History and Structure of the Department

Historical Perspective

Clinical Neurosciences was created in 1981 when the Division of Neurosurgery, then in the Department of Surgery, and the Division of Neurology in the Department of Medicine, joined forces to create a new academic Department of the University of Calgary focused on disorders of the nervous system. Dr Robert Lee was the first Head of the Department and Dr Frank LeBlanc was the first Chief of Neurosurgery. Initially, there were two units: one at the Foothills Medical Centre and the other at the Calgary General Hospital. Subsequently, neurological services were consolidated at the Foothills Medical Centre and a period of rapid growth ensued with both internal and external recruitment and research expansion under the leadership of Dr Tom Feasby (Department Head and now Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary). Dr Feasby was joined by Dr Garnette Sutherland (Head of Neurosurgery), Dr Werner Becker (Head of Neurology) and Dr Christine McGovern (Acting Head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation). Throughout its short history, the Department of Clinical Neurosciences has had an exemplary record of research accomplishment. Two remarkable examples of research success are Canada Foundation for Innovation Awards, one for the development of intra-operative MRI and a second for the design and testing of neuroArm, a MRI compatible robot for micro-neurosurgery. Clinical Neurosciences has garnered a well deserved national reputation for innovation in patient care, teaching and research.

Today, in addition to being an academic department of the University of Calgary (U of C), Clinical Neurosciences is a regional clinical department of Alberta Health Services in Calgary. Physician members of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences provide neurosurgical, neurological and medical rehabilitation services to the citizens of Southern Alberta, southwestern Saskatchewan and southeastern British Columbia.

Department Structure

Clinical Neurosciences consists of three clinical divisions, Neurosurgery, Neurology and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and one basic research division, called Experimental Neurosciences. Each division has a leader and Head – Dr Rajiv Midha (Neurosurgery), Dr Samuel Wiebe (Neurology), Dr Christine McGovern(PM&R) and Dr Bin Hu (Experimental Neurosciences). Collectively, members of Clinical Neurosciences are actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, with Royal College of Canada approved residency training programs in Neurosurgery, Neurology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In addition, many of the subspecialty programs in Clinical Neurosciences attract clinical fellows from other Canadian Centres and abroad. Members of the Department also teach clinical skills to advanced practice nurses and to other health professionals, and directly supervise graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows. Clinical Neurosciences now includes over 70 primary members many of whom are also members of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.

Inpatient and outpatient services, including neurosurgical services for adults and children, are provided at the Foothills Medical Centre, the Rockyview General Hospital, and at the new Alberta Children’s Hospital. Outpatient and consultation services are provided at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre (TBCC) and the Peter Lougheed Centre. Medical services are also provided at the Chronic Pain Centre and at the Fanning Centre. The Department also provides limited neurological outreach services to the Chinook and Palliser Health Regions (Neurology consultations only). Research programs are based at the Foothills Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Tom Baker Cancer Centre, especially in partnership with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute and the Institute of Maternal and Child Health.

Clinical Neurosciences is one of 20 academic Departments of the Faculty of Medicine and one of 14 Regional Clinical Departments of Alberta Health Services in Calgary. With regard to University matters, principally research and education, the Department Head of Clinical Neurosciences reports to the Dean of Medicine. With regard patient care and clinical service delivery issues, the Department Head of Clinical Neurosciences reports to the Zone Medical Director, Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services. In regard to academic recruitment, training and research development and support, the Department Head of Clinical Neurosciences works in concert with the Institute Directors, especially the Director of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. Departmental affairs are conducted by two senior committees: the Academic Executive Committee, which is chaired by the Department Head, and by the Clinical Executive Committee, which is co-chaired by the Director of Neurosciences, Trauma and Emergency Services of Alberta Health Services in Calgary and the Deputy Department Head of Clinical Neurosciences, currently the Head of Neurosurgery.

Patient care and research occur seamlessly in Clinical Neurosciences through the use of multidisciplinary teams in areas such as Stroke Care, Epilepsy, Movement Disorders, Spinal Disorders and many others.

Future Directions

Two major challenges face the Department of Clinical Neurosciences over the next five to ten years. The first is the development of a new strategic plan for Rehabilitation Services in Alberta Health Services that includes the development of vibrant, research-intensive Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The second will be the transition from an academic and clinical Department consolidated at the Foothills Medical Centre and Alberta Children’s Hospital to a Department that achieves greater success on two sites distant sites, the Northwest (FMC) and South Health Campuses. Continued success for Clinical Neurosciences can be expected. There is a strong commitment to patient care and a palpable esprit de corps, the latter most evident at Grand Rounds, which occur weekly. The training programs in Clinical Neurosciences are strong, well managed and heavily subscribed. Aided by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the “Alberta Advantage”, the prospect for major recruitment and significant discovery in Clinical Neurosciences has never been greater. Our future is bright!

Click here to read an account of the history of the Department written by Dr Robert Lee.

Updated: 2009-12-15