Juha Hernesniemi
Juha Hernesniemi | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 18, 1947 Kannus, Finland |
| Died | June 25, 2023 (aged 75) Helsinki, Finland |
| Alma mater | University of Zurich (MD); University of Helsinki (D.Med.Sci.) |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Neurosurgeon |
| Field | Neurosurgery |
| Institutions | Helsinki University Hospital; University of Helsinki |
| Sub-specialties | Cerebrovascular surgery (aneurysms, AVMs) |
| Awards | Risto Pelkonen Prize (2007); Mensa Prize (2011); Konrad ReijoWaara Prize (2015) |
Juha Antero Hernesniemi (18 October 1947 – 25 June 2023) was a Finnish neurosurgeon and academic, whose clinical work focused on the microsurgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). He served as chair of neurosurgery at Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) and as professor at the University of Helsinki from 1997 to 2015.
Early life
Hernesniemi was born in Kannus, Finland. He studied medicine at the University of Zurich and later completed his doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki.[1] Obituaries also note the influence of professor M. Gazi Yaşargil during his time in Zurich.[2]
Career
After positions in Helsinki, Kuopio and Uppsala (1979–1983), Hernesniemi served as assistant chief physician (1983–1991) and chief physician (1991–1997) at the Kuopio University Hospital neurosurgery department; he spent 1992–1993 as a research and teaching fellow at the University of Miami. In 1997 he was appointed chair of neurosurgery at HUS (Töölö), serving until his retirement from public office in 2015.[3] Contemporary Finnish sources reported that he operated roughly 400–500 cases annually at HUS.[4]
International career
After retiring in Finland at the statutory age of 68, Hernesniemi continued to work abroad as a visiting professor and surgeon, including in Peru, Indonesia, Nepal and the United States.[5] He later served as unit director and neurosurgeon at the Henan Provincial People’s Hospital in Zhengzhou, China.[5] In 2022 he stated that pandemic restrictions and the war in Ukraine had interrupted his operative work for over a year.[6]
Research and clinical work
Hernesniemi’s work focused on the microsurgical management of cerebrovascular disease, especially aneurysms and AVMs.[7] Finnish media reported that during his career he participated in the care of more than 70,000 neurosurgical patients and personally performed over 16,000 operations.[8] Educational video archives of his techniques have been made available for professional use.[9] [10]
Awards and recognition
- Risto Pelkonen Prize (2007), awarded at the Tampere Medical Days.[11]
- Mensa Prize (2011), awarded by Mensa Finland.[8]
- Konrad ReijoWaara Prize (2015), awarded by the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim.[12]
Works
- Hernesniemi, Juha (2022). Aivokirurgin muistelmat [A Brain Surgeon's Memoirs] (in Finnish). WSOY. ISBN 9789510461785.
Death
Hernesniemi died in Helsinki on 25 June 2023, aged 75.[3][8]
References
- ^ "Neurokirurgi Juha Hernesniemi on kuollut" [Neurosurgeon Juha Hernesniemi has died]. Lääkärilehti (in Finnish). 27 June 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ Jääskeläinen, Juha E.; Niemelä, Mika; von und zu Fraunberg, Mikael; Rinne, Jaakko (2 August 2023). "Juha Hernesniemi 1947–2023 (Obituary)" (PDF). Acta Neurochirurgica. doi:10.1007/s00701-023-05717-0. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Neurokirurgi Juha Hernesniemi on kuollut" [Neurosurgeon Juha Hernesniemi has died]. Lääkärilehti (in Finnish). 27 June 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Neurokirurgian huipulle noussut Juha Hernesniemi uskalsi kertoa myös epäonnistumisista" [Having risen to the top of neurosurgery, Juha Hernesniemi also spoke openly about failures]. Yle Elävä arkisto (in Finnish). 18 June 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ a b Tojkander, Maria (29 April 2020). "Kiinaan muuttanut aivokirurgi Juha Hernesniemi kehuu Suomen koronatoimia – "Teki hallitus mitä hyvänsä, aina naakkaparvi reagoi"" [Neurosurgeon Juha Hernesniemi, who moved to China, praises Finland’s COVID measures – “Whatever the government does, the jackdaw flock reacts”]. Tekniikan Maailma (in Finnish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Savolaismieheltä leikattiin aivokasvain ja samalla lähti savon murre – maailmankuulu neurokirurgi Juha Hernesniemi muistelee erikoista tapausta" [A Savonian man’s brain tumour was removed and his Savonian dialect disappeared – world‑famous neurosurgeon Juha Hernesniemi recalls an unusual case]. Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 3 November 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Juha Hernesniemi 1947–2023 (Obituary)" (PDF). Acta Neurochirurgica. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Maailmankuulu huippukirurgi Juha Hernesniemi on kuollut" [World‑famous neurosurgeon Juha Hernesniemi has died]. Yle (in Finnish). 26 June 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "1001 Hernesniemi Videos". Surgical Neurology International. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "The open access video collection project "Hernesniemi's 1001 and more microsurgical videos of Neurosurgery"". University of Helsinki Research Portal. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Juha Hernesniemi sai arkkiatrin palkinnon" [Juha Hernesniemi received the Archiater Risto Pelkonen Prize]. Lääkärilehti (in Finnish). 22 March 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Konrad ReijoWaaran palkinnon saaneet" [Recipients of the Konrad ReijoWaara prize] (PDF) (in Finnish). Duodecim. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
External links
- Hernesniemi's surgical video database at Surgical Neurology International.
- Lehecka, Martin; Laakso, Aki; Hernesniemi, Juha (2011). "Helsinki Microneurosurgery: Basics and Tricks" (PDF). Helsinki Microneurosurgery Series (Booklet) (1st ed.). Helsinki, Finland: Department of Neurosurgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital. ISBN 978-952-92-9085-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- "Juha Hernesniemi – LINC Neurovascular". LINC Neurovascular. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
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