New Delhi, November
Eminent neurosurgeon and Padma Shri awardee Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra passed away at the age of 74 while undergoing treatment at the Neurosurgery Department of AIIMS, New Delhi. He breathed his last at 9:15 PM.
Dr Mahapatra was widely recognised as one of India's leading neurosurgeons, particularly in the field of paediatric neurosurgery. He served as the Founder Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar and played a significant role in establishing the premier medical institution in Odisha.
He headed the Neurosciences Centre at AIIMS, New Delhi, and served as Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar from 2012 to 2016.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to medicine and healthcare, Dr Mahapatra was conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri in 2024.
He came into the national spotlight in 2017 for his involvement in the complex separation surgery of conjoined twin children. His remarkable expertise and dedication to paediatric neurosurgery earned him widespread recognition across the country.
Dr Mahapatra's demise is a great loss to the medical fraternity and the healthcare sector. His contributions to neurosurgery, medical education and the development of AIIMS Bhubaneswar will be remembered for years to come.
