Gazi Yaşargil
Born 1925 · Age 100
Turkish-Swiss neurosurgeon, pioneer of microneurosurgery, longtime chair of Neurosurgery at University of Zurich, author of Microneurosurgery, trained thousands of neurosurgeons and developed key microsurgical instruments.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Lice, Turkey
Born Mahmut Gazi Yaşargil in Lice, Diyarbakır province; father served as district governor.
Family move to Ankara
At ~3 months old the family moved to Ankara where he and siblings were educated.
Begins schooling in Ankara
Attended Ankara public schools beginning in 1931 (sources list schooling 1931–1943).
Graduated Gymnasium (Atatürk High School)
Graduated from the Gymnasium/Atatürk High School in Ankara in 1943.
Enters medical school at Friedrich Schiller University (Jena)
Began medical studies at the University of Jena, Germany in 1944.
Transfers to University of Basel (medical studies)
Transferred from Jena to the University of Basel (studies disrupted by WWII).
Receives medical doctorate from Basel
Received doctorate/medical degree in 1950 from University of Basel (some sources cite graduation 1949–1950).
Early postgraduate training (psychiatry, medicine, surgery)
Between 1950–1952 undertook training positions in psychiatry (Münsingen), internal medicine and general surgery (Interlaken) and research in neuroanatomy under Josef Klingler in Basel.
Begins work on angiography and cerebrovascular pathology
During 1950s developed interest and work on angiography (Lima & Moniz technique) to visualize cerebral vessels and plan vascular surgery.
Joins Hugo Krayenbühl's neurosurgery service in Zurich
Began neurosurgical training and work under Prof. Hugo Krayenbühl at the University of Zurich on 4 January 1953.
Collaborates with Raymond M. P. Donaghy on microsurgery
Worked closely with Donaghy at University of Vermont microvascular lab, which heavily influenced microneurosurgical practices.
Early microsurgical training achievement (animal and cortical vessel anastomoses)
During the Vermont fellowship rapidly completed microsurgical exercises, mastering anastomoses on vessels 0.5–2.0 mm in size in weeks rather than months.
Joins Microvascular Laboratory, University of Vermont (fellowship)
Joined research staff in Burlington (Microvascular Lab) under Raymond M. P. Donaghy to learn microvascular anastomosis and microsurgical techniques (25 Oct 1965).
Clinical application: first brain bypass operations in Zurich
After return from Vermont performed his first clinical microsurgical cerebral bypasses in Zurich in 1967 and refined cerebrovascular procedures.
Publishes improved STA-MCA end-to-side bypass technique
Reported technique of using superficial temporal artery end-to-side anastomosis to middle cerebral branch (reported 1967) improving graft patency.
Reports subarachnoid approach philosophy
Articulated and demonstrated microsurgical technique of operating within subarachnoid spaces preserving pia/arachnoid, reducing morbidity and mortality.
Completes Vermont fellowship and returns to Zurich
Finished fellowship at University of Vermont (fellowship period ended Jan 4, 1967) and returned to Zurich to apply microsurgical techniques clinically.
Performs first extracranial–intracranial (EC-IC) bypass in a human
On 18 January 1967 performed the first EC-IC cerebral bypass in a human patient at University Hospital of Zurich, a landmark in cerebrovascular surgery.
Establishes microneurosurgical laboratory at University of Zurich
Founded the micro-neurosurgical anatomical laboratory in Zurich which trained thousands of surgeons (lab active late 1960s–1993).
Appointed associate professor (Zurich)
Became associate professor (sources list 1969) at the University of Zurich in neurosurgery.
Begins widespread dissemination of microneurosurgery techniques
From late 1960s and through 1970s propagated microneurosurgical concepts globally via courses, publications and instrument designs.
Develops Yasargil aneurysm clips and microsurgical instruments
During late 1960s–1970s developed ergonomic aneurysm clips, appliers, the floating microscope concept, and other microsurgical instruments (exact dates span 1967–1970s).
Innovates floating microscope and retractor designs
Developed operative innovations including floating microscope concept and self-retaining adjustable retractors during the late 1960s–1970s.
President, Neurosurgical Society of Switzerland (term begins)
Served as President of the Neurosurgical Society of Switzerland between 1973 and 1975.
Appointed full professor and Chair of Neurosurgery, University of Zurich
Succeeded Prof. Hugo Krayenbühl as professor and chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at University of Zurich in 1973.
Marries Dianne Bader-Gibson
Married Dianne Bader-Gibson, who became the nurse in charge of the operating suite and long-term collaborator (marriage reported 1973).
Begins era of Zurich as global neurosurgery center
Under his leadership Zurich became an international center for microneurosurgery training and research (1973–1993).
Receives Marcel Benoist Prize
Awarded the Marcel Benoist Prize (Swiss national scientific prize) in 1975 for contributions to neurosurgery.
Begins large-scale teaching via Zurich microneurosurgery course
From the 1970s–1993 his Zurich laboratory and courses trained roughly 3,000 neurosurgeons and surgeons from multiple specialties worldwide.
Begins publishing Microneurosurgery multi-volume series
Started publication of the six-volume Microneurosurgery series (1984–1996), a comprehensive review of his techniques and experience.
Honored guest at CNS Annual Meeting (New Orleans)
Listed as an honored guest at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons 1986 Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Estimated cumulative intracranial operations milestone (ongoing)
By retirement from Zurich he had performed approximately 7,500 intracranial operations (total cited across career).
Cumulative patents/industrial collaborations (approximate)
Collaborations with instrument makers and industry led to production and global distribution of Yasargil clips and appliers (exact patent dates vary; commercialized in 1970s onward).
Steps down as department chair (retirement as chair)
Sources indicate he retired as department chair around 1992 (some sources give 1993 as retirement year).
Official retirement from University of Zurich (clinical practice there ends)
Wikipedia and other sources list retirement from Zurich in 1993 after performing ~7,500 intracranial operations in Zurich.
Legacy: ~3000 surgeons trained at Zurich lab (cumulative)
By the time he left Zurich, approximately 3,000 colleagues from around the world had trained in his microneurosurgical anatomical laboratory.
Appointed Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Accepted appointment at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock in 1994 to continue micro-neurosurgery, research and teaching.
Continues active clinical teaching and surgery in the U.S.
At University of Arkansas (from 1994) continued to teach, operate and research in microneurosurgery for many years (academic appointment extended years).
Named 'Neurosurgery’s Man of the Century (1950–1999)'
Honored at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting in 1999 as 'Neurosurgery’s Man of the Century 1950–1999'.
Recognized alongside Harvey Cushing as 20th-century neurosurgery icon
Widely hailed in literature and media as one of the two greatest neurosurgeons of the 20th century (with Harvey Cushing).
CNS featured biographical issue and articles
The journal Neurosurgery featured a biographical article 'M. Gazi Yasargil: Neurosurgery's Man of the Century' in 1999, with several accompanying articles.
Awarded State Medal of Distinguished Service (Turkey)
Received Turkey's State Medal of Distinguished Service in 2000.
Named honorary memberships, chairs and eponymous labs (cumulative recognition)
Multiple neurosurgery laboratories in Little Rock, Oxford and Beijing and hospital in Diyarbakir named after him; received honorary professorships and doctorates (dates vary).
Named founding member of Eurasian Academy (membership noted)
Listed as a founding member of the Eurasian Academy (date unspecified in sources; membership recorded in biographies).
Listed years active end of surgical field (1950–2009)
Sources list his surgical field activity spanning 1950–2009, indicating continued activity into advanced age (reduced activity after 1990s).
Affiliation with Yeditepe University begins (Professor of Neurosurgery)
Reported affiliation with Yeditepe University (Istanbul) Department of Neurosurgery starting in/around 2013; taught and lectured there after retirement from Arkansas.
Documented lifetime publications totals (ongoing count)
By end of career reported as author of ~330 papers and 13 monographs (cumulative figure used in obituaries and bios).
Returns to Switzerland with wife
He and his wife Dianne decided to return to Switzerland in May 2024 after years abroad.
Obituaries and tributes published internationally
International neurosurgical community and journals published tributes and editorials (e.g., Acta Neurochirurgica editorial Aug 2025) commemorating his contributions.
AANS Distinguished Service Award (spring 2025)
American Association of Neurological Surgeons honored him with the Distinguished Service Award in spring 2025.
Death in Stäfa, Switzerland
Died at home in Stäfa, Canton of Zurich, on 10 June 2025, days before his 100th birthday.
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