Remembering Prof Sanjiv C. Nair (1963–2026): A surgeon, mentor and leader who touched lives across the world

Prof Sanjiv C. Nair, one of India's most respected oral and maxillofacial surgeons and a prominent figure in international surgical education and leadership, passed away on 31 October 2026 at the age of 62. His death has prompted an outpouring of grief and heartfelt tributes from colleagues, students, professional associations and friends across India and around the world.

A former president of the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (IAOMS) and the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI), Prof Nair leaves behind a remarkable legacy of surgical excellence, academic scholarship, professional leadership and mentorship spanning more than three decades.

However, the tributes following his passing reveal something equally significant: behind the internationally recognised surgeon and accomplished professional was a man whose generosity, warmth, humour and commitment to personal relationships made a lasting impression on those who knew him.

A distinguished career in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Born on 21 November 1963, Prof Nair graduated from Trivandrum Medical College, Kerala, in 1987 and completed his postgraduate training in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the same institution in 1990, graduating with distinction. He subsequently pursued advanced surgical training in the UK, including at North Manchester General Hospital, and obtained his Fellowship in the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Over the course of his career, he developed considerable expertise in head and neck oncology, ablative and reconstructive surgery, vascular anomalies, salivary gland surgery and aesthetic facial surgery.

He served as professor and head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences and Research and as lead clinician in maxillofacial surgery at Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital in Bengaluru. His work helped develop specialist surgical services and advanced training opportunities, shaping the careers of numerous surgeons who went on to practise in India and internationally.

His academic contributions were equally substantial. A prolific author and researcher, Prof Nair contributed to scientific publications, textbooks and specialist educational resources. His particular interest in vascular anomalies led to important work on understanding and managing these complex conditions.

Among his notable editorial contributions was Management of Head and Neck Vascular Lesions: A Guide for Surgeons, published by Springer in 2022 and co-edited with Dr Srinivasa R. Chandra. He also contributed as a guest editor to the February 2024 issue of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America, dedicated to molecular, therapeutic and surgical advances in head and neck vascular anomalies.

Prof Nair also served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, reflecting his commitment to scientific communication and advancing the speciality through research and education.

Leadership that extended beyond professional boundaries

Prof Nair's contribution to organised oral and maxillofacial surgery was particularly significant. After serving as president of AOMSI, he became the second Indian to lead IAOMS, bringing considerable experience and an international perspective to the association.

His IAOMS presidency culminated in the 2025 International Conference on Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ICOMS) in Singapore, which brought together more than 2,000 participants from 82 countries for nearly 150 scientific sessions.

His international contributions were recognised through several professional honours, including a Special Honorary Fellowship from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).

Yet, colleagues recall that Prof Nair believed professional associations had responsibilities extending beyond scientific meetings and academic programmes.

In his personal tribute, former AOMSI Honorary General Secretary Dr Pritham N. Shetty recalled how Prof Nair envisioned AOMSI as an organisation that could make a meaningful contribution to society.

He championed initiatives to raise public awareness of oral and maxillofacial surgery, including Maxillofacial Surgeons Day celebrations, helmet use, and seat-belt awareness campaigns aimed at preventing road traffic injuries.

According to Dr Shetty, Prof Nair also conceptualised and produced a road safety film that was subsequently adopted by IAOMS.

These initiatives reflected his belief that a surgeon's responsibility should not end with treating injuries and diseases. Prevention, education and public engagement were equally important aspects of professional service.

A teacher who always put patients first

For many colleagues, Prof Nair's most enduring contributions came not in conference halls or professional offices but in operating theatres, where his clinical judgement, technical expertise, and willingness to teach shaped successive generations of surgeons.

Dr Shetty recalled the pivotal role that Prof Nair and Dr P. Kishore Naik played in welcoming him and Dr Krishnamurthy Bonanthaya to Jain Hospital and supporting the establishment of a Smile Train unit.

The opportunity helped create a meaningful surgical service for patients requiring cleft care and marked the beginning of a longstanding professional association and friendship.

Remembering his training under Prof Nair, Dr Shetty spoke of learning complex procedures, including parotidectomy, under his guidance.

More importantly, he recalled a philosophy that governed Prof Nair's clinical decisions: the patient's welfare must always take precedence over personal interests, professional egos and other considerations.

This principle resonated with many of his trainees and colleagues.

His mentorship went beyond teaching surgical techniques. He encouraged independent thinking, guided difficult decisions, and supported younger colleagues in building the confidence to take on greater professional responsibilities.

In its condolence message, the Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences remembered him as an accomplished clinician, dedicated academic, and inspiring teacher whose commitment to dental education and the profession will be deeply missed.

Beyond the surgeon: A friend, brother and confidant

While his professional achievements earned him international recognition, the personal tributes shared after his passing offer a moving account of the man behind them.

Dr George Paul, who shared a friendship with Prof Nair spanning more than four decades, described the loss of someone who had been an integral part of his professional, social and personal life.

Their relationship extended to their families, and their shared experiences encompassed professional collaborations, personal conversations, ideological discussions and decades of companionship.

Dr Paul reflected on how deeply Prof Nair had felt the loss of several close friends in recent years. His passing, he wrote, now left those who loved him experiencing that same painful emptiness.

He also recalled an important dimension of their friendship: the ability to hold different views while maintaining deep mutual respect and affection.

A similar sentiment emerged in Dr Shetty's tribute.

Despite often finding themselves on opposite sides of political debates, the two friends never let their differences affect their relationship.

In fact, they had engaged in one such discussion just ten days before Prof Nair's passing. As they had often done over the years, they simply agreed to disagree.

What once seemed like an ordinary conversation between friends has now become a particularly poignant memory.

Dr Shetty also recalled their numerous journeys to AOMSI conferences, filled with shared experiences, laughter and occasional humorous adventures, including their inventive methods of opening beer bottles.

These seemingly small memories reveal a different side of a distinguished professional: a man who valued companionship, enjoyed spirited conversations and found pleasure in the simple moments that make friendships last.

During Dr Shetty's tenure as Honorary General Secretary of AOMSI, Prof Nair remained a trusted source of guidance and encouragement, offering valuable support for several initiatives, particularly the association's Go Green programme.

A legacy of kindness, loyalty and human connection

Dr Majeed Rana, another close friend and colleague, shared an especially emotional remembrance.

Having spent considerable time with Prof Nair over the preceding three years, he described a relationship built on countless conversations, professional challenges, shared ambitions, laughter and mutual trust.

He remembered an exceptional surgeon whose contributions to the speciality were matched by his qualities as a human being.

His tribute also acknowledged the personal difficulties and challenges Prof Nair faced, often away from public view, and expressed hope that he would be remembered not only for his professional achievements but also for the kindness and friendship he extended to others.

For Dr Rana, the loss was deeply personal. He had lost not merely an admired colleague but someone he regarded as a brother and an irreplaceable part of his life.

Similar sentiments have been expressed across the oral and maxillofacial surgery fraternity.

Colleagues, including Dr Mehabood Shaik and Dr Koteswara Rao N., have honoured Prof Nair's contributions to the speciality, recognising the enduring influence of his leadership, professional achievements and mentorship.

The numerous tributes reflect a common theme: Prof Nair's influence cannot be measured solely by the positions he held, the surgical procedures he performed, the publications he authored or the professional organisations he led.

It must also be measured through the people he supported, the careers he helped shape, the patients whose lives he improved and the friendships he nurtured.

Remembering a life that made a difference

Prof Nair belonged to a generation of surgeons who helped strengthen the international standing of Indian oral and maxillofacial surgery. Through his clinical expertise, academic contributions and leadership of national and international associations, he helped create opportunities for collaboration, education and professional growth.

His passing represents a profound loss to the global oral and maxillofacial surgery community, particularly to the many colleagues and younger surgeons who benefited from his guidance.

Yet, amid the grief, the recollections of those who knew him closely offer a powerful reminder of what constitutes a meaningful professional legacy.

Positions change hands. Professional tenures come to an end. Scientific knowledge continues to evolve.

But the values a teacher instils, the opportunities a mentor creates and the kindness a friend extends can continue to influence lives long after they are gone.

That may well be the most enduring tribute to Prof Sanjiv C. Nair.

Dental Tribune South Asia extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Archana; sons, Vedanth and Advaith; sisters, Chhaya and Maya; extended family; friends; colleagues; and the entire international oral and maxillofacial surgery fraternity.

His contributions to surgery will be remembered. His influence as a teacher will continue through generations. And for those fortunate enough to have known him, his friendship will remain irreplaceable.

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