Mossman, Stuart

Stuart Scott MOSSMAN

MB ChB (Otago) 1975, FRACP 1984, MD (Otago) 1989

Stuart Mossman did his postgraduate Neurology training in London at Guy’s Hospital, the National Hospital For Nervous Diseases at Queen Square and the Medical Council Research Unit, Queen Square. It was here that he gained a special interest in vestibular disorders and continued this in a clinical and research interest as a Consultant Neurologist at Wellington Hospital between 1992 and 2017.

In his offer of a Registrar position at Guy’s Hospital he asked the interview panel why they appointed him and they replied, “You play rugby and can play in the Guy’s Hospital team”. Subsequently in making an application to do an MD thesis with Professor John Newsom-Davis London he was told “as you have run the London Marathon, you’re likely to last the distance”. In discussing an appointment at Wellington Hospital the then Head of Department, Lindsay Haas commented – as a prerequisite for the position, “I don’t care whether you can swing a tendon hammer. I want to know whether I can get on with you.” Ironically towards the end of Dr Mossman’s career he found that he undeservedly had invitations for authorships on research papers where his contribution had really been very small, perhaps reflecting the importance of creating relationships for networking in medical research.

After retiring from Wellington Hospital in 2017 he enjoyed meeting the specialty needs as a visiting Neurologist to Gisborne Hospital until 2021, in the city in fact where he was born. However,  continuing to practice Medicine after 65 years would not have  been possible without the benefit of cochlear implants, for late onset autosomal dominant deafness.