Arthur Earl Walker
Encyclopedia
Dr. A. Earl Walker, MD
(1907–1995) was an American
neurosurgeon, neuroscientist
and epileptologist remembered for the eponymous syndromes Dandy–Walker syndrome, Dandy–Walker-like syndrome and Walker–Warburg syndrome. During his career he published over 400 research articles and 8 books.
, Manitoba
, and graduated from the University of Alberta
in 1930. He undertook training at Yale University
and in Amsterdam
and Brussels
, and continued his training as instructor of neurological surgery at the University of Chicago
from 1937, becoming one of a new breed of neurosurgeons who advanced the scientific study of neurology and neurosurgery. During the Second World War he worked as Chief of Neurology at Cushing General Hospital in Framingham, Massachusetts
, where he developed an interest in post-traumatic epilepsy.
In 1947 he became professor of neurological surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital
. He was professor there for 25 years until his retirement in 1972, and during this time he established the division of neurosurgery and the formal resident training program in neurosurgery. He also established the electrophysiology laboratory which bears his name.
He was a president of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
and the World Federation of Neurological Societies, and after his retirement he became emeritus professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine
, Albuquerque.
He died on 1 January 1995 while travelling near Tucson, Arizona
, apparently of a heart attack, aged 87.
In 1942 he published an article describing congenital atresia of the foramens of Luschka and Magendie. A similar case had previously been described by Walter Dandy
in 1921, and the syndrome became known as the Dandy–Walker syndrome. He also published an article on Lissencephaly, which became known as Walker–Warburg syndrome after publication of further articles on the disorder by Mette Warburg.
In 1945-6 he published studies of the effects of penicillin on the central nervous system.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(1907–1995) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
neurosurgeon, neuroscientist
Neuroscientist
A neuroscientist is an individual who studies the scientific field of neuroscience or any of its related sub-fields...
and epileptologist remembered for the eponymous syndromes Dandy–Walker syndrome, Dandy–Walker-like syndrome and Walker–Warburg syndrome. During his career he published over 400 research articles and 8 books.
Biography
Arthur Earl Walker was born in 1907 in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, and graduated from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 1930. He undertook training at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, and continued his training as instructor of neurological surgery at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
from 1937, becoming one of a new breed of neurosurgeons who advanced the scientific study of neurology and neurosurgery. During the Second World War he worked as Chief of Neurology at Cushing General Hospital in Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
, where he developed an interest in post-traumatic epilepsy.
In 1947 he became professor of neurological surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
. He was professor there for 25 years until his retirement in 1972, and during this time he established the division of neurosurgery and the formal resident training program in neurosurgery. He also established the electrophysiology laboratory which bears his name.
He was a president of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons is a professional body based in the United States with more than 8,000 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public...
and the World Federation of Neurological Societies, and after his retirement he became emeritus professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
The University of New Mexico School of Medicine is a division of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center located in Albuquerque, New Mexico...
, Albuquerque.
He died on 1 January 1995 while travelling near Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, apparently of a heart attack, aged 87.
Publications
In 1938 he published The Primate Thalamus which explained the function of the brain. In 1951 he edited A History of Neurological Surgery.In 1942 he published an article describing congenital atresia of the foramens of Luschka and Magendie. A similar case had previously been described by Walter Dandy
Walter Dandy
Walter Edward Dandy, M.D. was an American neurosurgeon and scientist. He is considered one of the founding fathers of neurosurgery, along with Victor Horsley and Harvey Cushing...
in 1921, and the syndrome became known as the Dandy–Walker syndrome. He also published an article on Lissencephaly, which became known as Walker–Warburg syndrome after publication of further articles on the disorder by Mette Warburg.
In 1945-6 he published studies of the effects of penicillin on the central nervous system.