Professor Devendra Kumar Chhabra: TH TH

Professor Devendra Kumar Chhabra
(16th December 1941-30th June 2020)
Professor Devendra Kumar Chhabra has been one of the most illustrious names in Neurosurgery in North India. He
completed his MBBS, MS (General Surgery) and MS (Neurosurgery) from King George Medical University (KGMU),
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Professor Chhabra’s contribution to the establishment of Neurosurgical teaching has been immense. He has been
instrumental in starting three major academic departments of Neurosurgery in his home town, Lucknow, the capital of
the largest state of India, Uttar Pradesh. Along with his mentor, Professor VS Dave, he established the Department of
Neurosurgery at KGMU. After working there for more than a decade, he was one of the three faculty members who
helped to establish the prestigious Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, that
is today ranked among the best five government medical postgraduate institutes of the country. Prof Chhabra joined
the Department of Neurosurgery of SGPGIMS as Chairman in 1986 and more than 100 residents have undergone
training in Neurosurgery since then. His students now occupy prominent chaired, academic and consultant positions in
many prominent medical institutions of India, and in many parts of the world. After superannuation in 2003, he went
on to establish an academic Department of Neurosurgery in a private charitable institution, Vivekanand Institute of
Medical Sciences, Lucknow. He has also served as the President and Founder Member of the Uttar Pradesh
Neuroscience Society. He was also the Past President of the Indian Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery. Dr. Chhabra has
also helped to organize several academic international conferences during his tenure as Chairman of Neurosurgery,
SGPGIMS.
Prof Chhabra is best known for designing the economical “Chhabra” ventriculoperitoneal shunt that has benefitted
countless patients suffering from hydrocephalus. It is now used in 28 countries of the world and has been endorsed by
the WFNS and the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery.
The shunt system is affordable enough to be used by most patients in developing countries and yet is of adequate technical
and sterilization standards to be used in the developed world. He did not accept any royalty acquired from the sale of the
shunt system. He received the “World Medical Inventor of the year” award in Japan for the shunt system. He has coauthored
several important publications in prominent journals and books.
Prof Chhabra has been instrumental in forging a deep friendship with several international societies. Six generations of
Japanese neurosurgeons have visited SGPGIMS as young trainees and several of them have gone on to become Chairpersons
of prominent neurosurgical departments in Japan. He has also been invited as Visiting Professor to Nagoya University, Japan.
As a mark of his contribution to the development of Neurosurgery, an operation room in SGPGIMS is named the ‘Dr. Chhabra
operation room.” An annual “Dr. DK Chhabra oration” is also held in the institution where an international orator is invited.
A true gentleman, his humility and helping nature won him several close friends. His self-effacing nature and special ability
to always project his junior colleagues ahead of him enabled him to establish a successful team wherever he worked and in
bringing out the best in his colleagues. Prof Chhabra’s concern for his patients has been legendary. This personal attribute
has made him the most sought-after neuroscience specialist of the state until even a week before he passed away. His wife,
Mrs. Prof Apjit Chhabra, the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, KGMU, and their son, Sarab, who has just completed
medicine, have ably supported him throughout his illustrious journey.
Professor Chhabra’s inspiring legacy will continue to last forever in the minds of countless patients and students who have
been touched by his selfless zeal and dedication.
Basant Misra Lokendra Singh N Muthukumar Sanjay Behari

1st Vice President President, Hon Secretary, Prof & HOD Neurosurgery
WFNS NSI NSI SGPGIMS, Lucknow

Professor Devendra Kumar Chhabra: TH TH

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Professor Devendra Kumar Chhabra

(16th December 1941-30th June 2020)

Basant Misra Lokendra Singh N Muthukumar Sanjay Behari

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