====== Charles George Drake ======

Charles George Drake, CC OOnt FRCSC (July 21, 1920 – September 15, 1998) was a Canadian [[neurosurgeon]] known for his work on treating [[aneurysm]]s.

Born in Windsor, [[Ontario]], he received his B.Sc. and MD degrees from The University of Western Ontario.

From 1974 until 1984 he was Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Western Ontario. In 1986, he co-founded the Robarts Research Institute, which was [[Canada]]'s only independent medical research centre until its recent merger with the university. While he practiced, he was a member of The Harvey Club of London, the oldest medical club in Canada.

He was the president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (1971–1973), the [[American Association of Neurological Surgeons]] (1977), the American College of Surgeons (1984–1985), the World Federation of Neurological Societies (1977–1981), [[The Society of Neurological Surgeons]] (1980), and the American Surgical Association (1986–1987).

In 1982 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1998. In 1994 he was inducted in the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. There is also a metal bust of his head outside London's University Hospital, where Drake practised.

He married Ruth Pitts.

[[Basilar bifurcation aneurysm]] were considered inoperable until [[Charles George Drake]] reported 4 cases in [[1961]]
((Drake CG. Bleeding Aneurysms of the Basilar Artery: Direct Surgical Management in Four Cases. J Neurosurg. 1961; 18:230–238))
, with larger series reported later
((Drake CG. Further Experience with Surgical Treat- ment of Aneurysms of the Basilar Artery. J Neurosurg. 1968; 29:372–392)).
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Charles George Drake died September 15, 1998 in London, Ontario after an extended bout with lung cancer. Although he will always be identified with taking posterior fossa aneurysm surgery from the realm of the daring to the domain of the routine, his contributions were much broader. Clinical neurosciences have been blessed in the past century by the life and works of Drake. In the neurosurgical world, the achievements of Drake are very well known and have been well recorded. Unfortunately, in the past decade since his passing, only one paper has been published about him and his contributions to neurosurgery. This is a historical paper regarding Charles George Drake that attempts to (1) remember Drake as a pioneer; (2) to evaluate lessons that we have learned from him; and (3) to address the question 'What made him great?'. As per Drake's teachings, this paper is meant to articulate the unique perspectives Charlie provided with respect to how we learn our craft, maintain the integrity of reporting, and implement suggestions as to how we may progress into the future. In conclusion, it is our hope that this paper will bring to life the unique character of Drake and his unprecedented blend of genius, creativity, technical skill, introspection, and ever-present humility for all international neurosurgeons to appreciate
((Kanat A, Kayaci S, Yazar U, Sahin Y, Yaman O, Guvercin AR. One of the giants
of neurological surgery left us more than a decade ago, and neurosurgical
literature did not show much interest. Neurol Neurochir Pol. 2011
Jan-Feb;45(1):63-7. PubMed PMID: 21384295.
)).