T. S. Kanaka

Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka
Born(1932-03-31)31 March 1932
Chennai
Died14 November 2018(2018-11-14) (aged 86)
Chennai
Other namesTanjore Santhana Krishna Kanaka
Kanaka Santhanakrishna
Alma materMadras Medical College
OccupationNeurosurgeon
Known forAsia's first female neurosurgeon

T. S. Kanaka or Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka, also known as Tanjore Santhana Krishna Kanaka, (31 March 1932 – 14 November 2018) was Asia's first female neurosurgeon[1][2][3][4] and one of the world's first few female neurosurgeons.[5] She was the first neurosurgeon in India to perform chronic electrode implants in the brain,[6] having been also the first to perform 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] She is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of Madras Neuro Trust.[8]

  1. ^ TNN (1 January 2002). "Exhibition on Indian women opens". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Wiping out heritage?". The Hindu. 23 April 2003. Archived from the original on 4 July 2003. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : "Check newborns' brain health"". The Hindu. 2 April 2008. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  4. ^ Benedict, Brenda (2 March 2004). "Devoted Healer". The Star Online. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. 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. ^ Cite error: The named reference spetzler was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Nashold B.S. (1994). The History of Stereotactic Neurosurgery. Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery, vol 62, Number 1-4, p.29–40. DOI:10.1159/000098595 [1]
  7. ^ a b 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. ^ "Madras Neuro Trust". Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.