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© 2023 The Authors. Société Internationale d'Urologie Journal, published by the Société Internationale d'Urologie, Canada.

SIUJ.ORG SIUJ  •  Volume 4, Number 2  •  March 2023

Michael Rochford is well known throughout the 
urological world for many reasons and could be regarded 
as a “Renaissance man” of urology. His urological 
knowledge is more than impressive, but it is his 
dedication to the nurturing of the discipline of urology 
and of his colleagues and students, combined with his 
humanity and care for “community,” that truly makes 
him a giant in urology.

Michael obtained his medical degree at the University 
of Sydney, graduating in 1961. He subsequently obtained 
surgical fellowships from the Royal College of Surgeons 
(FRCS) in 1966, and then his urological fellowship from 
the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 
1972. Michael spent time working at the Whittington 
Hospital, with Sir Eric Riches at the Middlesex (Royal 
Marsden) Hospital, and with Dennis Poole-Wilson at the 
Christie and Salford Royal Hospitals, where he gained 
great experience in the surgical treatment of kidney and 
bladder cancers. Upon returning to Australia from the 
United Kingdom, he was appointed consultant urolog-
ical surgeon at Nepean Hospital, Sydney in 1969, and 
then consultant urologist at The Liverpool Hospital, 
Sydney in 1971. From 1972 onward, he served as medi-
cal officer (group captain) to the RAAF, including 
formal appointment as command consultant urologist at 
3-RAAF Hospital, Richmond, from 1972 to 1992.

This formal outline of his professional appointments 
does not reflect, in any way, the actual impact and signif-
icance of Michael’s influence and contribution to those 
institutions in Sydney. At the time of his appointment, 
both hospitals were community or district hospitals 
to which Michael brought a level of urological exper-
tise much higher than either institution previously 
had available. Both hospitals were situated in the west-
ern part of Sydney and were relatively under-serviced. 
Michael was instrumental in upgrading the level of 
service provided, as well as in attracting better-qual-
ified surgeons and starting training programs in urol-
ogy. Today, both hospitals are major teaching hospitals 
in Sydney, with urology departments sought after for 
both training appointments and senior consulting urol-
ogy posts. Michael Rochford was an active mentor of 

Dr Michael Rochford, a giant in urology 

many urologists who are in practice today (including 
myself)—he guided the path of many to urology train-
ing, espousing breadth as well as depth of training, and 
placing a good deal of emphasis on common sense. The 
last trait he thinks is far too rare in modern surgery and 
urology!

The Urological Society of Australasia (the name of 
the Urological Society of Australia & New Zealand at 
the time) was also a beneficiary of Michael Rochford’s 
expertise. He served on the Executive for many years 
and was honorary treasurer from 1983 to 1988. He was 
chairman of the Australasian Urological Foundation 

Michael Rochford, Sydney, Australia

William J. Lynch

Department of Urology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

Soc Int Urol J. 2023;4(2):145–147 

145

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from its inception in 1995 until 2022, directing its prog-
ress and continuation with great success.

The Urological Society of Australasia (USA) was 
formalized as a body in 1937, and immediately began its 
association with the SIU. At that time, the Australasian 
section of the SIU was limited to 10 members—8 from 
Australia and 2 from New Zealand. As early as 1940, 
the USA was requesting the quota be increased—this 
did occur slowly over subsequent years. At that time, 
SIU meetings were held every 3 years, mostly in Europe, 
with French as the dominant language and simultane-
ous translation a typical feature—although obviously 
an increasing financial burden for the Society. The SIU 
has undergone substantial changes since those days, 
and Michael was a very significant conduit for evolution 
within the SIU.

The 1991 SIU meeting was held in Seville, and a very 
enthusiastic group led by Bruce Pearson (chair), Michael 
Rochford, and David Golovsky lobbied for the 1994 meet-
ing to be held in Sydney. The Executive of the SIU voted 
in its favour, and that decision would be the first step in 
a series of changes that, in one sense, could be regarded 
as an “avalanche of evolution,” although some undoubt-
edly perceived it as revolution. The SIU meeting in Seville 
heralded another momentous change for the SIU, as the 
meeting’s official language was changed from French to 
English, with the local organizing committee having the 
discretion as to what translations were available.

Unfortunately, Bruce Pearson passed away unexpect-
edly in 1992 leaving Michael and David Golovsky to 
jointly run the meeting. The “chair” of the Australasian 
Section President was left vacant in his honour. Until 
that time, to attend an SIU meeting, a delegate had to 
be seconded by an existing SIU member. Michael and 
David lobbied successfully to have this restriction lifted, 
allowing invitation to the meeting to be extended to 
all urologists, which, of course, remains the situation 
to this day. More than 2700 delegates attended the SIU 
meeting in 1994 in Sydney, demonstrating that people 
were prepared to travel great distances to a good meet-
ing. Michael Rochford was predominantly responsi-
ble for obtaining sponsorship for the meeting, which 
highlighted that an SIU meeting could be financially 
successful. That significant inf lux of funds allowed  
the establishment of the SIU secretariat office in 
Montreal, which was the start of the “professionaliza-
tion” of the organization and the progressive changes 
that formed the SIU of 2023.

Michael then started a long association with the 
Executive/Board of Directors of the SIU. He became 
chairman of the congress and established strong and 
long-standing relationships with industry and other 
professional organizations. Early in his role as chairman 

of congress, he and the committee faced logistical chal-
lenges, but Michael’s diplomacy and his organizational 
skills were instrumental in overcoming all difficulties, 
and he was always quick to give credit to local organiz-
ing committees.

Of course, Michael continued with the organization 
to become appointed president of the SIU in 2002 in the 
Stockholms Stadshus, the hall where the Nobel Banquets 
are held, and his own memorable “presidential” meeting 
was held in Hawaii in 2004.

There are many stories that could be told about 
Rochford/SIU exploits around the world, and there are 
undoubtedly even more than will never be told. I think 
it could be a very educational evening to give Michael 
that extra whisky and get him to tell some of those tales, 
but alas his discretion is legendary, and I fear I will go 
wanting! 

Philosophically, Michael saw a far-reaching role for 
the SIU, and with some like-minded fellow members 
guided the organization to a wider and more expansive 
role than it had originally performed. This, of course, 
was made possible by the new-found financial stability 
afforded to the SIU by the Sydney meeting, followed by 
the Montreal meeting in 1997.

Education, training, and access were the areas 
Michael Rochford saw as the backbone of the SIU, and 
how the SIU could have an identity of its own that was 
quite distinct from that of national societies and associ-
ations. Much of the Rochford “vision” has come to frui-
tion in our present, modern SIU.

• Meetings—he pushed for an annual meeting (as 
opposed to the original triennial meeting) so as to 
keep the SIU in the mind’s eye of urologists and 
current to potential sponsors. After a period of 
biennial meetings, we now have an annual meeting.

• Journal—he also thought the SIU needed a jour-
nal and, together with Mostafa Elhilali, initiated the 
original collaboration with Urology, which has, of 
course, now evolved to the SIU Journal.

• Scholarships—the scholarship scheme was an idea 
that fitted his concept of what defines the SIU perfectly 
and he did everything he could, through his various 
positions in the SIU, to help establish this endeavour. 
Joe Thuroff, of course, was the long-time chair and a 
huge driving force behind this initiative.

• Training—Michael long held the belief that the most 
effective method of helping upgrade skills was to assist 
individual urologists within their local environment. 
He was always extremely proud of the support the SIU 
provided to centres in Kilimanjaro, Mozambique, and 
Wad Madani.

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This short summary of Michael Rochford’s contri-
bution to the SIU is certainly not comprehensive, but 
hopefully it gives a perspective on his contribution to 
the organization’s evolution. Those who might only have 
heard of him have some idea of the vision, philosophical 
bent, and imagination of the man who helped shape the 
SIU as we now know it, as well as his drive and financial 
skills that helped make it possible. He is one half of the 
“dynamic duo” that directed and facilitated the emer-
gence of the modern SIU.

Michael is enjoying his well-earned retirement, 
although lamenting he does not get to play as much golf 
as he would like (by the way, he was depressingly good 
at that too). There are many who would consider it an 
honour to follow in Michael’s footsteps—myself most 
definitely included in that category.

147SIUJ.ORG SIUJ  •  Volume 4, Number 2  •  March 2023

Michael Rochford, Sydney, Australia

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