Dr. T.S. Kanaka-A Pioneer and Neurosurgical Innovator.

Abstract Thanjavur Santhanakrishna (T.S.) Kanaka MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MS (Neurosurgery), PhD and Ex. Captain, Indian Army Medical Corps was born on 31 March, 1932. She became the first woman neurosurgeon in India and all of Asia. Dr. Kanaka was a trailblazer for women in neurosurgery and a pioneer in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery. During her long and productive career, she authored dozens of manuscripts published in prestigious neurosurgical journals worldwide and helped inspire and train the next generations of neurosurgeons in India and abroad. Even after retirement, Dr. Kanaka continued to focus on serving the medical community through her Sri Santhanakrishna Padmavathi Health Care and Research Foundation in Chennai with the mission of serving underprivileged and senior citizens in the local community. In addition to her accomplishments as a practicing neurosurgeon, Dr. Kanaka’s career was notable for her successful collaborations with biomedical engineers on medical device development using locally sourced materials and talent in India. Through her innovative thinking, compassion for her patients, and unwavering resilience, Dr. Kanaka continues to serve as an inspiration to all pursuing a career in academic medicine and neurosurgery.