Aim: Neurosurgery has a long history of pioneers who established the science and inspired future generations to practice evidence-based neurosurgery around the world. This article presents one of neurosurgery’s earliest pioneers, Dr. Vahdettin Turkman, who contributed to neurosurgical practice globally from east to west (Iraq, Tukey, England, Germany and the United States) in the early 1960s. Material and Methods: This paper is the result of numerous interviews conducted in Turkey, Iraq, USA, and Canada. Results: During Dr. Turkman’s brief life, he accomplished a great deal that contributed to the global advancement of modern neurosurgery. Conclusion: Dr. Turkman’s contributions and achievements have inspired many neurosurgeons trained at Ankara and Hacettepe Universities, Neurosurgery Departments in Turkey, and around the world. We honor Dr. Turkman and pay tribute to his memory.