Chair Students - Matthew McDonald

Matthew McDonald MBBS FRACS

Current Employer:

Neurosurgeon & Spinal Surgeon Private practice

Visiting Medical Specialist Royal Adelaide Hospital

Flinders Medical Centre Dept of Neurosurgery and Spinal Unit

Achievements:
WG Norman Research Fellowship, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 1997

Davis & Geck Registrar’s presentation award Royal Adelaide Hospital 1998 "Syringomyelia"

Spinal Research Award 1998, Spine Society of Australia.

Doug Bills Prize –Neurosurgery Training Seminar, Melbourne 2000.

Stuart Morson Travelling Fellowship, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 2002.

Research in the Neurosurgery Department: 1997

My research "investigated the role that anti-inflammatory drugs play in the development of fluid filled cavities within the spinal cord following trauma. I found that these drugs did not prevent these cavities (syrinxes) from developing in a rat model. This research supported similar work done in the department that demonstrates that fluid flows into these cavities along spaces around the blood vessels (peri-vascular fluid flow)."

Neurosurgery became my interest, as it was "unchartered territory", "a challenge" and I wanted "to make a difference". I want to provide cutting edge neurosurgery and spinal surgery on par with the best in the world, here in Adelaide.