DOCUMENT
6 Headlines Samuel Philip Wrightson, better known as Philip Wrightson, was one of the original founding fathers of the Neurological Foundation. He was a neurosurgeon at Auckland Hospital from 1955 to 1987, internationally known for his authority on concussion and a pioneer in the rehabilitation of head injury patients. He was also one of the original seven men to receive a grant from the Neurological Foundation in 1972 and held a position on the Scientific Advisory Council. Wrightson started down the path of neurology in an unorthodox way. He was not originally from New Zealand, so he completed most of his studies and training in England. He received his clinical training at Newcastle General Hospital and was a house surgeon in Darlington. Wrightson joined the Royal Air Force where he was an orthopedic and general surgeon. This is also where he met his wife Prue Pumphrey, a physiotherapist from New Zealand, and in 1949 they married. In 1955 he applied for a Junior Neurosurgeon role at Auckland Hospital, without any prior experience in neurosurgery or neurology. He was accepted for the position and was taught on the job by his two colleagues and mentors, Mr Donald McKenzie and Mr David Robertson. 1 During his time at Auckland Hospital, Wrightson played a key role in the administration, and the clinical and educational activities of the Department of Neurosurgery. In celebration of our Golden Jubilee year, the Neurological Foundation would like to honour and highlight the founders of the charity in each edition of Headlines. Each individual, Valerie Chapman, Philip Wrightson, John Carman, Gavin Glasgow, and Barry Cant were leaders in their field of science and the driving force behind the establishment of the Neurological Foundation. Without their vision and guidance, we would not be where we are today. Remembering Mr Philip Wrightson, a founder
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