EDUCATION

The Early Years

Dr Melvill was born in Durban, South Africa where he did his schooling. His undergraduate training was done at University of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, where he achieved the Merit Award in Zoology. From here he transferred to the University of Cape Town where he completed his medical training.

Extramural Activities & Achievements

2018

University of Cape Town's Distinguished Surgeon Award

2018

2017

Expedition Doctor and Artist for the Lewis Pugh Foundation, Scotia Seas Campaign

2017

2016

Expedition Doctor and Artist for the Lewis Pugh Foundation, Antarctic 2020 Campaign

2016

1998

Expedition Leader - San Jose, Chilean Andes

1998

1996

Expedition Leader - Mountaineering expedition to Chilean Andes

1996

1988

Sportsman of the Year (Mountaineering) - Medical Association of South Africa, Cape Western Branch

1988

1987

Expedition Doctor - South African Puna de Atacama Expedition – Chile – South America - (Climbed World's Highest Volcano - Ojos del Salado - 6885m)

1987

1984

Expedition Doctor - Mountaineering in the Cordillera Blanca - Peru

1984

1978-1991

Member of Search and Rescue - Mountain Club of South Africa - Cape Town

1978-1991

NEUROSURGICAL INTERESTS

Epilepsy Surgery | Trigeminal Neuralgia
Neuro-oncology: Cortical Mapping for Brain Tumour Surgery
South African National Epilepsy League
Functional Neurosurgery in Movement Disorders
Spinal Surgery | Pain Management

MEMBERSHIPS Past & Present

Medical Association of SA
SA Neurosurgical Society | AANS
SA National Epilepsy League
Core Panel Member - Centre for Stereotactic Irradiation
WSSFN | WFNS
Neuromodulation Committee Association of Ethical Spine Surgeons
Continental Vice-President of WSSFN
South African Medico-Legal Association

OTHER INTERESTS & ACTIVITIES

Art and Painting
Reading and Writing
Wildlife Photography
Touring "off the beaten path"
Denalibelay Siberians & Alpacas

Congress Presentations

2019
The Interface: Neurosurgery, Mountaineering and Art - (Key Note Address, 28th Society of Neurosurgeons of South Africa Congress)
2013
Indication for Deep Brain Stimulation - (Congress of Int Society of Intraoperative Neurophysiology)
2007
Surgery for Movement Disorders in South Africa - (International Workshop on Functional Neurosurgery for Movement Disorders and Mental Illness – Commemoration of 150th Birthday Anniversary of Sir Victor Horsley. Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London.)
2002
The Neurosurgical Management of Epilepsy - (South African Congress of Neurosurgeons) The Neurosurgical Management of Epilepsy - (South African Neurological Congress) The Neurosurgical Management of Pain - (European Advanced Spine Course)
1997
A Tentorial Sling in Microvascular Decompression of Trigeminal Neuralgia - (The Congress of Neurological Surgeons, New Orleans, United States of America.)
1976
The Pitfalls in Early Diagnosis of Childhood Spinal Compression - (Biennial Congress of Society of Neurosurgeons of S.A.)
2015
Complications of Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery - (ABC Meeting, Base of Brain Surgery, University of Cape Town A Fresh Look at the Deep Brain Nuclei & Surgical Approaches
2011
Chairman of Medtronic Workshop - (Deep Brain Stimulation) Chairman of Elekta Workshop - (Radiosurgery) Temporal Lobectomy in Africa - (WSSFN, Cape Town)
2006
Radiosurgery: A Neurosurgeon's Perspective - (South African Association of Physicists in Medicine and Biology. 45th SAAPMB Congress and Autumn School.)
2001
Extraforaminal Disc Protrusions - (South African Spine Society) The Neurosurgical Management of Pain - (European Advanced Spine Course) Surgery for Parkinson’s Disease - (Parkinson’s Association Symposium) Surgery for Dystonia - (Dystonia Workshop – Port Elizabeth) Results of Epilepsy Surgery 100 Cases - (Neuroimaging & Neuropathology Meeting SA)
1996
Convenor Constantiaberg Neuroscience’s Symposium
1974
Review of 291 Brain Abscesses Seen at Groote Schuur Hospital - (Biennial Congress of Society of Neurosurgeons of S.A.)
2014

Epilepsy Surgery in Resource Poor Settings (Round Table Discussion) - (2nd African Epilepsy Congress: Epilepsy in Africa, Bridging the Gap)
Intrathecal Baclofen in the Treatment of Spasticity - (South African Neurodevelopmental Therapy Association Congress)

2009
Cervical Foramenotomy - (Cervical Spine Surgery Masterclass. Sports Science Institute) Neurosurgery in Sub-Saharan Africa - (World Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. Toronto 2009.)
2003
Neurosurgery in the Treatment of Epilepsy - (“State of the Art Lecture” in Honour of Dr. Fikre Workneh - Ethiopian Medical Association XXXIXth Annual Medical Conference and Exhibition)
1998
Pallidotomy for Parkinson's Disease: A one Year follow up - (Neurology Association of South Africa - 1998 NASA Congress)
1993

Cortical Mapping in Brain Tumour Surgery - (Congress of the Medical Association of South Africa)
Cortical Mapping in Brain Tumour Surgery - (Congress of South African Neurological Association)

Publications

Melvill RL., Baxter BL. Functional Cortical Mapping in Brain Tumour Surgery: Modern Medicine, Vol 20 No 6 June 1995: 36-45

Roger L. Melvill, Belinda L. Baxter. A tentorial sling in microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. J. Neurosurgery 84:127-128, 1996.

Belinda L Baxter, Roger L Melvill Acoustic Neuroma: what my doctor told me! Modern Medicine, Vol 21 No 7 July 1996: 32-44

Frederik J Vernimmen, Jill K Harris, Jennifer A Wilson, Roger Melvill, BJ Smit, Jacobus P Slabbert Stereotactic Proton Beam Therapy of Skull Base Meningiomas Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2001; 49(1): 99-105

Frederik J.A.I. Vernimmen, Jacobus P. Slabbert, Jennifer A. Wilson, Shaheeda Fredericks and Roger Melvill. Stereotactic proton beam therapy for intracranial arteriovenous malformations International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, Volume 62, Issue 1, 1 May 2005, Pages 44-52

Dr M Raff, Dr R Melvill, Dr G Coetzee, Dr J Smuts. Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Management of Pain: Recommendations for best clinic practice June 2013, Vol. 103, No. 6 (Suppl), SAMJ

Melvill RL. The Pitfalls in Early Diagnosis of Childhood Spinal Compression. S. Afr. Med. J. 1976; 50: 621-624.

Melvill RL, De Villiers JC. Peripheral Cerebral Arterial Aneurysms Caused by Stabbing. S. Afr. Med. J. 1977; 51: 471-473.

Melvill RL. Anastomosis of the Superficial Temporal to the Middle Cerebral Artery in the Management of an Intracranial Aneurysm. A Case Report. S. Afr. Med. J. 1978; 54: 792-794.

Erskine WAR, Melvill RL. Chronic Pain Problems. Experiences in a pain clinic. S. Afr. Med. J. 1981; 59: 859-860.

Castle D, De Villiers JC, Melvill RL. Lymphocytic Adenohypophysitis. Report of a Case with Demonstration of Spontaneous Tumour Regression and a Review of the Literature. Br J Neurosurg 1988; 2: 401-406.

Melvill RL., Baxter BL. The Intertransverse Approach to Extra-Foraminal Disc Protrusion in the Lumbar Spine. Spine 1994, Vol 19 No 23: 2707-2714