The life and legacy of Dr. Carlton G. Smith

Carlton George Smith, M.Sc., M.D., Ph.D., R.C.N.V.R. (1905-2003) was a Canadian anatomist and professor at the University of Toronto. He was highly regarded as an outstanding teacher, cutting-edge neuroscience researcher, and accomplished author. Dr. Smith became a member of the AAA in 1938 and joined the prestigious Cajal Club in 1950. In 1942, he joined the Naval Medical Research Unit in Halifax, eventually becoming its Commanding Officer, where he assisted with landmark research related to naval and military operational barriers during World War II. This research further bolstered his interests in the neuroanatomical bases of the special senses. Dr. Smith pioneered 3-dimensional (3D) teaching of neuroanatomy long before the era of technological advancement, using geometrical forms to describe the anatomical relationships between pathways and structures of the central nervous system. His innovative and evidence-based approaches, based on meticulous dissections, providing the foundation for both simple line drawings and detailed illustrations that were incorporated into several neuroanatomy books. He later developed a series of plaster models with his wife, Marguerite "Rita" Harland Smith, that highlight the complex 3D relationships of the human brain, head, and neck. Dr. Smith and Rita's legacy lives on through the models he donated to medical schools across Canada and at the University of Toronto through the endowment of scholarships and lectures. This article will include notable milestones in Dr. Smith's life with an emphasis on his scholarly and educational contributions to the field of neuroanatomy.