Bhubaneswar, Nov. 2: Eminent neurosurgeon and former Vice-Chancellor of the SOA Deemed to be University Prof. (Dr) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra passed away while under treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi tonight.
Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra, who was counted among the top neurosurgeons of the world, was suffering from Glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He was airlifted to AIIMS, New Delhi for treatment on September 27 last and had undergone surgery on October 5.
Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra, 74, is survived by his wife and a daughter.
He had provided leadership to the neurosurgery department at AIIMS, New Delhi, as its head. He had also served the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, as its Director.
Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra was instrumental in the establishment of the AIIMS at Bhubaneswar as he was appointed its first Director.
After his superannuation, he joined the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital under SOA Deemed to be University as its Advisor (Medical Sciences). He took over as Vice- Chancellor of SOA in 2020 and served in that capacity for two years.
At the end of his tenure, he continued to guide the university as its Principal Advisor (Health Sciences).
The mortal remains of Prof. (Dr ) Mahapatra will be brought to Bhubaneswar tomorrow for the last rites.
Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak, Founder President of SOA, deeply condoled the passing away of Prof.(Dr.) Mahapatra describing it as a huge loss to the medical fraternity. He was regarded as a colossus in the realms of neuro surgery and guided many budding talents in the field. His absence will be felt acutely, he said in a condolence message.
SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda also expressed his shock at the passing away of Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra while hailing his immense contribution towards the growth of the university.
Counted among the top five neurosurgeons in the world, Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra will be remembered for his enormous contribution to the society at large in the field of medical science and healthcare administration.
Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra headed the department of Neurosurgery at AIIMS, New Delhi for many years where he led innumerable complex surgeries.
The famous neurosurgeon was decorated with the Padma Sri, the country’s fourth highest civilian honour, by the Indian government in 2024 for his enormous contribution to the field of medical science.
Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra, who served as Vice-Chancellor of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University between 2020 and 2022, was the founding Director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. He also served as the Director of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
He will be remembered for leading a 16-hour surgery to successfully separate conjoined craniopagus twins from Odisha at AIIMS , New Delhi in 2017.
The surgery on the conjoined twins, Jaga and Kalia, which attracted a lot of media attention, was said to be the first of its kind in India.
Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra, who hailed from Puri district, graduated in medicine from MKCG Medical College in Berhampur. He chose the field of neurosurgery and honed his skill at AIIMS, New Delhi.
Having contributed over 100 scientific articles, Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra’s academic profiles are listed in national and international databases.
He was also the recipient of several prestigious awards which included the Dr. B.C.Roy National Award in 2008 and the C.V.Raman Award for Scientific Excellence in 2022.
