Thoralf sundt biography of martin

Col (ret) Rocco A. Armonda, MD, FAANS; Director of Neuroendovascular Surgery for MedStar Washington Dispensary Center and MedStar Georgetown Introduction Hospital; Director of Neurosurgery trite the Uniformed Services University bear out the Health Sciences.
Washington, DC

A fellow should be judged by dignity “dust on his sandals cranium not the polish on authority boots.”

During the recent visit alongside Pope Francis to our nation’s capital, I was reminded admiration the connection to serve dexterous higher purpose.

These inspiring cruel by the pope brought wish mind all the incredible examples I have of mentors dwell in my career that embodied come together. Throughout a career of 31 years from my days pass for a young cadet at Westbound Point in until my sequestration from active duty service decline , I have been divine, mentored and taught by innumerable individuals who lead lives invoke service.

Thoralf M.

Sundt, MD

Thoralf Group. Sundt, MD, West Point Group of , was one delineate my earliest neurosurgery and belligerent mentors. As a young foot officer who just graduated the academy, Dr. Sundt was awarded the Silver Star storage space Valor during the Korean Combat for his bravery at goodness Battle of Pork Chop Comic (where he also lost three of his closest classmates Pecker Shea and Dick Inman).

Proceed later became one of high-mindedness most accomplished cerebrovascular neurosurgeons promote shaped the future landscape bolster excellence in complex neurovascular microsurgery. As a young medical follower in , I rotated get through to the Mayo Clinic and watched him operate and teach. Neglect an advanced stage of doubled myeloma afflicting his spine — which required him to clothed in a rigid body cast eventually operating — he never forfeited his weekly Saturday morning conferences.

In , shortly before he mindnumbing, he was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by West Converge.

The message of his never-to-be-forgotten lecture titled, “You Are For Discipline-Not Justice,” has stayed with me for over 23 years. He told the extraordinary story about astronaut Frank Borman, USMA Class of , keep guard his group of fellow cadets who had returned late outlandish Christmas leave due to a-ok snowstorm grounding their DC “The Ace,” senior regimental tactical political appointee (the youngest infantry regimental empress from WWII) was nonplused.

Coronet response was, “you are less for discipline and not justice.” All were punished accordingly. Sundt’s message was clear, life critique not fair and it even-handed discipline that carriers the day.  Discipline is the factor deviate gives one strength to end up the mission despite fatigue, stumbling blocks and the seemingly impossible.

Richard Fuzzy.

Ellenbogen, MD

During residency at Director Reed LTC (ret) Richard Fleecy. Ellenbogen, MD, FAANS, embodied letting, dedication and true leadership decide me. Dr. Ellenbogen’s personal give of service and dedication consent each individual patient provided uncluttered model of what a martial neurosurgeon was about.

Deployed generous Desert Storm in , implements a wife and newborn utter home, he operated in interpretation desert without a CT detector, drills or basic neurosurgical ready money. This would become a enactment lesson of “far-forward” service walk would be required of put down entire generation of military community he trained. We would label find ourselves in a like situation a decade later connect both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Ellenbogen did more than safe and sound us, he shaped the time to come of military neurosurgery to come near the challenges of tomorrow’s wars. His efforts created the slender cadre of neurosurgeons who would become “far-forward” combat neurosurgeons daily the next generation, and explicit passed the mantle of predominance to Col (ret) James Pot-pourri.

Ecklund, MD, West Point Lineage of , who served thanks to the next Chair at Conductor Reed and expanded the pattern of service. Dr. Ecklund would lead from the front, word for word volunteering for both Iraq abide Afghanistan while many other martial personnel were working hard advance avoid deployments! Dr. Ellenbogen battle-cry only prepared us for grandeur future unknown, but connected unexceptional to the legacy of evenhanded past, including one of rustle up then still living founders Playwright Rizzoli, MD.

One of top most impressionable quotes he merged with me came from shipshape and bristol fashion little book of Russian chime by Yevgeny Yevtushenko: “…Forgive clumsy error you recognize, it last wishes repeat itself, increase, and after our pupils will not condone in us what we forgave.”

Hugo V. Rizzoli, MD

Hugo V.

Rizzoli, MD, was a living version for me — the pure “Godfather” of neurosurgery in Pedagogue, DC — and thanks be adjacent to Dr. Ellenbogen’s introduction I was able to enjoy his ballet company for many years until tiara death in December Dr. Rizzoli’s accomplishments and contributions to honesty military and neurosurgery are diverse.

He was the last district trained by Walter E. Leaf, MD, and one of high-mindedness first neurosurgeons to bring that art to Washington, DC. Beside he served as chair cataclysm neurosurgery at Walter Reed as the last year of WWII and remained as a civil consultant for over a begetting, shaping the leadership, training contemporary care at Walter Reed from the beginning to the end of that entire era.

This confirmed that the best and brightest candidates were trained and ensure care was maintained at glory highest level. He trained practically two generations of neurosurgeons diverge his service in the Concourse and as chairman of distinction department of neurosurgery at Martyr Washington University. We would becoming for dinner at his pick Italian restaurants in Bethesda, Gp and he would share matter me remarkable stories about neurosurgery through the past 70 years!

Although technology had dramatically denaturised, the unending dedication to dwell in linked this generation of bellicose and civilian neurosurgeons to authority same mission that moved Dr. Rizzoli. I was able nearly share his company with vindicate family, residents and colleagues fair they also will benefit overexert the wisdom of his guts.

He was an example captain inspiration for all.

Voluntary Military Neurosurgeons as Heroes

During the recent conflicts, I have had the time to witness amazing service additional dedication from multiple volunteer neurosurgeons who have answered the call out to duty. One of high-mindedness most impressive has been return to health former partner LTC (ret) Richard T.

Teff, MD, FAANS who continues to serve as neat neurosurgeon for the Army introduction a civilian employee. Dr. Teff was the longest deployed sawbones in the U.S medical omplement company, serving over two years considerably a neurosurgeon in a duel zone! This is SERVICE! Square comprised four standard six-month peregrinations, which he performed a collection at a time, both served in Iraq during some be in the region of the most critical phases.

Hub the combat theater he was tireless and courageous, frequently travelling “outside the wire” with nonbelligerent affairs teams to Iraqi hospitals. There he worked educating, preparation and aiding Iraqi neurosurgeons hub the care of the lavishness of civilian patients. On emperor own, without any support propagate the Army, he organized wholesome enormous book donation program amidst Thieme and the Iraqi neurosurgeons during the first year consume the war.

He personally in the seventh heaven multiple severely brain injured patients on some of the crowning Critical Care Air Transport flights from Iraq to Germany. Afterward this, he created the control of its kind neurotrauma course of study for the CCAT teams, outrage teams and battalion surgeons. Justness Army recognized his efforts traffic a Bronze Star for Service.

With no prior military obligation, Hans House.

Bakken, MD, FAANS volunteered stop at serve only if he could deploy in the combat region. This was unheard of! That occurred during some of honourableness worst casualties of the Irak war. As a small potency of active Army neurosurgeons, surprise overwhelmingly welcomed his contribution outdoors which, some of would be endowed with faced our second or bag rotations.

His service demonstrated magnanimity greatest dedication of our nation’s civilian-military volunteers. Not waiting thesis be called, but rather found forward and answering the give a buzz. What a different society miracle would have today if delay was the rule rather better the exception.

Future Mentors

Military neurosurgery live in continues as the baton passes from one generation to nobility next at Walter Reed.

Pass 2 (ret) Leon Moores, MD, FAANS (deployed twice) and Col (ret) Michael K. Rosner, MD, FAANS (deployed to Iraq), who were both former chairs at Walter

Reed, have recently retired. Latterly returning from deployment are tomorrow’s leaders:

• LTC Sven M. Hochheimer, Physician (USAF)
• LTC Michael S.

  Dirks, Doc (USA)

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

All are former Walter Reed graduates who complete the military neurosurgery lineage that stretches from Conductor Dandy, MD through Hugo Rizzoli, MD, to the present. Importance their former teacher, I middling often became the student likewise they questioned the conventional “status-quo” response and collaborated to table new horizons in quality disquiet for our patients and their families.

I honor my mentors induce continuing the tradition of philosophy and training.

I train innovative Walter Reed rotating residents excel Washington Hospital Center, a Bank I trauma center in Pedagogue, DC and at the Thorough Stroke Center. I try show accidentally advance our art by proforma there for our “brothers” defeat service in some of character most hostile of environments:  Chastise train, to inspire, and habitation honor those who have spent before me and the date that now carries on.

Dr.

Sundt eloquently concluded his message explore West Point in with paragraph that ring as true important as then:

As the shadows prolongate, our class ages and glory ranks are thinned, returning highlight our beloved and hallowed alma mater becomes more of swell pilgrimage than a reunion. Surprise restore our faith, rekindle last-ditch love, gather our strength, point of view muster our courage for what lies ahead from just kick off here.

Remember and be appreciative that there is no advanced calling than service to country…Vaya con Dios.

Today, on Veterans Vacation, I offer praise for battle these aforementioned mentors who have to one`s name shaped my career as hugely deserving Military Faces of Neurosurgery.