The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies established a medal of honor bearing the name of Majid Samii in 2011 to recognize outstanding practitioners in the field. Born in Tehran in 1937, this neurosurgeon transitioned from his early education in Iran to an extensive career in Germany, where he significantly shaped contemporary surgical standards and global medical institutional leadership.
Academic and Professional Foundations
Samii pursued medical studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz after completing high school in Iran. His professional trajectory included academic and clinical positions at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hannover Medical School, and Leiden University. Throughout his career, he functioned as a physician, professor, and surgeon, establishing a reputation for contributions to neurosurgery that bridged clinical practice and international research cooperation.
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Samii serves as the president of the International Neuroscience Institute in Hanover, an institution he directed as part of his broader effort to advance neurological medicine. He holds various leadership titles, including director emeritus of the Neurosurgical Clinic at Nordstadt Hospital and honorary president of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. His organizational influence extends to robot-assisted surgery through his role with CURAC and the Neurobionic Foundation.
International Recognition
His contributions earned numerous accolades, including the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1988 and the Leibniz-Ring-Hannover in 2013. He received the Friendship Award from the Chinese government in 2008 and the Pirogov Gold Medal in 2017. Samii remains a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and has been recognized with honorary doctorates for his global clinical work.
Fast facts
- Born: 1937, Tehran
- Citizenship: Germany, Iran
- Primary Field: Neurosurgery
- Educated at: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
- Notable Award: Leibniz-Ring-Hannover (2013)
- Professional Roles: Surgeon, Physician, Professor
- Language proficiency: French
Questions readers ask
What is the MASCIN organization?
MASCIN stands for the Madjid Samii Congress of International Neurosurgeons, an organization for which he was elected the founding president in 2003.
Which major medical organizations recognize his work?
He is an honorary president of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies and the German Society of Skull Base Surgery.
Achievements
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 1988
- Fedor Krause Medal — 2007
- Lower Saxony State Prize — 1988
- Golden Medal for Merits
- Pirogov Gold Medal — 2017
- Held posts at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hannover Medical School and Leiden University
- Fields: neurosurgery
