T. S. Kanaka

Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka
Born 03/31/1932
Other names Tanjore Santhana Krishna Kanaka
Kanaka Santhanakrishna
Occupation Neurosurgeon
Known for Asia's first female neurosurgeon

T.S. Kanaka or Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka, also known as Tanjore Santhana Krishna Kanaka (31/03/1932 - ) is Asia's first female neurosurgeon[1][2][3][4] and one of the world's first few female neurosurgeons.[5] She is the first neurosurgeon in India to perform chronic electrode implants in the brain;[6] having performed deep brain stimulation as early as in 1975.[7] She pioneered functional neurosurgery in the 1960s and 1970s[7] along with Prof. Balasubramaniam, Prof. S. Kalyanaraman; and received recognition for her research and contributions to the field of stereotactic surgery.[6]

Biography

Kanaka was born to Santhanakrishna and Padmavathi in Chennai. Her father, Santanakrishna, was the Deputy Director of Public Instruction and Principal of Chennai Teachers College.[8] She was one among eight children.[8] Despite her urge to pursue spiritual studies in her early years, she went on to do medicine. She completed MBBS in Dec 1954, MS (General Surgery) in Mar 1963, MCh (Neurosurgery) in Mar 1968, PhD in 1972 and Diploma in Higher Education (DHEd) in 1983. When stereotaxy started in Madras in 1960, Dr. B. Ramamurthi and his team, Prof. V. Balasubramaniam, Prof. S. Kalyanaraman and Dr. T.S. Kanaka supported by their neurologist counterparts Dr. G. Arjundas and Dr. K. Jagannathan, became the earliest team in India to perform stereotaxic procedures.[6][9][10]

Kanaka served in the Indian Army as a commissioned officer during the 1962-1963 Sino-Indian War.[11] She was predominantly associated for most of her career with the Government General Hospital. Kanaka also taught at the Madras Medical College,[12] Epidemiological Research Centre, Adyar Cancer Institute, Hindu Mission Hospital and other hospitals. She works with several organisations so that the economically downtrodden receive healthcare facilities. She has been working with TTD (Tirumala) for over 30 years.[13] She was formerly listed in the Limca Book of Records for the highest number of blood donations by an individual. As of 2004 she was noted to have donated blood 139 times.

Kanaka is also one of the world's first few female neurosurgeons;[5] having qualified with a degree (MCh) in Neurosurgery in Mar 1968; after Diana Beck (1902-1956),[14] and Aysima Altinok who qualified in Nov 1959.[15] In 1996, Kanaka became the Honorary President of the Asian Women's Neurosurgical Association. At that time she was formally acknowledged as Asia's first female neurosurgeon. She retired as a surgeon in 1990. However, she continues to offer consultancy services having used her lifetime earnings to establish a hospital, named after her parents as Sri Santhanakrishna Padmavathi Health Care and Research Foundation, which offers free healthcare to the needy.[8][16] She is currently involved in a project that fabricates deep-brain-stimulation kits in India by Indian biomedical engineers.[7][17]

References

  1. ↑ TNN Jan 1, 2002, 01.51am IST (2002-01-01). "Exhibition on Indian women opens". The Times of India. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  2. ↑ "Wiping out heritage?". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  3. ↑ "Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : "Check newborns’ brain health"". The Hindu. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  4. ↑ Benedict, Brenda (2 March 2004). "Devoted Healer". The Star Online. Retrieved 17 December 2012. SHE LOOKS more like an amiable aunt with whom you could string jasmines. But Dr Prof T.S. Kanaka’s smiling face and diminutive frame belie a steely character. Unknown to many, she holds the distinction of being Asia’s first female neurosurgeon.
  5. 1 2 Spetzler, R. F. (2011). Progress of women in neurosurgery. Asian Journal of Neurosurgery, 6(1), 6–12. http://doi.org/10.4103/1793-5482.85627
  6. 1 2 3 Nashold B.S. (1994). The History of Stereotactic Neurosurgery. Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery, vol 62, Number 1-4, p.29–40. DOI:10.1159/000098595
  7. 1 2 3 Kanaka T S. Back to the future: Glimpses into the past. Neurol India [serial online] 2016 [cited 2016 May 4];64:206-7. Available from: http://www.neurologyindia.com/text.asp?2016/64/2/206/177594
  8. 1 2 3 Srinivas Chari (2011). "Carry on, doctor!". Harmony Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  9. ↑ Sridhar K. "Bioline International Official Site (site up-dated regularly)". Bioline.org.br. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  10. ↑ Neurosurgery in India, by A.P.Karapurkar and S.K.Pandya
  11. ↑ Asia's first female neurosurgeon Dr.TS Kanaka in Phoenix Pengal 1/3| News7 Tamil. Available from: , ,
  12. ↑ "The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 6 doctors presented with Sanjivi award". Hinduonnet.com. 2004-07-12. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  13. ↑ "SVIMS hosts meeting on epilepsy". The Hindu. 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  14. ↑ Gikles, C.E. An account of the life and achievements of Miss Diana Beck, neurosurgeon (1902-1956). Neurosurgery. 2008 Mar;62(3):738-42; discussion 738-42. doi: 10.1227/01.neu.0000317324.71483.e5.
  15. ↑ Balak N, Elmaci I. A pioneering female neurosurgeon: Dr. Aysima Altinok. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2007;149(9):943-8; discussion 948. Epub 2007 Aug 13.
  16. ↑ Uma Kannan (2013-12-30). "Asia’s first neurosurgeon teaches art of multi-tasking". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  17. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26954792

External links

See also

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