James T. Rutka
Professor, Department of Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Director, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children
Title of Keynote Speech: “Leadership in Neurosurgery: Lessons learned”
Born in Toronto, and educated at Princeton University (1975-1977), Queen’s University Medical School (1977-1981), McGill University internship (1981-1982), University of Toronto neurosurgery (1982 – 1989), and University of California San Francisco PhD (1984-1987), Dr. Rutka assumed his appointment at the Hospital for Sick Children in the Division of Neurosurgery, the Department of Surgery, the University of Toronto in 1990. Dr. Rutka’s primary research and clinical interests relate to the science and surgery of human brain tumors and epilepsy. He has over 600 peer reviewed publications. Over the course of his career, he has received more than $30M in research grant funding.
In 1999, Dr. Rutka was promoted to Professor in the Department of Surgery, the University of Toronto, and was appointed to the Dan Family Chair in the Division of Neurosurgery — a position he held until 2011. In 2009, he was the Honored Guest at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons’ Annual Meeting. In 2010 – 11, Dr Rutka served as President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). In 2011, he became President of the World Academy of Neurological Surgery, President of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. That same year, he was appointed as the RS McLaughlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. In 2013, he became the first Canadian to be appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurosurgery, and was inducted as a Member of the Order of Ontario. In 2015, he received the Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize from the University of British Columbia, the Robert L. Noble Award from the Canadian Cancer Society, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2017, he received an honorary degree, Doctor of Science, from his Medical School Alma Mater, Queen’s University. In 2019, he received the Cushing Medal from the AANS, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon one of its members. In 2022, Dr. Rutka he received the Distinguished Service Award from the AANS; the Golden Neuron Award from the World Academy of Neurological Surgeons; and the Medal of Honour from the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS). In 2024, Dr. Rutka was awarded with the Charles Drake Medal and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Neurosurgical Society. In 2026, Dr. Rutka was the Medalist of the Neurosurgery Society of America, and became the inaugural Ellen Siow Endowed Professor of Neurosurgery at the National University of Singapore.
Dr. Rutka is married to Mari Rutka. Together they have three children: Daniel, Hana and Marissa.
James T. Rutka
Professor, Department of Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Director, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children
Title of Keynote Speech: “Leadership in Neurosurgery: Lessons learned”
Born in Toronto, and educated at Princeton University (1975-1977), Queen’s University Medical School (1977-1981), McGill University internship (1981-1982), University of Toronto neurosurgery (1982 – 1989), and University of California San Francisco PhD (1984-1987), Dr. Rutka assumed his appointment at the Hospital for Sick Children in the Division of Neurosurgery, the Department of Surgery, the University of Toronto in 1990. Dr. Rutka’s primary research and clinical interests relate to the science and surgery of human brain tumors and epilepsy. He has over 600 peer reviewed publications. Over the course of his career, he has received more than $30M in research grant funding.
In 1999, Dr. Rutka was promoted to Professor in the Department of Surgery, the University of Toronto, and was appointed to the Dan Family Chair in the Division of Neurosurgery — a position he held until 2011. In 2009, he was the Honored Guest at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons’ Annual Meeting. In 2010 – 11, Dr Rutka served as President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). In 2011, he became President of the World Academy of Neurological Surgery, President of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. That same year, he was appointed as the RS McLaughlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. In 2013, he became the first Canadian to be appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurosurgery, and was inducted as a Member of the Order of Ontario. In 2015, he received the Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize from the University of British Columbia, the Robert L. Noble Award from the Canadian Cancer Society, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2017, he received an honorary degree, Doctor of Science, from his Medical School Alma Mater, Queen’s University. In 2019, he received the Cushing Medal from the AANS, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon one of its members. In 2022, Dr. Rutka he received the Distinguished Service Award from the AANS; the Golden Neuron Award from the World Academy of Neurological Surgeons; and the Medal of Honour from the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS). In 2024, Dr. Rutka was awarded with the Charles Drake Medal and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Neurosurgical Society. In 2026, Dr. Rutka was the Medalist of the Neurosurgery Society of America, and became the inaugural Ellen Siow Endowed Professor of Neurosurgery at the National University of Singapore.
Dr. Rutka is married to Mari Rutka. Together they have three children: Daniel, Hana and Marissa.