Neurosurgeon

Since 1983, Dr. Patrick Kelly has operated on more than 3,000 brain tumors at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic and New York University Medical Center, using a pioneering technique which he developed. 

Dr. Kelly’s computer-assisted technique, called stereotactic neurosurgery, helps him build a three-dimensional picture of brain tumors so he can decide how best to conduct surgery. The computer can project the tumor’s outlines, an idea Dr. Kelly gleaned from F-16 fighter planes, which can fire through clouds at planes they cannot see. 

Dr. Kelly worked on his technique for more than 20 years before putting to use. And he had help from a NASA engineer and several computer scientists. One of his colleagues has called Dr. Kelly “the father of computer-assisted neurosurgery.” In 1987, the FDA approved the computer program and the instrumentation. 

Dr. Kelly’s latest innovation is consulting with patients through the Worldwide Web on the internet. Patients can load their medical files and consult with Dr. Kelly from anywhere in the world. He is presently hoping to raise money to bring a Polish lady to the U.S. for brain surgery on a tumor which Polish doctors said was inoperable. 

Dr. Kelly’s father came from County Cork, and his mother from County Galway.