What an honor to visit my lifetime neurosurgery mentor and professor of neurosurgery at the University of Illinois Chicago from 1990 to 1995. He never retired, is still working, and had wisdom beyond expression. We discussed how to improve health-care quality, and better deal with the obstacles facing healthcare today! He continues to be the right hand of the journal Surgical Neurology International (SNI). He works day and night to keep up with advances in the various fields of medicine, and general neurosurgery in particular. Dr. Ausman took the editorial board of Surgical Neurology when Elsevier stopped its publication, and made it one of the first on-line neurosurgical journals. Further, he made it a free-to-download journal available on the Internet in over 234 countries all over the world. He also made sure neurosurgeons could afford and can continue to afford the publication fees: it still costs just $400.00 for an article, and just $180.00 for case studies, over 10 years. Publication costs for other journals typically exceed $3000.00 (some $3500 to over $4000.00). Dr. Ausman’s aim was and remains to improve neurosurgery care worldwide, specifically to include remote, and poor regions! I have always been his student and appreciate him so much.

Dr. Ausman Accepted Me as a Resident

Dr. Ausman, without bias (i.e., skin color and ethnicity mattered to others but never to him), took me into his program, and made me into the neurosurgeon I am today!! Indeed, he had to turn down many other qualified candidates to select me! Others criticized him for taking me into the program; however, he continued to support and mentor me.

Patients Come First

Dr. Ausman is perhaps best known for: “Patients Come First” and “Always Put Patients First” “And No Matter What are You Going Through or Obstacles or Choices You Make, Always Remember, the ‘Patient Comes First’. ” He remains a strong force for many of us with careers in neurosurgery worldwide! He has always been a visionary regarding new techniques. This was especially true in the early years of cranial neurosurgical vascular bypasses! Indeed, at University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC), he also introduced endovascular surgery, and gene therapy for tumors as well as mental illnesses. Although he has lectured and published prolifically, he simply has not received the credit he deserved!! But he never worked for “them;” rather he worked for patients, and the attendings, residents, and medical students; he was mentoring to take care of those patients. Dr. James Ausman’s contributions have been innumerable worldwide and continue to be as an absolute phenomenal neuroscientist, neurosurgeon, husband, father, and a person!!

Treat All Patients As You Would Treat Yourself

Dr. Ausman also firmly believes: “Treat all people the same as you treat yourself, love your patient as you love yourself.” To quote the Bible “And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself ” (Matthew 22:37–39).

Dr. James Ausman and Caroline, his wife, I will always appreciate you both and owe my entire achievements to you. I will remain forever grateful!!

Ramsis F. Ghaly, MD

Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery, Anesthesiology, Neurocritical Care and Pain Management

www.ghalyneurosurgeon.com

Phone 630-978-7500

Cell 630-816-9011

Fax 630-978-7540

Ghaly Neurosurgical Associates Established since 1995

4260 Westbrook Dr. Suite 127

Auroral, Illinois 60504

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Journal or its management. The information contained in this article should not be considered to be medical advice; patients should consult their own physicians for advice as to their specific medical needs.