Early Years:

The Institute of Neurosciences backed by Apollo Health City, Hyderabad in 1997 was the first independent facility in the region for comprehensive brain, spine and nerve care. Dr Raja Reddy was the first neurosurgeon to provide neurosurgical services, followed by Dr SSR Murthy, Dr. BCM Prasad and Dr Muralidhar.

The spectrum of neurosurgical work widened when Dr Alok Ranjan joined the department in 1999. His vision and efforts are responsible for genesis of the subspecialized Neurosurgical services toady at Apollo Hospital, Jubilee Hills. After running a busy neurosurgical department at Christian Medical College, Vellore he went on to United Kingdom to hone his skills as well performed a many complex procedures there. Hand selected by Apollo chairman Dr. Prathap C. Reddy he agreed to set up advanced neurosurgical procedures at Apollo Hyderabad. Over the last two and half decades Dr Ranjan has carved a multi sub speciality neurosurgery team which caters to all aspects of Neurosurgery.

Setting up a Neurosurgical Training Institute:

In 2003 Dr Ranjan convinced 2 more young and dynamic neurosurgeon trained at Christian Medical College and had worked as neurosurgeons in Australia. Along with his colleagues Dr Rahul Lath and Dr B.G. Ratnam whom he knew from Christian Medical College, Vellore, in 2006 he founded DNB Neurosurgical training institute at Apollo to train young passionate doctors to become neurosurgeons. Till date the institute have successfully trained and curated 18 Indian and 1 African Neurosurgeon who are all providing services to their community.

Taking forward the bastion:

Skull Base, Neuro-Oncology and Vascular:

Having trained at premier neurosurgical institute in UK and India, Dr Alok acquired high end operating Microscope to initiate the journey of advanced micro neurosurgery. His experience and adept skill set helped to provide excellent results to patient. He excelled in providing care to complex neurosurgical diseases especially those of the skull base, brain and spine tumors and cerebrovascular.

NeuroAnesthesia and Neuro Intensive Care Services:

Dr Ranjan supported Dr Shekhar Reddy(Anesthesist) to set up state of art neuro-anesthesia services. He later recruited Dr Rajabhushan and Dr Lakshman Reddy who have been the pillars of neuroanesthesia for the Neurosurgery team. Dr Shekhar Reddys vision along with support from Dr Alok Ranjan helped in setting up DNB Neuroanesthesia Training program, making Apollo Hyderabad to provide on the rarest subspeciality training program. The program has till today trained 8 extra-ordinary neuro anaesthetists. Dr Shekhar Reddy also took the bastion forward by providing invasive Pain procedure services in the department. Dr Alok Ranjan along with Subha Reddy set up the highly skilled Neuro Intensive Care Unit. Dr Subbha Reddy later also played a monumental role in setting up Neuro-Rehab centre for neurosurgical patients..

Spine & Neuro Endoscopy:

Two of earliest trainees from the department Dr. Kaushal Ippili and Dr S. Madan Reddy continued to work in the department eventually become consultants. Both Dr Kasuhal and Dr Madan are prominent names in the Neurosurgcial community. The department supported training in minimally invasive spine surgery for Dr S. Madan Reddy who travelled to South Korea and Neuro-endocopic training for Dr. Kaushal. Both have added an edge to the Neuro-endoscopic and Minimally invasive spine surgical work in the department.

Spine & Neuro Endoscopy:

Two of earliest trainees from the department Dr. Kaushal Ippili and Dr S. Madan Reddy continued to work in the department eventually become consultants. Both Dr Kasuhal and Dr Madan are prominent names in the Neurosurgcial community. The department supported training in minimally invasive spine surgery for Dr S. Madan Reddy who travelled to South Korea and Neuro-endocopic training for Dr. Kaushal. Both have added an edge to the Neuro-endoscopic and Minimally invasive spine surgical work in the department.

Departmental Research & Genomics in Neuro-oncology:

In 2008 Dr Amitava Ray, trained from Toronto Canada, joined as a visiting consultant in the department. His keen interest was in research in Neuro-oncology. His contribution helped in promoting need for research amongst the trainees in the department. He went on to become the director of Apollo research and innovation an also is the CEO of Exsegen Genomics a company focussed on utilizing artificial intelligence to replace tissue biopsies with liquid biopsies, driving improved outcomes for brain tumour patients. Meanwhile, Dr B.G. Ratnam assumed the role of mentor to all the trainees in the department and since then has had an immense contribution on the development of neurosurgical skills and right mindset amongst the residents.

Functional Neurosurgery & Stereotactic Radiosurgery:

Meanwhile Dr. Rahul Lath set up the functional neurosurgical work performing the first Deep Brain Stimulation and percutaneous radio frequency ablation for trigeminal neuralgia. He teamed up with radiation oncologists to set up seterotactic radiosurgery at the hospital

Endovasular Neurosurgery:

In 2013 the department recruited another young Neurosurgeon Dr. S. Rajesh Reddy who was supported to undergo training in Endovascular training to provide added services to population affected by cerebro vascular disorders. Dr. S. Rajesh Reddy travelled to Zurich, Switzerland under the departments support for 6 months to hone his skills. After returning back he set up Endovascular Neurosurgery at Apollo Jubilee Hills with full support from the department. In 2022 the department recruited Dr Vipul Pathak to aid with the increasing endovascular neurosurgical work.

Pediatric & Epilpesy Surgery:

IIn 2018 the department recruited a new neurosurgeon Dr. Subodh Raju for expanding the scope of pediatric neurosurgical services who later left after a short tenure to pursue general neurosurgical work. In 2021 the team hired a dynamic trained and dedicated Paediatric Neurosurgeon with keen interest in epilepsy surgery. Trained in Pediatric Neurosurgery from CMC Vellore and AIIMS New Delhi, Dr Tarang Vora joined as the youngest member of the team. Carrying on with the tradition, the department supported his endeavour to dwell into epilepsy surgery for which he travelled to Milan, Italy. Upon his return he is now focussed on setting up the epilepsy surgical services along with Pediatric Neurosurgery.

After 25 years of joining the neurosurgery department at Apollo Dr Alok Ranjan’s hard work and perseverance has led this departmental to extra-ordinary heights and service provided to innumerable lives. With an alumni strength of 33 neurosurgeons (8 ex-consultants, 19 neurosurgical trainees and 6 existing faculty) the department has come a long way, the caterpillar has bloomed into full grown beautiful butterfly!!