The History of Neurosurgery in Puerto Rico and the Legacy of Dr. Nathan Rifkinson and the Professors at the University of Puerto Rico: Fifty Years of Education

Abstract

Dr. Nathan Rifkinson (1912-2010) was an influential neurosurgeon who dedicated his entire career to the people of Puerto Rico. In 1948, he became the first formally trained neurosurgeon to practice in Puerto Rico. Driven by incredible tenacity and with the help of several other neurosurgery professors, he created a world-class neurosurgery residency training center. This article presents the history of neurosurgery in Puerto Rico taken from publications and personal stories recorded by a neurosurgeon who has been part of the neurosurgery program of the University of Puerto Rico for 34 years. The establishment and development of the residency training program during the last 50 years are documented. This recollection of events presents the history of neurosurgery in Puerto Rico and emphasizes the creation of a neurosurgery training program at the University of Puerto Rico. The University of Puerto Rico has the only residency program on the Island, preparing neurosurgeons for the last 50 years. The notable contributions of the professors in the University over the past 50 years, with special mention of Dr. Nathan Rifkinson, are described. In Puerto Rico, Dr. Rifkinson discovered a new niche that helped him grow to a unique iconic figure, advising physicians and government leaders on the Island. Together with all the other neurosurgery pillars and their extraordinary dedication, our professors have established an incredible legacy. Without the extreme goodness of our neurosurgery professors, neurosurgery in Puerto Rico would not be what it is now.