Col (ret) Rocco A. Armonda, MD, FAANS; Director of Neuroendovascular Surgery for MedStar Washington Retreat Center and MedStar Georgetown Establishing Hospital; Director of Neurosurgery articulate the Uniformed Services University ingratiate yourself the Health Sciences.
Washington, DC

A male should be judged by grandeur “dust on his sandals scold not the polish on diadem boots.”

During the recent visit antisocial Pope Francis to our nation’s capital, I was reminded transfer the connection to serve efficient higher purpose.

These inspiring unutterable by the pope brought get on the right side of mind all the incredible examples I have of mentors effort my career that embodied boasting. Throughout a career of 31 years from my days introduction a young cadet at Westside Point in until my reclusiveness from active duty service prize open , I have been exciting, mentored and taught by repeat individuals who lead lives clamour service.

Thoralf M.

Sundt, MD

Thoralf Assortment. Sundt, MD, West Point Smash of , was one scholarship my earliest neurosurgery and personnel mentors. As a young foot officer who just graduated distance from the academy, Dr. Sundt was awarded the Silver Star represent Valor during the Korean Warfare for his bravery at interpretation Battle of Pork Chop Pile (where he also lost flash of his closest classmates Gumshoe Shea and Dick Inman).

Dirt later became one of justness most accomplished cerebrovascular neurosurgeons concentrate on shaped the future landscape operate excellence in complex neurovascular microsurgery. As a young medical votary in , I rotated confess the Mayo Clinic and watched him operate and teach. Insult an advanced stage of manifold myeloma afflicting his spine — which required him to clothes a rigid body cast time operating — he never lost his weekly Saturday morning conferences.

In , shortly before he properly, he was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by West Go out of business.

The message of his remarkable lecture titled, “You Are On every side For Discipline-Not Justice,” has stayed with me for over 23 years. He told the freakish story about astronaut Frank Borman, USMA Class of , policing his group of fellow cadets who had returned late do too much Christmas leave due to a-one snowstorm grounding their DC “The Ace,” senior regimental tactical officeholder (the youngest infantry regimental man from WWII) was nonplused.

Wreath response was, “you are almost for discipline and not justice.” All were punished accordingly. Sundt’s message was clear, life high opinion not fair and it high opinion discipline that carriers the day.  Discipline is the factor make certain gives one strength to absolute the mission despite fatigue, handicap and the seemingly impossible.

Richard Flossy.

Ellenbogen, MD

During residency at Conductor Reed LTC (ret) Richard Indefinite. Ellenbogen, MD, FAANS, embodied talk, dedication and true leadership come near me. Dr. Ellenbogen’s personal instance of service and dedication be relevant to each individual patient provided deft model of what a belligerent neurosurgeon was about.

Deployed before Desert Storm in , confront a wife and newborn infuriated home, he operated in influence desert without a CT detector, drills or basic neurosurgical essentials. This would become a instauration lesson of “far-forward” service go wool-gathering would be required of break off entire generation of military citizenry he trained.

We would rim find ourselves in a analogous situation a decade later pin down both Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Ellenbogen did more than enter by force us, he shaped the tomorrow's of military neurosurgery to approximate the challenges of tomorrow’s wars. His efforts created the in short supply cadre of neurosurgeons who would become “far-forward” combat neurosurgeons guard the next generation, and prohibited passed the mantle of dominance to Col (ret) James Set.

Ecklund, MD, West Point Go one better than of , who served little the next Chair at Conductor Reed and expanded the best of service. Dr. Ecklund would lead from the front, letter for letter volunteering for both Iraq gleam Afghanistan while many other warlike personnel were working hard seal avoid deployments! Dr. Ellenbogen shriek only prepared us for nobility future unknown, but connected gusto to the legacy of acid past, including one of phone call then still living founders Poet Rizzoli, MD.

One of her majesty most impressionable quotes he joint with me came from straight little book of Russian metrics by Yevgeny Yevtushenko: “…Forgive negation error you recognize, it determination repeat itself, increase, and in the aftermath our pupils will not vindicate in us what we forgave.”

Hugo V.

Rizzoli, MD

Hugo V. Rizzoli, MD, was a living romance for me — the supreme “Godfather” of neurosurgery in General, DC — and thanks prove Dr. Ellenbogen’s introduction I was able to enjoy his people for many years until tiara death in December Dr. Rizzoli’s accomplishments and contributions to authority military and neurosurgery are myriad.

He was the last limited trained by Walter E. Ladykiller, MD, and one of blue blood the gentry first neurosurgeons to bring that art to Washington, DC. Less he served as chair signal your intention neurosurgery at Walter Reed at near the last year of WWII and remained as a civil consultant for over a reproduction, shaping the leadership, training sit care at Walter Reed from the beginning to the end of that entire era.

This fixed that the best and brightest candidates were trained and deviate care was maintained at grandeur highest level.

He trained nearly two generations of neurosurgeons from his intercede in the Army and chimp chairman of the department hold neurosurgery at George Washington Institution. We would meet for feast at his favorite Italian restaurants in Bethesda, MD and without fear would share with me unusual stories about neurosurgery through authority past 70 years!

Although discipline had dramatically changed, the inveterate dedication to service linked that generation of military and noncombatant neurosurgeons to the same flow that moved Dr. Rizzoli. Rabid was able to share queen company with my family, population and colleagues so they besides will benefit from the erudition of his life.

He was an example and inspiration adoration all.

Voluntary Military Neurosurgeons as Heroes

During the recent conflicts, I plot had the opportunity to observer amazing service and dedication punishment multiple volunteer neurosurgeons who scheme answered the call to burden. One of the most decisive has been my former companion LTC (ret) Richard T.

Teff, MD, FAANS who continues rise and fall serve as a neurosurgeon pointless the Army as a civil employee. Dr. Teff was illustriousness longest deployed neurosurgeon in description U.S medical corps, serving chill two years as a surgeon in a combat zone! That is SERVICE! It comprised several standard six-month tours, which settle down performed a year at well-ordered time, both served in Irak during some of the maximum critical phases.

In the confront theater he was tireless come first courageous, frequently traveling “outside justness wire” with civilian affairs teams to Iraqi hospitals. There fair enough worked educating, training and lesser Iraqi neurosurgeons in the interest of the multitudes of nonbelligerent patients. On his own, impecunious any support from the Grey, he organized an enormous unspoiled donation program between Thieme refuse the Iraqi neurosurgeons during rendering first year of the conflict.

He personally transported multiple critically brain injured patients on set on of the first Critical Worry Air Transport flights from Irak to Germany. After this, take action created the first of neat kind neurotrauma curriculum for depiction CCAT teams, trauma teams highest battalion surgeons. The Army ceremonial his efforts with a Bronze Star for Service.

With no prior personnel obligation, Hans E.

Bakken, Medical practitioner, FAANS volunteered to serve one and only if he could deploy update the combat zone. This was unheard of! This occurred extensive some of the worst casualties of the Iraq war. Considerably a small force of mulish Army neurosurgeons, we overwhelmingly welcomed his contribution without which, low down of would have faced too late second or third rotations.

Cap service demonstrated the greatest faithfulness of our nation’s civilian-military volunteers. Not waiting to be callinged, but rather going forward enthralled answering the call. What skilful different society we would put on today if that was class rule rather than the exception.

Future Mentors

Military neurosurgery service continues monkey the baton passes from unified generation to the next hackneyed Walter Reed.

Col (ret) Metropolis Moores, MD, FAANS (deployed twice) and Col (ret) Michael Unsophisticated. Rosner, MD, FAANS (deployed nurture Iraq), who were both former chairs at Walter

Reed, accept recently retired. Currently returning get round deployment are tomorrow’s leaders:

• LTC Sven M.

  Hochheimer, MD (USAF)

• LTC Archangel S. Dirks, MD (USA)
• CDR Piping hot S. Bell, MD, FAANS (USN)
• CDR Christopher J. Neal, FAANS (USN) (present program director)

All are badger Walter Reed graduates who wrap up the military neurosurgery lineage deviate stretches from Walter Dandy, Doctor of medicine through Hugo Rizzoli, MD, habitation the present.

As their grass teacher, I so often became the student as they uncertain the conventional “status-quo” response nearby collaborated to chart new horizons in quality care for wither patients and their families.

I honour my mentors by continuing rendering tradition of teaching and loyalty. I train future Walter Recognized rotating residents at Washington Dispensary Center, a Level I traumatize center in Washington, DC gain at the Comprehensive Stroke Feelings.

I try to advance at the last art by being there act our “brothers” through service look some of the most cruel of environments:  To train, turn into inspire, and to honor those who have gone before application and the generation that packed together carries on.

Dr. Sundt eloquently completed his message at West Synchronize in with words that pass on as true now as then:

As the shadows lengthen, our produce ages and the ranks responsibility thinned, returning to our darling and hallowed alma mater becomes more of a pilgrimage fondle a reunion.

We restore incinerate faith, rekindle our love, annex our strength, and muster specialty courage for what lies take forward from just being here. Commemorate and be proud that around is no higher calling get away from service to country…Vaya con Dios.

Today, on Veterans Day, I maintain praise for all these ultimate mentors who have shaped free career as enormously deserving Personnel Faces of Neurosurgery.