Shri Kant Mishra MD, MS, ABMS, FAAN, FNAA, FANA, Professor of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, USC Director of Neuromuscular Program, VA GLA and Olive View UCLA Medical Center Clinical Professor of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, passed away on October 21, 2022.  

Dr. Mishra was born in the Indian village of Raiya Gosai in 1941.  He obtained a degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery with top honors from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.  He then did M.Sc. in Anatomy at the Queens University, Ontario, Canada followed by an M.D. from the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  He also received a master’s degree in administrative medicine from the University of Wisconsin.  He completed his neurology training at the UCLA/Wadsworth Veterans Affairs program where he also serves as the Chief Resident.  His neuromuscular fellowship took place at the Washington University in St. Louis. He then joined the faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for a period of ten years until 1986.  After 1986, Dr. Mishra held various academic and leadership positions at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Sepulveda, Keck School of Medicine/USC Medical Center, Olive View UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, CA and at the David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

He was a true clinician scientist with triple threat of research, education and patient care.  He was a prolific writer and his publications included clinical, genetic, immunological, and historical aspects of neuromuscular disease.  He was active in promoting Ayurveda as a form of alternative Medicine both nationally and internationally.  He was involved in developing Ayurveda /YOGA programs in department of alternative medicine at USC.  He was an integral part of the UCLA Neuromuscular fellowship and Neurology residency where he was a beloved teacher and mentor.  He received multiple teaching awards throughout his career including the outstanding teacher awards at the Olive view UCLA Medical Center (2008, 2010-2012, 2014) and the Golden Hammer Award for best clinical teacher, Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA (2004, 2008, 2012).  He also promoted wellness by holding yoga sessions for the trainees.  Beyond his local endeavors, he also built partnerships on a global level and mentored residents and fellows interested in global health. He was awarded the American Neurological Association’s Outstanding Accomplishments in Academic Neurology and Neuroscience award in 2022.

Dr. Mishra was the founding president of Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA).  Shri Mishra started with coordinating annual dinner meetings of Neurologists of Indian origin at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) beginning in 1978.  In 1991, Shri met with prominent Indian leaders at an Indian restaurant in Boston and formally announced the formation of AINA with by-laws.  AINA in Hindi means mirror.  The nominating committee was elected on the floor, but the restaurant was so small that the committee held its meeting in the men’s room to come up with a slate.  Dr. Shri K Mishra was named the first of president of AINA.  Dr. Mishra always went out of his way to help with careers of medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty of Indian origin.  In 2009, he received the lifetime achievement award his innumerable contributions to AINA.

Dr. Mishra was a devout Brahmin and an ordained Hindu priest.  He officiated weddings, festivals, and special occasion pujas.  He was well versed in Sanskrit and had deep knowledge of the scriptures.  Dr. Mishra will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, positivity, mentorship, passion and dedication to patient care and research.

In honor of our beloved Acharya Mishra, we want to share a verse from Bhagavad Gita.

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि ।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥ २२ ॥

vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛhṇāti naro ’parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny
anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī

जैसे मनुष्य पुराने वस्त्रों को त्यागकर दूसरे नए वस्त्रों को ग्रहण करता है, वैसे ही जीवात्मा पुराने शरीरों को त्यागकर दूसरे नए शरीरों को प्राप्त होता है॥22॥

Translation: As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one.

May Dr. Mishra’ soul attain Moksha. Om Shanti!

Submitted by

Kolar N. Murthy and Vinay Chaudhry