Dr. Benno Schlesinger: neuroanatomist and neurosurgeon from Vienna, 1900-1983

Benno Schlesinger (1900-1983) was a neurosurgeon, neuroanatomist, and neurologist from Vienna, Austria. He was a great person and a brilliant scientist. Schlesinger's life is a picture-book reflection of Europe's tragedy in the first half of the 20th century. Born an Austrian of Jewish descent, he left his home country and went to the United States where he spent the better part of his life engaging in painstaking research on a wide range of subjects, writing unique research papers on neuroanatomy, and working as a successful neurosurgeon. He made lasting contributions to our understanding of the surgical anatomy of the venous system of the brain and the effects of brain lesions on higher cortical functions. His intimate personal friendship with Harvey Cushing went far beyond their shared enthusiasm for neurosurgery.