Francis Forster, the last Horseman: A career in academic neurology

American neurologist and epileptologist Francis M. Forster (1912–2006) was the last survivor of the “Four Horsemen,” a nickname given to the four neurologists—Forster, Abe Baker, Russell DeJong, and Adolph Sahs—who were most instrumental in founding the American Academy of Neurology under Baker’s leadership in 1948. Forster was a consulting physician for many high-profile patients, including President Dwight Eisenhower, President Quirino and Archbishop Reyes of the Philippines, Provisional President Lonardi of Argentina, and Cardinal Albert Meyer of Chicago. Forster was also an expert witness for the prosecution in the trial of Jack Ruby, who killed Lee Harvey Oswald. Forster’s greatest legacy, though, was as a teacher: During his career as chairman of two robust academic neurology departments, he trained more than 100 residents, at least 17 of whom went on to become chairmen of neurology departments in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis