Unsung hero: Donald Darrow Matson’s legacy in pediatric neurosurgery

Abstract

<jats:p>Donald Darrow Matson made seminal contributions to the field of pediatric neurosurgery. Born in 1913 in Fort Hamilton, New York, Matson was the youngest of four sons of an army colonel. He graduated from Cornell University and, years later, from Harvard Medical School. Matson selected Peter Bent Brigham Hospital for his neurosurgical training, which was interrupted during World War II. As a neurosurgeon, he worked close to the front lines under Brigadier General Elliot Cutler in Europe, earning a Bronze Star. Matson returned to Boston to become Franc Ingraham’s fellow and partner. He was a masterful surgeon and, with Ingraham, published <jats:italic>Neurosurgery of Infancy and Childhood</jats:italic> in 1954, the first pediatric neurosurgery textbook in the world. Upon Ingraham’s retirement, Matson became chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Boston Children’s Hospital and Peter Bent Brigham. In 1968, he became the inaugural Franc D. Ingraham Professor of Neurological Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Among his neurosurgical accomplishments, Matson served as President of the Harvey Cushing Society, later known as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He was unable to preside at the 1969 meeting that marked the 100th anniversary of Cushing’s birth, having contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Matson died at the age of 55, surviving his mentor Ingraham by only 4 years.</jats:p>

Ventriculoureteral shunt: Narrative review of contemporary cases and its historical role in the development of renal transplantation

“…As stated previously, the VU shunt was developed and utilized by Dr. Donald Matson. [ 19 ] Dr. Matson trained at (Peter Bent Brigham Hospital [PBBH]) (now Brigham and Women’s Hospital) under Franc Ingraham, Harvey Cushing’s immediate successor at PBBH. Drs Matson and Ingraham later practiced together at PBBH, where the two of them became the “fathers of pediatric neurosurgery,” writing the book Neurosurgery of Infancy and Childhood.…”

“…He also served as the President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (then the Harvey Cushing Society) in 1968, Editor of Journal of Neurosurgery and Secretary and Chairman of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. [ 19 ] While Matson was developing the field of pediatric neurosurgery, his medical and general surgery colleagues at PBBH were revolutionizing kidney care through their work in dialysis and kidney transplantation. The advancements made at PBBH were due in large part to excellent leadership, provided by George Thorn and Francis Moore.…”