GLOWING TRIBUTES PAID TO PROF. (DR.) MAHAPATRA AT SOA CONDOLENCE MEETINGS

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 3: Glowing tributes were paid to the memory of Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, one of India’s finest neurosurgeons, who passed away while under treatment at AIIMS New Delhi on Monday, at the SOA Deemed to be University here on Tuesday.
Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra, who served SOA Deemed to be University as its Vice-Chancellor for two years between 2020 and 2022 and was guiding the university as its Principal Advisor (Health Sciences) thereafter, was battling brain cancer.
Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra had earlier headed the neurosurgery department at AIIMS, New Delhi for several years and was the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. He also served as Director of the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, recalled the celebrated neurosurgeon’s association with SOA and his contribution to the field of medical science.

Prof. Damodar Acharya, Chairman of the International Advisory Board of SOA, Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty, Prof. (Dr.) Prasenjit Mohanty, Prof. Prasanta Kumar Patra, Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, all Pro-Vice Chancellors, Prof. Bibhuti Bhushn Pradhan, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Registrar, Prof. Manjula Das, Controller of Examination, Deans, Directors, faculty members, senior functionaries and staff members attended the condolence meeting.
A separate condolence meeting was also held during the day at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital with which Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra was deeply associated after his retirement. Doctors and other staff members recalled their association with the eminent surgeon while speaking about his efforts to strengthen healthcare in the hospital.
Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of IMS and SUM Hospital and Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinghar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, led others in paying tribute to the departed soul.
Many of the speakers recalled Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra’s punctuality, spiritual inclinations and his emphasis on ancient Indian knowledge on healthcare.