Elsdon Storey

Elsdon Storey is an Australian neurologist, professor of neurology at Monash University. His clinical and research interests are in neurogenetics (especially the hereditary ataxias) and behavioural neurology (especially the dementias).

After clinical neurology training in Oxford and Melbourne, and research training at Oxford, Massachusetts General Hospital and with Colin Masters at Melbourne University, Elsdon Storey was appointed as the first Van Cleef Roet Professor of Neuroscience at Monash in 1996. He is also Head of the Alfred Neurology Unit. He is on the Council of the Australian Association of Neurologists, and the Executive of the Monash University Centre for Brain and Behaviour.

Famous stories

There are several accounts of incidents involving Professor Storey that circulate throughout the medical community in Melbourne and Australia. These incidents have become part of medical folklore and as such it is difficult to know how accurate these tales are. Nevertheless, here are the most popular incidents known to the medical professional's community.

# Professor Storey's spot diagnosis accidentally ruined a fellow neurologist's presentation at a neurology conference
# Professor Storey was struck off the examiner's list at FRACP; presumably for expecting very high standards
# Professor Storey uses P values to evaluate the worth of reflexes elicited from patients.
# Dr Jason Wong worked with Prof. Storey for a year on a research and earned his respect, thereby also earning the respect of all third year medical students at the Alfred Hospital.
# In one of Professor Storey's lectures to medical students (one-hour lectures given with the aid of 2 slide projectors going simultaneously, each containing 30-40 slides) a despairing student quietly crept up to the back of the lecture hall and stuck a piece of cardboard over the front of one projector. Professor Storey was left with the impression that the globe on the projector had blown and, unable to leave the hall to get technical assistance, had to complete the lecture with only one projector (and 30-40 slides).

1. The Neurologist's conference incident

A well known and able neurology consultant was presenting a case to fellow neurologists at a small meeting in Melbourne. This regular meeting usually commenced with the presentation of an obscure case.

The neurologist began the presentation by revealing that the patient was a dentist. At this point Elsdon whispered to the person next to him that the answer would be nitrous oxide induced B12 deficiency myeloneuropathy. After detailing the presenting symptoms, which were indeed indicative of that condition, but without revealing that the dentist and his nurse were regularly abusing their nitrous oxide anaesthetic, the presenter began asking people what they thought was wrong with the patient, teasing Elsdon that even he wouldn't be able to figure this one out. In good sport Elsdon hung back, but with no-one else proffering a suggestion and after repeated taunts from the podium, he gave the answer he'd murmured to his neighbour. The presenter was utterly deflated and sat down.

2. The FRACP examiner incident

In what one would assume a clerical error, it is indeed true. Apparently the standard by 'Prof' expected was too high - an example: The student in question enters the room, preparing to embark on a neurological examination, being assessed by the Rhodes scholar himself. Trembling with fear, he proceeded through the usual rigmarole until it came to the point of examining vibration sense. Traditionally, this is carried out with a tuning fork. As the now more confident student began this, one of the last tests in the exam, Prof cut him short. In one sentence, he declared that the student was examining the patient incorrectly. The student replied with a quizzical expression. Laying nails into the coffin, Professor Storey quietly opened his briefcase, and presented an article (a randomized controlled trial) comparing the method the student was using with the proper method, proving the inaccuracy of the former method. Stumped, bewildered, and taken aback by this, the student could utter no more, and without further ado, left the room.