With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Fernando Hakim Daccach has established himself as a leading figure in Colombian neurosurgery. Head of the Neurosurgery Department at Fundación Santa Fe University Hospital in Bogotá and director of the Clinical Care Center for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, he has dedicated his career to diagnosing and treating brain, spinal cord, and vertebral conditions.

Initially trained at the Nueva Granada Military University, Hakim went on to specialize in neurosurgery and neuropathology at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard, further enhancing his profile with studies in pediatric neurosurgery and pathology. His reputation also stems from his lineage: he is the son of Salomón Hakim Dow, who described the normal pressure hydrocephalus syndrome and invented the Hakim valve, a global medical breakthrough.

Dr. Hakim is an expert in hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation, brain and spinal tumors, spinal trauma, and vascular surgery . In 2018, he was named one of Colombia’s top 50 doctors by the Top Doctors Awards. Alongside his surgical practice, he teaches at Universidad de los Andes and Universidad El Bosque.

His reputation has gone beyond the medical field. In July 2023, he operated on Shakira’s 91-year-old father, William Mebarak, for hydrocephalus, achieving a successful outcome in Cartagena. More recently, in June 2025, he returned to the spotlight as the lead surgeon treating Senator and presidential pre-candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, following the attack he suffered on June 7.

In this complex case, María Carolina Hoyos Turbay, Uribe’s sister, stated: “98% of people with my brother’s injury die. He’s a warrior... Dr. Fernando Hakim told me...” highlighting the critical role of timely medical care and Hakim’s expertise.

His leadership in the operating room, combined with his calm faith, has been essential. Outlets like Infobae and Semana have reported on his role and his compassionate message to the nation, calling medicine “an act of love above all” . His daughters have also publicly expressed unwavering faith and support for their father .

In short, Fernando Hakim Daccach combines surgical excellence, scientific legacy, and human commitment. His role in the recovery of public figures like Uribe and Shakira’s father confirms his status as one of Colombia’s top neurosurgeons—admired for both his clinical work and the hope he inspires.