Dr Ian Hopkins 1934-2019

It is with great sadness that I report the passing on Sunday Nov 10 of Dr Ian Hopkins, at age 85 years.

Ian was Australia's first paediatric neurologist, commencing work in this role at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne in 1967. Ian established neurology services at the RCH, was the inaugural Director of Neurology between 1977-1987, and continued working as a senior neurologist until 2001. Amongst his many achievements, Ian was instrumental in setting up paediatric EEG, video-EEG and epilepsy surgery services in Melbourne and around Australia.

Ian will be remembered for his astute clinical skills, his warm and caring nature, and his commitment to teaching and research, these personal qualities and achievements being recognised during his lifetime by several local and national awards and honours. Ian's influence on child neurology continues through the clinical skills of practising neurologists whom he trained, and the syndromes that carry his name i.e. Hopkins syndrome and Pitt-Hopkins syndrome.

Ian is survived by his wife Barbara, their children and grandchildren.

Simon Harvey
on behalf of current and past neurologist at the RCH.