Seeing the beauty and complexity of the workings of the brain is one motivating factor that keeps Clinical Professor Soumya Ghosh inspired in a complex environment.
Professor Ghosh is a Consultant Neurologist at the Perron Institute, Sir Charles Gairdner, Perth Children’s and Fiona Stanley Hospitals, and heads the Restorative Neurology Research at the Perron Institute with Professor Frank Mastaglia AM.
“During my years in medical school in India, I was lucky to have a great neurophysiology teacher, Professor Marcus Devanandan, who introduced me to research,” Professor Ghosh said.
This led him to move to Australia and complete a PhD in neurophysiology at the Australian National University in 1986. After postdoctoral fellowships at Queens University, Canada and the University of New South Wales, he started his own research program in brain function and control of voluntary movement at the University of Queensland in 1991.
In 1997, he moved to Perth with his wife Dr Lakshmi Nagarajan (a paediatric neurologist and researcher) and two children.
“I was welcomed to the Perron Institute to continue my research investigating signal processing in brain networks for movement control. I moved to clinical work in 2005, and my research focus shifted to clinical studies and trials to improve recovery following brain injury including stroke, as well as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.
“I am grateful for the support of Professor Mastaglia and Perron Institute CEO Steve Arnott.
I would also like to acknowledge Clinic Manager Sue Walters, Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist Alexa Jefferson, Jenny Eisenhauer and Claire Tucak in my research team and clinic administrative staff.
“The Perron Institute is in many ways a unique place which brings together basic science and clinical research, as well as clinical care in the same intellectually enriching environment.
“Working as a neurologist, a movement disorders specialist and a clinical neurophysiologist is fulfilling. It is extremely rewarding to look after patients with complex neurological problems and observe their progress.
“I have always enjoyed teaching. Seeing those I taught as medical students and junior doctors become successful consultants is special. I am also very proud of the Honours and PhD students I have supervised.
“Advanced training in Neurology at Sir Charles Gairdner, Royal Perth and Fremantle hospitals was a wonderful experience, followed by an equally stimulating movement disorder fellowship at the Toronto Western Hospital. They taught me how to be a thorough and caring neurologist.
“Medical science is an exciting and rewarding field of study where we are privileged to care for patients and contribute to the advancement knowledge and discovery of new treatments.
“In my free time, I like hiking, off-road adventures in our 4wd, gardening and astronomy.”