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R. Eustace Semmes Lecture

RAPHAEL EUSTACE SEMMES, M.D. 1885–1982

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The Raphael Eustace Semmes Lectureship established by the Southern Neurosurgical Society in his memory is given annually.

Dr. R. Eustace Semmes was born in Memphis, TN in 1885. He was a classmate and close friend of Walter Dandy at both the University of Missouri and The Johns Hopkins University Medical School. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was selected as a surgical intern at the Hopkins. His extra rotation on Dr. Cushing’s service consisted of his only formal neurosurgical training. After a years residency at the Women’s Hospital in New York, he returned to Memphis in 1912 and was appointed to the staff of the newly reorganized University of Tennessee Medical School. The new Baptist Hospital opened the same year where his practice was centered throughout his career. Dr. Semmes answered the call of the Surgeon General of the need for neurosurgeons during WWI. Completing a refresher course in neurosurgery at the New York Neurological Institute under the direction of Dr. Charles Elsberg, Dr. Semmes was assigned to a hospital in France. Following his discharge at the end of the war, he returned to Memphis limiting his practice to neurosurgery.

Dr. Francis Murphey was invited to come to Memphis after completion of his internship, becoming. Semmes first trainee. This would later lead to the formation of the Semmes-Murphey Clinic. Dr. Semmes was appointed Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Tennessee in 1932. Dr. Semmes played an important role in organized neurosurgery. He was instrumental with Drs. Spurling, Van Wagener, and Fay in forming the Harvey Cushing Society in 1932 and encouraged other young neurosurgeons to form their own societies. With Dr. Semmes encouragement, a group of Southern neurosurgeons met in Memphis in 1949 to form a neurosurgical society. The following year, 1950, meeting in Atlanta the Southern Neurosurgical Society was organized with Dr. Semmes as its first president. Dr. Paul Bucy was of the opinion that Dr. Semmes was largely responsible for bringing neurosurgery to the South.

R. Eustace Semmes Lecturers

2024

David Limbrick, MD. PhD

Richmond, Virginia

2023

Fernando Vale, MD

Augusta, Georgia

2022

J Mocco, MD

New York, New York

2020

Alex Valadka, MD, FACS

Richmond, Virginia

2019

 Jacques J. Morcos, MD

Miami, Florida
2018

Allan Friedman, MD

 Durham, North Carolina

2017

W. Jerry Oakes, MD

Birmingham, Alabama
2016

Ziya L. Gokaslan, MD

 Providence, Rhode Island

2015

Charles L. Branch, Jr., MD

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
2014

H. Hunt Batjer, MD

 Dallas, Texas

2013

Jon H. Robertson, MD

Memphis, Tennessee

2012

L. Nelson Hopkins, MD, FACS

Buffalo, New York

2011

Michael Apuzzo, MD

Los Angeles, California

2010

Andres Lozano, MD, PhD

Toronto, Ontario

2009

Volker K. H. Sonntag, MD

Phoenix, Arizona

2008

Jon H. Robertson, MD

Memphis, Tennessee

2007

James R. Bean, MD

Lexington, Kentucky

2006

Duke S. Samson, MD

Dallas, Texas

2005

G. Robert Nugent, MD

Morgantown, West Virginia

2004

Edward R. Laws, MD

Charlottesville, Virginia

2003

Willis E. Brown, MD

San Antonio, Texas

2002

Roberto C. Heros, MD

Miami, Florida

2001

Richard B. Morawetz, MD

Birmingham, Alabama

2000

Russell L. Travis, MD

Lexington, Kentucky

1999

Dee J. Canale, MD

Memphis, Tennessee

1998

John A. Jane, MD

Charlottesville, Virginia

1997

Fremont P. Wirth, MD

Savannah, Georgia

1996

David G. Kline, MD

New Orleans, Louisiana

1995

Robert H. Wilkins, MD

Durham, North Carolina

1994

Albert L. Rhoton, Jr., MD

Gainesville, Florida

1993

George T. Tindall, MD

Atlanta, Georgia

1992

James T. Robertson, MD

Memphis, Tennessee

1991

Thomas W. Langfitt, MD

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1990

Jim L. Story, MD

San Antonio, Texas

1989

Robert A. Ratcheson, MD

Cleveland, Ohio

1988

Edward F. Downing, MD

Savannah, Georgia

1987

Theodore B. Rasmussen, MD

Montreal, Quebec

1986

Robert B. King, MD

Syracuse, New York

1985

Richard L. DeSaussure, Jr., MD

Memphis, Tennessee

1984

Charles B. Wilson, MD

San Francisco, California

1983

John M. Tew Jr., MD

Cincinnati, Ohio

1982

Charles De. Drake, MD

London, Ontario

1981

Lyle A. French, MD

Minneapolis, Minnesota

1980

Frank Mayfield, MD

Cincinnati, Ohio

1979

Carleton Chapman, MD

New York, New York

1978

Eben Alexander Jr., MD

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

1977

William Meacham, MD

Nashville, Tennessee

1976

Henry Schwartz, MD

St. Louis, Missouri

1975

James Galbraith, MD

Birmingham, Alabama

1974

Guy L. Odom, MD

Durham, North Carolina

1973

E. Jefferson Browder, MD

Hackettstown, New Jersery

1972

Ernest Bors, MD

Cave Creek, Arizona

1971

Francis Murphey, MD

Memphis, Tennessee

1970

James Greenwood Jr., MD

Houston, Texas

1969

Paul C. Bucy, MD

Tryon, North Carolina

1968

Barnes Woodhall, MD

Durham, North Carolina