In Memoriam – Sakti Das, MD
Sakti Das, MD 1939 – 2024
The Western Section AUA regrets to announce the recent passing of our longtime member and past Historian (2001-2004) Sakti Das, MD, FACS, this October, in Lafayette, California. Dr and Mrs Das attended the last annual meeting in October of 2023 in Lake Tahoe where he was honored as Western Section’s Distinguished Member (2023) for his humanitarian contributions internationally and extensive medical missionary work. (In attachment - pictured left with President Harcharan Gill, MD). Dr Das received numerous awards and honors throughout his life as a dedicated Urologist. A eulogy for Dr. Das will be presented at the Member’s Business Meeting on October 31, 2024.
Provided by Tupper Stevens, Historical Archivist, American Urological Association.
The AUA is deeply sorry to say goodbye to Sakti Das, MD, FACS, former AUA Historian (2006-2010), William P. Didusch Art & History Award Winner (2004), and 2022 Urology Care Foundation Humanitarian Recognition Award Winner. He edited eight urologic textbooks, published over 200 articles (many on urologic history), served as reviewer on numerous urologic publications, and created award-winning urologic films. Dr. Das served as historian for the Western Section AUA, helping to catalog artifacts and develop history exhibits. He was a member of the American Osler Society, a historical medical society dedicated to perpetuating the life, teachings, and ethical example of Sir William Osler.
A medical graduate from India (University of Calcutta in 1962 and University of Delhi in 1966), Dr. Das then studied at the Royal College of Surgery in the UK before residency and fellowship at UCLA Urology Department. He worked as staff urologist at Northern California Kaiser Permanente for 20 years before joining the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, as professor of urology. In 2002 he retired, becoming professor emeritus of urology at UC Davis.
A lifelong humanitarian, Dr. Das served in medical mission work for nearly 40 years. Volunteering in 12 countries and on three continents, Dr. Das provided direct surgical care, trained numerous teams of physicians and developed infrastructure to sustain treatment for thousands of underserved patients, including a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. Up until quite recently, Dr. Das volunteered time yearly to his native country of India and monthly in San Blas, Mexico. He was the inspiration and founder of Foundation for Freedom, an organization focused on increasing literacy levels in impoverished communities around the world and was a founding member of the International Volunteers in Urology (IVU). Dr. Das was a kind and yet fierce proponent of justice for all. Learn more about the humanitarian work of Dr. Das at his website here: https://saktidas.com/.
As AUA Historian, Dr. Das was a leading inspiration and force behind the AUA Didusch Museum’s 2012 History Exhibit, Skeletons in the Closet: Indignities & Injustices in Medicine. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he returned to painting, donating two of his works to the WP Didusch Center for Urologic History, where they hang with a plaque to commemorate a man of great works.
When asked about himself, Dr. Das wrote: “Since early life I have studied art history and aesthetics and pursued painting and photography as hobbies. In the early 80s, disenchanted by the cut and dry medical technical movies, I decided to produce urologic movies with Avant Garde creative flavor that were appreciated and applauded by my peers and mentors. I have produced 16 movies of urologic subject matter, three of which received AUA awards, and two received the prestigious Golden Eagle award from the Council for Non-Theatrical Events in Washington D.C. I continue to draw, paint and work on new medical movies along with my interest in medical history, humanities and medical mission work in developing countries.
“It has been a wonderful journey.” Sakti Das, MD
Historical Note: In 2002 Sakti Das produced a remarkably informative, interesting video on the amazing life of AUA Past President, Western Section Past President and AUA Historian Earl F Nation, MD.
Click here to view this video - link located in the WSAUA Video Library
