The Aitken Memorial Lecture Series

The Aitken Memorial Lecture series was established in 1991 through an endowment from Drs. Ron and Elizabeth Aitken, anesthesiologists operating out of London, Ontario. It is held annualy by the Departments of Clinical Neurological Sciences and Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine. Traditionally, the invited speaker gives a talk at both Anesthesia Grand Rounds and CNS Grand Rounds.

The Aitken name is closely associated with the development of anesthesia as a specialty in London. Dr. Ron Aitken’s father, Dr. George W.A. Aitken, was a general practitioner and one of the first physicians in London to limit his practice to anesthesia (1924-58). Ron Aitken graduated from Western in 1943. His junior internship at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto was devoted to anesthesia, and after he was commissioned to the RCAMC (May 1944), he had various postings in Canada as an Anesthetist. On discharge, he became the first official resident in Anesthesia at Victoria Hospital (1947-48).

In 1949, after a final year’s residency in Vancouver under Dr. Digby Leigh, he was appointed to the teaching staff at Victoria Hospital. In 1950, Dr. Aitken married his fellow resident, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson of Winnipeg. Both served as exemplary models to the medical community in London until retirement in 1983. Dr. Ron Aitken worked closely with Dr. Charles Drake while Dr. Drake was developing his revolutionary surgical approaches to difficult intracranial aneurysms. Dr. Aitken provided the neuro- anesthetic techniques, especially induced hypotension, that made this difficult surgery possible and that established neuro- anesthesia as a specialty at Western.

During his 30 years of practice in London, Dr. Ron Aitken was highly esteemed as a superb clinician and clinical teacher and as a pioneer of clinical neuroanesthesia. The Aitken Lecture was established to highlight developments in the science and practice of neuroanesthesia.

2023 Guest Lecturer

This year, we have cordially invited Dr. Ivar Mendez, the Professor Emeritus of Neurosurgery at the University of Saskatchewan, as our visiting Professor. Dr. Mendez is a highly regarded researcher and innovator in developing remote presence devices to deliver healthcare to underserviced populations. Dr. Mendez received the 2011 Health Canada Award. In 2023, he has received the Order of Canada to recognize his contributions to the improvement of the health of Canadians.

CNS Grand Rounds

Brain Repair, Remote Presence Robotics and The Virtual Health Hub: Technologies of the Future
Dr. Ivar Mendez
Date: Tuesday November 7th, 2023 from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
Location: University Hospital, Auditorium A

Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine City-Wide Grand Rounds

The Virtual Health Hub and Disruptive Technologies for Surgical and Remote Care
Dr. Ivar Mendez
Date: Wednesday November 14th, 2018, 7:15 to 8:15 a.m.
Location: University Hospital, Auditorium A

Anesthesia Resident Round

The Surgeon and the Surgical Humanities
Dr. Ivar Mendez
Date: Wednesday November 14th, 2018, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Location: University Hospital, Auditorium A