The Department of Neurosurgery was opened in 1966 in a purpose built unit at Dundee Royal Infirmary by Professor Norman Dott. The founding neurosurgeon was Mr Joe Block who had been appointed in 1962. He was soon joined by Mr Ivan Jacobson. Both were South Africans and had trained under Professor Norman Dott in Edinburgh, who was one of a small group of British neurosurgeons who had trained under Harvey Cushing in Boston USA, and ultimately founded modern neurosurgery in the UK. Mr Block and Mr Jacobson were trailblazers who did much to raise standards of surgical care in Dundee.
The Department of Neurosurgery moved to new facilities in Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in 1998.
