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{{short description|Neurosurgeon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka
| image = 
| alt =
| caption =
| alma_mater = [[Madras Medical College]]
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1932|03|31}}
| birth_place = Chennai
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2018|11|14|1932|03|31}}
| death_place = Chennai
| other_names = Tanjore Santhana Krishna Kanaka<br />Kanaka Santhanakrishna
| known_for = Asia's first female neurosurgeon
| occupation = [[Neurosurgery|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]]<ref>{{cite web|author=TNN |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Exhibition-on-Indian-women-opens/articleshow/1290124641.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023195327/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-01-01/patna/27108349_1_indian-women-exhibition-science |url-status=live |archive-date=23 October 2012 |title=Exhibition on Indian women opens |date=1 January 2002 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2012-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/23/stories/2003042300150400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704222527/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/23/stories/2003042300150400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-07-04 |work=[[The Hindu]] |title=Wiping out heritage? |date=2003-04-23 |access-date=2012-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/02/stories/2008040250450200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408012813/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/02/stories/2008040250450200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 April 2008 |title=Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : "Check newborns' brain health" |date=2 April 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2012-12-17}}</ref><ref name="thestar2004">{{cite news |url=http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/3/2/features/7143136&sec=features |title=Devoted Healer |last=Benedict |first=Brenda |work=The Star Online |date=2 March 2004 |access-date=2012-12-17 |quote=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. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008061154/http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=%2F2004%2F3%2F2%2Ffeatures%2F7143136&sec=features |archive-date=8 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and one of the world's first few female neurosurgeons.<ref name="spetzler"/> She was the first neurosurgeon in India to perform [[chronic electrode implants]] in the brain,<ref name="Nashold"/> having been also the first to perform [[deep brain stimulation]] as early as in 1975.<ref name="tsk">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</ref> She pioneered functional neurosurgery in the 1960s and 1970s<ref name="tsk"/> along with Prof. Balasubramaniam, Prof. S. Kalyanaraman; and received recognition for her research and contributions to the field of [[stereotactic surgery]].<ref name="Nashold">Nashold B.S. (1994). The History of Stereotactic Neurosurgery. Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery, vol 62, Number 1-4, p.29–40. DOI:10.1159/000098595 [http://www.karger.com/Article/PDF/98595]</ref> She is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of Madras Neuro Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.madrasneurotrust.org/lifetime-achivement.html |title=Madras Neuro Trust |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-date=7 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907203315/http://www.madrasneurotrust.org/lifetime-achivement.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka was one of eight children born to Santhanakrishna and Padmavathi in [[Madras]].<ref name=":0" /> Her father was the deputy director of Public Instruction and principal of Madras Teachers College.<ref name="chari">{{cite web |url=http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=15516 |title=Carry on, doctor! |author=Srinivas Chari |publisher=Harmony Magazine |date=2011 |access-date=2016-05-04 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204723/http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=15516 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Early on, Kanaka was drawn to spiritual studies, but despite her interest went on to study medicine, completing her Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) in December 1954 and achieving her [[Master of Surgery]] (MS) in general surgery in March 1963.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://asianyns.org/news/obituary-prof-thanjavur-santhanakrishna-kanaka|title=Obituary: Prof. Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka {{!}} Asian Medical Students & Residents Society for Neurosurgery|website=asianyns.org|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Ganapathy|first=Krishnan|date=2018-11-01|title=IN MEMORIAM: Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka (31st March 1932 – 14th Nov 2018)|url=http://www.neurologyindia.com/article.asp?issn=0028-3886;year=2018;volume=66;issue=6;spage=1872;epage=1876;aulast=Ganapathy;type=0|journal=Neurology India|language=en|volume=66|issue=6|pages=1872–1876|doi=10.4103/0028-3886.246235|issn=0028-3886|pmid=30504615|s2cid=54630823 |doi-access=free |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1968, she obtained her Master of Surgery (MCh) in neurosurgery and later completed a PhD in the Evaluation of Stereotatic surgery in [[Cerebral palsy|Cerebral Palsy]] in 1972.<ref name=":2" /> After over 20 years of surgery, Kanaka went back to school and obtained her Diploma in Higher Education (DHEd) in 1983.<ref name=":2" />

== Career ==
Kanaka was one of the world's first female [[neurosurgeon]]s;<ref name="spetzler">{{cite journal |author = Spetzler R. F. |year = 2011 |title = Progress of women in neurosurgery |journal = Asian Journal of Neurosurgery |volume = 6 |issue = 1| pages = 6–12 |doi = 10.4103/1793-5482.85627 |pmid = 22059098 |pmc = 3205553 |doi-access = free }}</ref> having qualified with a degree (MCh) in Neurosurgery in March 1968; after [[Diana Beck]] (1902-1956),<ref>{{cite journal |author = Gikles C.E. |date = Mar 2008 |title = An account of the life and achievements of Miss Diana Beck, neurosurgeon (1902-1956) |journal = Neurosurgery |volume = 62 |issue = 3| pages = 738–42 |doi = 10.1227/01.neu.0000317324.71483.e5 |pmid = 18425021 |s2cid = 115858044 }}</ref> and Aysima Altinok who qualified in November 1959.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Balak N, Elmaci I |year = 2007 |title = A pioneering female neurosurgeon: Dr. Aysima Altinok |journal = Acta Neurochir (Wien) |volume = 149 |issue = 9| pages = 943–8 |pmid=17700990 |doi=10.1007/s00701-007-1252-8|s2cid = 13097330 }}</ref> When [[stereotaxy]] started in Madras in 1960, Kanaka was a member of [[B.Ramamurthi]]'s surgical team that performed the first stereotaxic procedures in India.<ref name="Nashold" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Sridhar K |url=http://www.bioline.org.br/request?ni04009 |title=Bioline International Official Site |publisher=Bioline.org.br |access-date=2012-12-17}}</ref><ref>Neurosurgery in India, by A.P.Karapurkar and S.K.Pandya</ref>

Kanaka served in the Indian Army as a commissioned officer during the 1962-1963 [[Sino-Indian War]].<ref>Asia's first female neurosurgeon Dr.TS Kanaka in Phoenix Pengal 1/3| News7 Tamil. Available from: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwYzNzrdfRk&list=PLMFLgBNDQhNB1l86zPtMtaHYKY5S2n2fC&index=42],
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXjTSks2kc&list=PLMFLgBNDQhNB1l86zPtMtaHYKY5S2n2fC&index=41], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mYOBTf-_EE&index=40&list=PLMFLgBNDQhNB1l86zPtMtaHYKY5S2n2fC]</ref> She was predominantly associated for most of her career with the [[Government General Hospital]]. Kanaka also taught at the [[Madras Medical College]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/07/12/stories/2004071206640500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040909103000/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/07/12/stories/2004071206640500.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=9 September 2004 |title=The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 6 doctors presented with Sanjivi award |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=12 July 2004 |access-date=2012-12-17}}</ref> Epidemiological Research Centre, [[Adyar Cancer Institute]], [[Hindu Mission Hospital, Chennai|Hindu Mission Hospital]] and other hospitals. She worked with several organisations to aid provision of healthcare to economically disadvantaged people, including Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams TTD (Tirumala) for over 30 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-educationplus/article662902.ece |title=SVIMS hosts meeting on epilepsy |work=The Hindu |date=16 February 2009 |access-date=2016-05-05}}</ref>

In 1973, she began an international travel stint, first traveling to Tokyo, Japan, which was one of three places in the world where stereotaxic procedures were performed.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> During this time, Kanaka completed a one-year [[Colombo Plan]] Fellowship, where she studied [[phrenic nerve]] stimulation and biomedical devices, including those for pain management and diaphragmatic pacing.<ref name=":2" />

Kanaka retired as a surgeon in 1990, but continued to offer consultancy services and refused to descend into private practice.<ref name=":2" /> In 1996, Kanaka became the Honorary President of the Asian Women's Neurosurgical Association.<ref name=":1" /> At that time she was formally acknowledged as Asia's first female neurosurgeon. She used her own funds to establish a hospital, named after her parents as the Sri Santhanakrishna Padmavathi Health Care and Research Foundation, which offers free healthcare to the needy.<ref name="chari"/><ref name="uma">{{cite web|url= https://www.deccanchronicle.com/131230/news-current-affairs/article/asia%E2%80%99s-first-neurosurgeon-teaches-art-multi-tasking|title=Asia's first neurosurgeon teaches art of multi-tasking |author=Uma Kannan |publisher=Deccan Chronicle|date=30 December 2013 |access-date=2016-05-04}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
After Kanaka successfully obtained her MS degree, her younger brother became ill and died at the age of nine.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiamedicaltimes.com/2016/09/04/exclusive-interview-dr-t-s-kanaka-asias-first-female-neurosurgeon/|title=Interview: Dr T S Kanaka, Asia's First Female Neurosurgeon – indiamedicaltimes.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref> This tragedy influenced Kanaka's decision to remain unmarried and instead pursue a career in medicine to dedicate her life to helping patients.<ref name=":0" />

Kanaka also faced much discrimination as a pioneering woman in a male-dominated field, as program leaders in her MS program were untrusting of her medical capabilities, often not choosing Kanaka for surgical procedures and limiting the cases she worked in the ER.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> When taking her examinations, Kanaka had to appear multiple times before she was taken seriously.<ref name=":2" />

Kanaka 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.<ref name=":1" />

==Death and legacy==
Kanaka died in Chennai on 14 November 2018.<ref name=Satyarthee2019>{{cite journal |last1=Satyarthee |first1=Guru Dutta |last2=Jagdevan |first2=Aman |title=T. S. Kanaka: First Asian Woman Neurosurgeon, Who Pioneered Stereotactic, Functional and Cerebral Electrode Implant Surgery and Developed Separate Neurosurgical Speciality in India Early 1970 |journal=Asian Journal of Neurosurgery |date=2019 |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=1050 |doi=10.4103/ajns.AJNS_287_18 |doi-access=free |pmid=31497164 |pmc=6703064 |issn=1793-5482}}</ref>

==Selected publications==
*{{cite journal |last1=Kanaka |first1=T. S. |last2=Ramamurthi |first2=B. |title=Management of depressed fractures of the skull |journal=Neurology India |date=1967 |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=10–11 |pmid=6061471 |issn=0028-3886}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kanaka |first1=T. S. |last2=Balasubramaniam |first2=V. |title=Stereotactic cingulumotomy for drug addiction |journal=Applied Neurophysiology |date=1978 |volume=41 |issue=1–4 |pages=86–92 |doi=10.1159/000102404 |pmid=365103 |issn=0302-2773}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kanaka |first1=T. S. |last2=Kumar |first2=M. M. |title=Neural stimulation for spinal spasticity |journal=Paraplegia |date=July 1990 |volume=28 |issue=6 |pages=399–405 |doi=10.1038/sc.1990.53 |pmid=2235051 |issn=0031-1758}}
*{{cite journal |pmid=26954792 |doi=10.4103/0028-3886.177594 |volume=64 |issue=2 |title=Back to the future: Glimpses into the past |year=2016 |journal=Neurol India |pages=206–7 |last=Kanaka |first=T. S. |doi-access=free }}

==See also==
*[[Yoko Kato]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.neurologyindia.com/article.asp?issn=0028-3886;year=2000;volume=48;issue=1;spage=1;epage=7;aulast=Ramamurthi "Stereotactic surgery in India : the past, present and the future"]. Ramamurthi. NeurologyIndia.com.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121025125209/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-90712176.html "A lifelong passion to heal"]. ''New Straits Times''.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031116053031/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/16/stories/2003041600070400.htm "Trail-blazer in women's education"]. ''The Hindu''. 2003-04-16.
* "A lifelong passion to heal" by Sofianni Subki: [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-21830632_ITM AML-632]
* http://greatindianheroes.com/uncategorized/dr-ts-kanaka-asias-first-female-neurosurgeon/

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanaka, T. S.}}
[[Category:Indian neurosurgeons]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:Medical doctors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian women neuroscientists]]
[[Category:Indian women surgeons]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]
[[Category:Women scientists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women medical doctors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian surgeons]]

T. S. Kanaka - Revision history

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