Prof Mahapatra, Vice-Chancellor, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University has also been associated with AIIMS New Delhi in numerous positions including Head of Department – Neurosurgery, Chief of Neurosciences Centre, and Dean (Research). He was also Director at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and NSSI.

Prof Mahapatra’s extensive research spans areas such as Neural Transplant, Evoked Potential, Head Injury, Traumatic blindness, Nosocomial infection, Cerebral glioma, SPECT Scan, Intratumoural Targeted Therapy and research in the field of Pediatric Neurosurgery.

Over the last four decades, Prof Mahapatra has carried out 30 projects, and 4 national studies and 17 international studies. He has authored 16 books and more than 800 publications.

He is the recipient of numerous awards and honours including a Gold Medal in Pharmacology, Best Doctor Award by Indian Medical Association (Lucknow), the UP Ratan Award by All India Conference of Intellectuals in 2007, the Lucknow Management Association award for Innovation and Transformation in 2008, the Dr. BC Roy National Award 2008 and the Bharat Nirman Award by HE, Governor of Orissa, among many others.