In 2028, the Belgian Society of Neurosurgery, in partnership with the City of Poperinge, wishes to honour Harvey Cushing for his service in Belgium during the First World War.
At Mendinghem, near Poperinge, Cushing worked in the field hospital that once stood on this historic site. As the Belgian neurosurgical community, we consider it both a privilege and a responsibility to commemorate his legacy where he served, treated the wounded and helped shape the future of neurological surgery.
MENDINGHEM SITE
LIJSSENTHOEK VISITOR CENTRE
PRACTICAL OVERVIEW
Organisers
Belgian Society of Neurosurgery and City of Poperinge
Main ceremony
23 March 2028
Location
Mendinghem / Poperinge, Belgium
Exhibition
Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre
Scientific meeting
BSN Annual Meeting, Ypres, 24–25 March 2028
THE PROJECT
1
A permanent memorial at Mendinghem (Poperinge). BSN aims to establish a memorial sign at the exact location where the wartime field hospital stood and where Harvey Cushing worked. The memorial sign should become a lasting place of remembrance and gratitude.
2
A dedicated exhibition at Lijssenthoek. A parallel exhibition at the Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre will present Cushing’s wartime activities in Belgium, his broader medical legacy and the historical relevance of this site in Flanders Fields.
3
An international inauguration on 23 March 2028. Belgian and international guests, including neurosurgeons, societies, donors and institutional partners, will be invited to attend the inauguration ceremony in Poperinge.
WHY THIS INITIATIVE MATTERS
1
to honour one of the founders of modern neurosurgery on Belgian soil
2
to connect Belgian, European, British and American neurosurgical communities around a shared historical legacy
3
to express the gratitude of the Belgian neurosurgical community for Cushing’s work and dedication during wartime
4
to preserve and communicate this story to future generations through a permanent public site and an exhibition
LINK WITH THE BSN ANNUAL MEETING
The inauguration will be followed by the BSN Annual Meeting in Flanders Fields, with the scientific meeting taking place in Ypres on 24 and 25 March 2028.
This creates a unique framework in which remembrance, history, friendship and academic exchange can come together in a single international gathering.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT
We welcome support from neurosurgical societies, private donors, foundations, institutions and companies.
BSN Support may contribute to the design and realization of the memorial, the exhibition, historical research, communication, logistics and the international outreach surrounding the inauguration.
BELGIAN SUPPORT CHANNEL
For Belgian philanthropy and sponsorship, contributions can be structured via the King Baudouin Foundation, allowing support with the appropriate fiscal framework.
US SUPPORT CHANNEL
For donors in the United States, contributions can be made via Myriad USA, allowing tax-efficient support according to the applicable US framework.
Initiators and institutional partners
The organizations leading and supporting the Cushing Memorial Belgium project.
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE
We warmly invite colleagues, societies, foundations and partners in Belgium and the United States to support this tribute and, where possible, to attend the inauguration in March 2028.Companies that would like to contribute are kindly invited to contact the BSN Treasurer.
For expressions of interest and general information:
Annie Dubuisson
(President BSN)
Dimitri Vanhauwaert
dimitri.vanhauwaert@azdelta.be
(Treasurer BSN)
Get in Touch
A TRIBUTE TO
HARVEY
CUSHING
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