Renowned neurosurgeon Prof. Vijay Kumar Kak, Professor Emeritus of Neurosurgery at PGIMER, passed away on August 15, 2024. Born on October 15, 1938, in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Prof. Kak was a pioneering figure in neurosurgery, leaving a lasting impact on the medical community. A graduate of S N Medical College, Agra, he earned numerous distinctions and gold medals before pursuing advanced neurosurgical training at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he obtained his FRCS (Eng) and FRCS (Edin).

In 1969, Dr. Kak joined PGIMER as an assistant professor and, alongside Prof. D R Gulati, transformed the neurosurgery unit into a full-fledged department by 1978. He was instrumental in pioneering innovative procedures, such as transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors, and establishing interdisciplinary clinics that integrated neurosurgery with pathology, neuroradiology, and neurology.

Prof. Kak’s dedication to education and research led to significant advancements in neurosurgery, with over 400 publications and numerous chapters in medical textbooks. His contributions were recognized with prestigious awards, including the Dr. BC Roy National Award (1985) and lifetime achievement awards from the Neurological Society of India and the Madras Neuroscience Institute.

As a mentor, Dr. Kak was revered for his rigorous training methods, shaping the careers of many successful neurosurgeons. Beyond his professional achievements, he served as Medical Superintendent of Nehru Hospital and Director-Principal of GMCH, Chandigarh. Prof. Kak’s legacy of excellence and dedication will be remembered for generations, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.