Our Bureau
Miami, FL
Dileep Yavagal, M.D., chief of interventional neurology and professor of clinical neurology and neurosurgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, received two awards for his work to expand access to mechanical thrombectomy in the United States, within India and around the world.
Dr. Yavagal was awarded an honorary membership in the Indian Academy of Neurology at its annual meeting in Visakhapatnam, India, in October. In November 2024, he received the Neurointerventional Pioneering Award during the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN) annual meeting in San Diego.
The U.S.-based SVIN gives the Neurointerventional Pioneering Award annually. In 2024, they recognized Dr. Yavagal and Mission Thrombectomy as a groundbreaking global initiative. In a letter announcing the award, SVIN president Thanh Nguyen, M.D., cited Dr. Yavagal’s leadership as founder and chair emeritus of Mission Thrombectomy, SVIN co-founder and SVIN past president. She added that Dr. Yavagal has positively impacted SVIN’s advocacy, collaborations, communications and education.
The Indian Academy of Neurology recognition “is really such an amazing honor. Due to my training in the U.S. and working with former Miller School professor and chair of neurology, Dr. Ralph Sacco, I could give back directly to India,” proudly announced Dr. Yavagal.
Dr. Yavagal said, “Getting these awards is very humbling. The nice thing is they both recognize the same work.”
Dr. Yavagal refers to Mission Thrombectomy, an initiative he pioneered to help people experiencing a stroke caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO) access. Emergency thrombectomy is a minimally invasive catheter surgery that has dramatically improved stroke outcomes.
Dr. Yavagal also credits the collaborative environment at the Miller School and the shared acknowledgment that public health initiatives can increase access to crucial medical care worldwide, including in low- and middle-income countries. Mission Thrombectomy has now expanded to more than 90 countries.
