Norton Neuroscience Institute Founder Still Treating Patients 50 Years Later – Lane Report

His six degrees line one wall. An oil painting of Seneca Park stretches across another. On his desk are old photographs (his daughters, their dogs) and a paper map of the world, pinned with places he’s visited. Bobble-head figurines of Elvis Presley, Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, among others, provide a bit of humor and a glimpse into what interests him outside of work.

Just beyond that, a six-compartment bookcase, filled with books he wrote, read, or both. It’s the summation of a long career. A career that celebrated its 50th anniversary in June.

And while the past and the future intersect, the present always remains apparent.

On this particular Monday, the neurosurgeon and founder and president of the Norton Neuroscience Institute sits in his hospital scrubs, sipping hot chocolate and preparing for his next call to the operating room.

The early years

Schumacher, Canada. About 720 kilometers north of Toronto. It is a small mining town of about 3,000 people.

This is where Dr. Shields’ journey began.

His competitive spirit, work ethic and determination were developed at a young age, when a failed attempt at playing ice hockey led the northern Ontario native to turn to figure skating.

He never looked back.

“I think what people do in a sport carries over into other areas of their lives,” Shields said. “And that includes medicine, or whatever field they’re in. The lessons learned, the discipline learned, carry over into many other areas.”

But Dr. Shields always felt a calling to the United States. In the 1970s, he answered that call and completed a neurovascular surgery training program at the University of Vermont in Burlington. He learned the technique of microsurgery, a new technology at the time.

Finally, he was ready to begin his professional career.

Landing in Louisville

The field of neurosurgery in Louisville has a rich history.

It all began with Dr. Glen Spurling, who founded the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1926. He also co-founded the Harvey Cushing Society (later known as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons) and the American Board of Neurological Surgery, two highly respected national neurosurgical organizations.

During World War II, Dr. Spurling was the first chief of neurosurgery at Walter Reed General Hospital and organized the U.S. Army Neurosurgical Service. He directed the care of General George S. Patton during the last weeks of his life. After Dr. Spurling retired in the 1960s, the torch was passed to Dr. Everett Grantham and Dr. Henry Garretson. Dr. Garretson became known for his cutting-edge surgical treatment of vascular malformations of the brain and for his practice in epilepsy.

Dr. Shields knew the history of neurosurgery in Louisville and trusted Dr. Garretson, who was his mentor. When Dr. Garretson suggested he come to Louisville to work alongside him, Dr. Shields jumped at the opportunity.

In June 1974, Dr. Shields officially took up residence in Louisville.

He joined a private practice, called the Neurosurgical Institute of Kentucky, which operated out of the brand-new Norton Hospital on Chestnut Street. He also served on the faculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. In 1988, he rose to the top of his field, becoming the first Canadian president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the largest neurosurgical organization in the United States. In the 1990s, he became chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Louisville. In that role, he established the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, with the support of then-state legislator Tim Shaughnessy and principal investigator Scott Whittemore, Ph.D. The center has become a leader in spinal cord injury research.

Norton Institute for Neuroscience

Dr. Shields began thinking about the future of neurosurgery and its place in the world of medicine. He wanted to develop and train a team of specialists—neurosurgeons and neurologists—who could work together to become leaders in advanced neurological care. He also wanted this team to engage in neurological research.

That opportunity came in 2009, when he and his six-person neurosurgical team joined Norton Healthcare full-time. At the same time, he recruited six other neurosurgeons from across the country.

Together they created the Norton Neuroscience Institute.

“It’s very satisfying,” said Dr. Shields. “Knowing that I’ve helped create a capable team here is all I could have asked for. It gives me confidence to know that we’re doing everything we can to provide the best care for our patients and this region.”

Since its inception, the Norton Neuroscience Institute has become a regional leader in advanced neurological and neurosurgical care. The team has grown to include more than 130 medical, surgical and research specialists and advanced health care providers dedicated to providing innovative care to people with diseases of the brain, spine and nervous system.

“The idea was not just to grow one aspect of the business, but to merge the specialties so that neurosurgeons and neurologists could work together,” Dr. Shields said. “I don’t look at how fast we’ve grown and rest on my laurels. I ask myself, ‘Who can we hire next week to continue to grow?’”

In 2019, 10 years after founding the Norton Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Shields was looking to push the boundaries even further.

“I looked around and realized no one was treating Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Shields said. “So I said, ‘I’m going to do it.’”

In 2020, in collaboration with neuropsychologist Brandon C. Dennis, Psy.D., Dr. Shields established the Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center, which has grown to include a team of 25 and has become a regional leader in multidisciplinary memory care.

In 2023, Norton Healthcare became the first health system in the region to administer lecanemab, the first disease-modifying drug for Alzheimer’s. In less than a year, Norton Healthcare has established itself as a leading system for the drug, with more than 110 patients currently enrolled in treatment.

“I didn’t realize the timing would be this good,” Dr. Shields said. “Two years after the Memory Center opened, we have a major breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Who knows what will happen in two years, but don’t let the obstacles discourage you. You have to go over, over, under. There are no obstacles. Everyone says you can’t do something, but you just have to prove them wrong. That’s what drives me.”

The next chapter

Dr. Shields sits in his office, waiting for the phone to ring.

He’s focused on what’s ahead, both literally and figuratively. Soon, he’ll be back in the operating room at Norton Hospital, a place he first set foot in fifty years ago. He’ll be performing another surgery, one that will impact another patient’s life. He’s performed more than 25,000 surgeries since arriving in Kentucky. But beyond the next surgery, his thoughts also turn to the future of his career, his field, and his team at the Norton Neuroscience Institute.

“My immediate goal is to expand the Memory Center to include more clinicians and researchers,” said Dr. Shields. “I hope to make us one of the largest, nationally recognized centers for neurodegeneration. I want people to choose to come here from around the world to receive the best treatment supported by a strong research team.”

As for retirement, it is not yet on the agenda.

He’s still in the operating room on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, he spends in the clinic. And Fridays, his administrative days, he spends in meetings with other members of the organization, trying to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Dr. Shields is also a prolific researcher, having published 213 peer-reviewed medical journal articles and 31 book chapters.

Officially, Dr Shields’ goal is to work until at least 2026, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth.^th anniversary of neurosurgery in Louisville, a journey that Dr. Spurling began in 1926. But in his heart, he wants to work as long as he can, dedicating himself to his craft.

“Why should I retire?” Dr. Shields said. “I’m doing things I love to do and I’m still great at them. And I’m helping patients get better. My favorite quote is from Katharine Graham (former publisher of the Washington Post). She said, ‘If you love what you do and feel like it’s important, how could there be anything more fun?’”

—By Nick Picht, Norton Healthcare