Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra was born at PURI on 29.12.1952. His father was Mr. Naba kishore Mahapatra and Mother, Dinamani Devi, stayed at a Brahmin Village (Sasan) near PURI. In child - hood they had a simple life. However, they had landed and the family belongs to the advisor to PURI King (Gajapati Maharaja)shifted to MKCG Medical College in 1970, where he completed MBBS in 1975. MS and MCh Neuro Surgery from AIIMS Delhi. From 1983 - 2017 he worked as a faculty of Neuro Surgery at AIIMs Delhi. In 1996 March he joined as Professor and 2004 as a Senior Professor. He was appointed Director, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow in 2006 and Director AIIMS Bhubneshwar in 2012. He retired as Dean Research, AIIMS New Delhi, after spending nearly 42 years at AIIMS. Currently he is working as Vice-Chancellor at SOA University, (Deemed to be University), at Bhubneswar.
During his tenure at AIIMs, he published 870 papers, wrote 16 Books and more than 140 chaptered. In last 30 years he conducted over 20 research projects and received over 10 crores as research grant. He guided 12 PhD students during his tenure at AIIMs. During1998 - 2008 he had 3rd highest Medical Publication in India and highest no of publications at AIIMS. He has 870 publications with more than 13,500 citations and H index 50 and I 10 index 355 (enclosed)
During his illustrious carrier he had worked as Director of SGPGI for 3yr (2006-2009). During 3years he had successfully completed more than 10-12 projects and started and completed 2nd phase of SGPGI (2006-2009) during which he received Budget worth of 1000crores. Completed. (1) School of Telemedicine 2) Liver Transplant Centre 3) BMT centre 4) Advanced Pediatric centre 5) PMSSY Building 6) Nursing College 7) College of Medical Technology 8) During his tenure library block, convention centre complex, Trauma Centre construction started and completed. PMSSY building started and completed, 1st to get completed project of PMSSY in India (2007-2008). During his tenure 6no depts started in SGPGI. A) Hospital Administration 2) Pediatric Surgery 3) Pulmonary Medicine 4) Maternity and reproductive health 5) Neonatology and 6) Molecular Medicine. The work and progress made at SGPGI during 2006-2009was un-parallel.
He was the founder Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, started 2012. Starting from Scratch, MBBS, BSC (Nursing Hons), PG and DM, MCh was started in a 4yrs period between 2012-2016. He also started BSc. (Hons) Medical Technology at AIIMS Bhubaneswar - 2015.
In last 40 years Dr. Mahapatra received many awards, (award 65) delivered 15 Orations and received many life time achievement awards. A fellow of National Academy of Science, and member and Academy fo Medical Science. He started Neurological Surgeon Society of India (NSSI) in 2010 became the founder President. He also started Indian Society of Peripheral Nerve surgery 2011 and was the founder President. He contributed heavily to the development of Pediatric Neuro surgery (1989-2012) Neuro trauma (1991-2014) and skull base surgeon society in India (1988-2008) and Peripheral Nerve Surgery (2010-2018). Thus he has been architect of developing super specialization in India staying as a faculty at AIIMS Delhi over 37 years.