I graduated in medicine from Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College in Kolar, India before pursuing Neurosurgery training in the United Kingdom. Throughout my career I have had the good fortune of being taught and mentored by some very eminent neurosurgeons. My early days as senior house officer were shaped by the exactitude of Prof. Nihal Gurusinghe and the unique humour of Prof. Charles Davis in Preston.

As a junior registrar in Liverpool, I went on to learn from the wisdom of Prof. Paul Eldridge and skill of Mr Mohsen Javadpour. Most of my neurosurgery specialist training was in Nottingham where I was heavily influenced by the spinal excellence of Mr Barrie White.
I then moved to Bristol for my senior year in training where I met and worked with the brilliant Prof. Steven Gill, and trained under the sheer meticulousness of Mr David Porter and the multi-faceted Mr Richard Nelson. This is where I also met Mr Nitin Patel whose spinal tutoring continues to remain an influence.

In Montpelier, France I learnt from the techniques of Prof. Hugues Duffau (considered to be a doyen of awake brain surgery and mapping). This short but very productive stint had a profound influence on the way I currently practice and advise patients with brain gliomas. I have published several papers in peer reviewed journals and present regularly at national and international meetings and conferences. After obtaining the FRCS qualification in Neurosurgery, I went to London where I completed specialist Fellowships in NeuroOncology and Complex Spinal Surgery within the Atkinson Morley Neurosciences Division at St. George’s Hospital. My complex spinal experience was further enhanced by the very collegiate Mr. Matthew Crocker.

This is also where I met the legendary Mr. Henry Marsh whose indomitable spirit and philosophy moulded my thinking and approach. I was introduced to awake brain surgery there (which was itself pioneered in the UK by Mr Marsh) and learnt some of the surgical nuances of MVD surgery for trigeminal neuralgia. I was subsequently appointed as a Consultant Neurosurgeon at St. George’s before I left for a French detour on my journey to Wales.