentors who have shaped turn for the better ame career as enormously deserving Force Faces of Neurosurgery.