Professor Vijay Kumar Kak, doyen of neurosurgery, passes away

Chandigarh, August 16

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Professor Vijay Kumar Kak, the doyen of neurosurgery, passed away on Thursday.

Born on October 15, 1938, Kak did his medical schooling in Agra and joined the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, in 1969.

Along with Professor DR Gulati, he developed a super specialty department here into one of the best departments across the world. In patient care, Vijay did everything that was possible: surgical techniques under hypothermia, hypotension anesthesia, trans sphenoidal pituitary and transthoracic spinal surgery; bringing in latest and advanced investigations for the patients.

His participation and endurance in teaching were highly effective. Almost all neurosurgeons in the country have been mentored and trained by him.

His academic mind brought out excellence in research. He has contributed more than 400 scientific articles and many chapters in books.

Vijay, in spite of his disability (polio since early childhood), was a person with multiple talents. He displayed excellent playing skills in table tennis and chess.

His organisational skills were evident as honorary secretary and national president of the Neurological Society of India, president of Indian Society for Cerebrovascular Surgery and Indian Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery.

He was also director principal and health secretary of the Chandigarh Administration.