New NRF President Dr Nick Vrodos appointed

We are excited to announce that Dr Nick Vrodos, Head of Neurosurgery at Flinders Medical Centre has been newly appointed and will be stepping into the boots of NRF president.

Nick Vrodos is a highly accomplished Neurosurgeon with an extensive background in both public and private healthcare. He graduated from the University of Adelaide and underwent his early surgical training in Adelaide. He then pursued advanced neurosurgical training in Melbourne at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital. To further enhance his expertise, Nick completed one-year fellowships at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami.

During his training, Nick focused on various subspecialties within neurosurgery, tumour surgery including spinal surgery, skull base surgery, and vascular surgery. He had the opportunity to work alongside renowned neurosurgeons and co-fellows who have since become leaders in the field.

Nick began his career as a Consultant Neurosurgeon in Adelaide in 1998, holding positions at the Flinders Medical Centre, the Royal Adelaide Hospital Department of Neurosurgery, and the Spinal Injury Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He also established a private practice at the Memorial Hospital.

In 2006, Nick assumed the role of Head of Neurosurgery at the Flinders Medical Centre, gradually reducing his involvement in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Spinal Injuries Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Nick has fostered close collaborations with senior ENT surgeons, including Dr. Michael Schultz and Dr. Sharad Chawla, to advance surgical techniques in lateral skull base surgery, particularly in acoustic tumors and with Prof. P J Wormald to pioneer and advance endoscopic skull base techniques.

In addition to his clinical work, Nick is deeply committed to teaching and training the next generation of neurosurgeons. He has been actively involved in mentoring young residents at the public hospital and takes pride in the progress of the Department of Neurosurgery at Flinders Medical Centre, the Post Graduate Fellows, and the Accredited Trainees.

Having been on the NRF Board since 1999 he was the logical successor to our past president Dr Glenn McCulloch who lead the NRF for 3 year since 2020.

‘’I would like to thank Dr Glenn McCulloch for his excellent contribution to the NRF over the years as well as his service to the community over the decades as a neurosurgeon. He is widely respected in the neurosurgical community in Australia and regarded as one of our true statesmen. I am honoured to have taken over as president of the NRF.’’

Nick has a strong belief in the neurosurgical research that happens here in SA:

‘I have the understanding of the history and look forward to taking the NRF into the future. As Head of Neurosurgery at Flinders Medical Centre and Consultant Neurosurgeon at Memorial Medical Centre I myself do not have the time to perform the vital research. Research is extremely important and the NRF will support local researchers and foster new collaborations within the industry, so that we can continue to give hope to patients living with neurosurgical life threatening conditions’

Already Dr Vrodos has plenty of ideas and plans to drive the NRF forward; with many events in the pipeline make sure to keep up to date with NRF News through the website and all of the social channels