TS Kanaka
TS Kanaka was a neurosurgeon from Madras, India, who was Asia's first female neurosurgeon and the third in the world. She was also the first person in India to perform chronic electrode implants in the brain and deep brain stimulation, and she published many groundbreaking papers on stereotactic surgery and cerebral implant surgery. More than just her academic work, however, she dedicated her life to serving the poor and the needy, often performing surgeries for free or at minimal cost. She set up a research foundation after retirement with her life savings to provide care in less-served parts of South India, and her foundation still exists today. Additionally, she trained many female neurosurgeons under her belt, breaking the gender barriers and social norms that existed in a Western, male-dominated field. She serves as an inspiration to me because she is from the same town in South India as me, and proved one's background shouldn't be a barrier when pursuing a prestigious field such as neurosurgery.
-Anish
