PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

James Drake

Also known as James M. Drake

James Drake is a pediatric neurosurgeon and professor at the University of Toronto whose research applies engineering, image-guided surgery and robotics to neurosurgery. He studied at Princeton, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the University of Toronto before joining Toronto’s Division of Neurosurgery in 1988. In 1996, he coauthored a review of cerebrospinal-fluid models; in 2018, SickKids appointed him Surgeon-in-Chief. He received the Order of Canada in 2020 and, in 2025, helped SickKids test experimental magnetic robotic tools that could enable minimally invasive brain surgery. As of October 2026, he is a professor at Toronto and a Senior Associate Scientist Emeritus at SickKids.

Works
652
Citations
25,734
h-index
83
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 27 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1969–1987

    Education across four institutions

    He studies at Princeton University from 1969 to 1974, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1974, the University of Toronto in 1986–1987 and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in 1987.

  2. 1988

    Joining Toronto neurosurgery

    He joins the University of Toronto’s Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, and SickKids’ Division of Paediatric Neurosurgery in 1988. His research focuses on engineering applications to neurosurgery, image-guided surgery and robotics.

  3. 1996

    Mathematical models of cerebrospinal fluid

    He coauthors a 1996 review of mathematical pressure-volume models for cerebrospinal fluid. The paper discusses how such models help study hydrocephalus.

  4. 2018

    Surgeon-in-Chief at SickKids

    In September 2018, SickKids appoints him Surgeon-in-Chief and Chief of Perioperative Services for a five-year term.

  5. 2020

    Order of Canada

    He becomes a Member of the Order of Canada in 2020. His work applies engineering to neurosurgery and includes image-guided surgery using robotics.

  6. 2025

    Magnetic brain-surgery tools

    In 2025, he works with SickKids physicians and researchers to test experimental magnetic robotic tools that could enable minimally invasive brain surgery. The tools are about 3 millimeters in diameter and can grip, pull and cut tissue.

  7. As of October 2026

    Toronto professor and SickKids emeritus

    He is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto and a Senior Associate Scientist Emeritus in SickKids’ Neurosciences & Mental Health program.

Career

  1. NowUniversity of TorontoProfessor
  2. NowHospital for Sick ChildrenSenior Associate Scientist Emeritus
  3. From 2018Hospital for Sick ChildrenSurgeon-in-Chief and Chief of Perioperative Services
  4. From 1988University of Toronto
  5. From 1988Hospital for Sick Children

Education

  1. 1987University of Toronto
  2. 1974Princeton University
  3. 1974Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

From the biography.

Checked career sources: sickkids.ca.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

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  1. James Drake | Department of Surgery surgery.utoronto.ca. Checked 27 October 2026.
  2. Dr. James Drake appointed Surgeon-in-Chief and Chief of Perioperative Services sickkids.ca. Checked 27 October 2026.
  3. Mathematical pressure volume models of the cerebrospinal fluid arxiv.org. Checked 27 October 2026.
  4. Dr. James M. Drake | The Governor General of Canada gg.ca. Checked 27 October 2026.
  5. These tiny robotic tools powered by magnetic fields could enable minimally invasive brain surgery news.engineering.utoronto.ca. Checked 27 October 2026.
  6. Neurosciences & Mental Health | SickKids Research Institute sickkids.ca. Checked 27 October 2026.