2007 E.S. Meyers Memorial Lecture
Academic VP
  Charlie Teo | |
50th Anniversary E.S. Meyers Memorial Lecture - Dr. Charlie Teo
Thank you to the 1000 people who joined us for the 2007 Errol Solomon Meyers Memorial Lecture, delivered by Dr. Charlie Teo. The night was interesting and informative, and a fitting tribute to E.S. Meyers in the lecture's golden jubilee year. Congratulations also to the recipients of the 2007 Clinical Teaching Awards:
Award for excellence in clinical teaching in 1st or 2nd year: Dr. Mark Norman |
Charlie Teo was born in Sydney, Australia and was educated at the Scots College. After graduating from the University of New South Wales medical school he embarked initially on a career in paediatric surgery and then neurosurgery, finally sub-specialising in paediatric neurosurgery.
He was accepted at the Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas for a fellowship in paediatric neurosurgery. Charlie is the only Australian neurosurgeon to be Board Certified in both Australia and America. He was rapidly promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas and developed an international reputation in the field of minimally invasive neurosurgery.
Since returning to Australia, Charlie has continued to develop pioneering procedures and is invited back to the US several times each year to teach courses in these keyhole approaches. Indeed, a fellowship program started by him in 2000 is now filled with overseas neurosurgeons until the year 2009, all thirsty to learn his innovative techniques.
Charlie has been an invited speaker and Visiting Professor to over 35 countries, including such prestigious centres in the US as Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Albert Einstein University and the Barrow Neurological Institute, as well as Marbourg University in Germany.
In keeping with his passion for teaching and philanthropy, Charlie devotes 3 months of his holiday time each year to educate neurosurgeons from developing countries such as Peru and Vietnam, and to treat children with neurological conditions in those countries. At his own expense he has sponsored neurosurgeons from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Peru, Romania and Vietnam to attend practical courses and meetings.
Charlie primarily works at the Prince of Wales Private Hospital and has established an internationally acclaimed centre specialising in the treatment of adult and childhood brain tumours. There he has treated many children from Australia and abroad with so-called “inoperable” brain tumours, stirring controversy within the neurosurgery community (see links to stories below).
Charlie is Director of the Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, President of Think First Australasia, established for the prevention of brain and spinal cord injuries, and a founding board member of V.I.N.E. (volunteers for international neurosurgical education). He is the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board and founder of the Cure For Life foundation which has successfully raised over 2 million dollars as the largest charity devoted to the advancement and treatment of patients with brain tumours.
Charlie has written over 70 publications and 30 book chapters. He has been featured on Australian Story ["The Trouble with Charlie", transcript here], 60 Minutes ["The Outsider: Charlie Teo", video here], Good Medicine, and Today Tonight.
His dedication to neurosurgery and charitable efforts were rewarded in 2003 when Charlie was NSW State finalist for the prestigious Australian of the Year award, and in 2005 he joined the ranks of such great Australians as Steve Waugh, Sir William Deane and Dame Joan Sutherland when awarded the Vocational Service Award by the Rotary Club. In 2007, he was given the Paul Harris Fellowship for his contribution to International Health and Welfare.
About E. S. Meyers
