Summary

Dr. S. Balaji Pai has forsaken a lucrative corporate position for establishing an academic and service department in the public sector at BMCRI. The desire to make an impact on the neurosurgical services in Karnataka and help in a small way in alleviation of human suffering has been the driving force for him through his life. Medical teaching (Neurosurgical in particular) is extremely close to his heart and he has imparted all the knowledge at his disposal including techniques developed by him selflessly and to the best of his ability. His “Operative Manual of Neurosurgery” is a unique treatise and unparalleled in the world. His Operative Videos too are arguably one of the best in the world. He was able to establish a modern Neurosurgical department of Excellence in BMCRI and also make it into an MCh training centre. Service and Teaching Purposes are both being served here. Serendipitously, he was also given a chance to make a significant contribution to the Health Care scenario in Karnataka by commissioning and running the Trauma Care Centre at BMCRI and also at Kalaburagi.