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Deceased Member

Elected: 1962

Senior: 1970
Vice-President: 1969-1970

1910-1999

LESTER MOUNT was born in Lebanon, Ohio, on March 23, 1910. His career was that of an Academic Neurosurgeon which he describes as "Teaching, Research, and Practice." He entered Medical School at the University of Cincinnati in 1930 and received his M.D. in 1935. For three and one half years, while going to medical school he lived in the General Hospital working as a night-man. Four years were spent at the Henry Ford Hospital, and three years at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Neurological Institute of the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center: he became a permanent member of the staff of Columbia. He advanced to Professor of Clinical Neurosurgery and Professor Emeritus in 1975. His Harvey Cushing Medal of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons is the highest honor an American neurosurgeon can received. His most recent honor, October 24, 1990, was "The President of Concordia College’s Award for Excellence in Educational Service to the Community, in this case the Global Community." In his introduction he was described as being a physician, teacher, and humanitarian.

His long and distinguished career has taken him through the world, in many parts of the U.S.A., and in 20 foreign countries. Dr. Kemp Clark, a past resident of Dr. Mount, wrote a biography of Dr. Mount for Surgical Neurology. He stated that most of the publications dealt with "the management of subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracranial aneurysms. In this field of neurosurgery he can truly be called a pioneer. He was one of the first to recommend surgical treatment asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms. His ligation of the distal basilar trunk in the treatment of basilar artery aneurysm was one of the first described."

In 1951 he saw the need for and started an aneurysm registry, compiled an I.B.M. form, and requested all certified neurosurgeons to participate. In the final cooperative study he was a participating investigator, a member of the editorial committee, and contributor (author of the last chapter of: "Intracranial Aneurysms and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, A Cooperative Study").

In organized scientific neurosurgery, Dr. Mount was a member of 18 scientific societies. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and was President 1976-77; on the Executive Committee of the Neurosurgical Society of America, President 1961-62; The Society of Neurological Surgeons as Vice President and Council Member 1969-70; Foundation for International Education in Neurosurgery as Founding Member, Trustee and Vice President; American Medical Association as Representative to the Council of Medical Education for the Residency Review Committee of Neurosurgery 1969-75. For the National Institute of Neurological Diseases he was a member of the Neurological Science Research Training Committee. He is a member of The Neurosurgical Travel Club.

He served Project Hope as Chief of Neurosurgery, Member of Advisory Committee, Member of Executive Committee, Member of Medical Board, and performed service abroad during his vacations in 1962 Peru, 1964 Guinea, 1966 Nicaragua, 1967 Colombia, 1968 Sri Lanka, and 1971 Jamaica.

He was a member of the Reformed Church of Bronxville, serving as Deacon 1956-58, a permanent member of the Great Consistory since 1956, and an Elder 1958-64, 1966-72, 1975-81, 1984-88.

He married Ruth Baker and their marriage produced three children and lasted over half a century.