Burr holes, bone flaps, and goose quills: Dr Frank Turnbull, Vancouver’s first neurosurgeon

Abstract

Dr Frank Turnbull was a pioneer neurosurgeon – the first neurosurgeon in Vancouver, Canada. He started his practice in 1933 after spending time during a neurosurgical ‘residency’ with Dr Kenneth Mackenzie, Canada’s first neurosurgeon. Dr Turnbull practiced at a time when the perception of his speciality was dim, and the resources available to him were limited. However, Dr Turnbull overcame these obstacles, and two World Wars to help change the landscape of neurosurgery in the northwest Canada, and his career achievements also extend into medical politics and medical education. This paper documents the life and adventures of Dr Frank Turnbull, pioneer neurosurgeon.