Dr. Robertson returned to Kingston in 1962 as Assistant Professor (Neuropathology) at Queen's and Neuropathologist at Kingston General and Hotel Dieu Hospitals, He rose rapidly through the academic ranks, becoming Full Professor in 1969. He had a major role in founding the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada specialty of Neuropathology and he developed the Division of Neuropathology at Queen's into one of the premier training and academic neuropathology centres in Canada.
Dr Robertson had a very successful investigative career, authoring approximately 100 publications in many areas of neuropathology, including the pathogenesis of Wernicke's encephalopathy, toxic and diabetic peripheral neuropathies and hypertension-induced changes in the blood-brain-barrier. Along with his co-investigators Dr. Sukriti Nag and Dr. Henry Dinsdale, he received the Weil Award in Experimental Neuropathology from the American Association of Neuropathologists in 1976. He was a member of the editorial boards of Modern Pathology and Laboratory Investigation and was Associate Editor of the latter journal from 1972 to 1975.
Dr. Robertson held numerous leadership positions in national and North-American organizations; including as President of the Canadian Association of Neuropathologists (1971-73), President of the Intersociety Council of Laboratory Medicine of Canada (1973-74), President of the Canadian Association of Pathologists (1974-751 and Vice-President (1982-84) and President of the United States/Canadian Division of the lnternational Academy of Pathology (1984-85).
Dr. Robertson was Head of the Department of Pathology at Queen's and Pathologist-in-Chief at Kingston General Hospital from 1979 to 1986. He was Vice-President (Medical) of KGH (1986-92), Medical Director of KGH (1992-94) and subsequently acted as Special Advisor to the President of KGH. Dr. Robertson held the rank of Professor Emeritus after his retirement from the Department of Pathology in 1992. Following a dignified struggle with prolonged illness, Dr. David Robertson passed away at home in 2012 in his 81st year.
Through this lectureship series the Department honours David Robertson's many extraordinary contributions to our Department, Queen's University and Kingston General Hospital and to Neuropathology and Laboratory Medicine nationally and internationally.