The Department of Medicine came into being with the inception of Armed Forces Medical College on 01 May 1948. The First professor was the illustrious Lt Col S Medhi Basu who laid the foundation of this prestigious department. The staff consisting of a professor, two associate professors and three readers used to occupy offices in what is now the department of surgery. It was in 1967, under Brig RS Hoon, that the department moved to its present location. The primary function of the department has been teaching, patient care and research. Initially the department trained selected medical officers to make them graded specialists in medicine. Later, with the addition of graduate wing to the college in 1962, the department had the added responsibility of imparting training to undergraduates for MBBS degree. The department of medicine has been headed by stalwarts like Col CC Kapila, OBE, Col Inder Singh, Brig RS Hoon, AVSM, Brig JC Chatterji, Surg Cmde G Kuppuswamy, VSM, Brig IM Ahuja, Brig KJ Shetty, and Gp Capt SK Dham, VSM, all of who left no stone unturned in bringing up the department. Subsequently, the mantle of the head of the department of medicine was successfully passed on to their students like Col SP Kalra, Col AS Kasthuri, Col SR Mehta, VSM and Col AC Anand, VSM.
Some of those who headed the department have risen to high positions of DGAFMS, Chief Consultant (Medicine) and Commandant AFMC, and have been honoured by many civil and service awards. An impetus to the use of teaching aids was given by Col Inder Singh and Brig R S Hoon during their tenure. Surg Cmde G Kuppuswamy, VSM started the departmental library for the benefit of postgraduate students and teaching staff. Brig IM Ahuja during his tenure as head of the department brought in the concept of Super Speciality clinics and started the cardiac and rheumatology clinics. Subsequently, Brig KJ Shetty started the endocrine clinic. Col IP Bhalla encouraged the postgraduates to practice the art of clinical medicine. Col MM Gupta added the radioimmunoassay laboratory and calcium metabolism laboratory. Col AI Lazar during his short stay maintained the momentum of the work started by his predecessors. Gp Capt SK Dham as head of the department initiated various continuing medical education programmes, the most important being National Medicine Update and National Teaching Technology Update. Col SP Kalra gave the department a physical facelift and improved on the working environment. Col AS Kasthuri with his meticulousness was instrumental in streamlining all the office procedures. Col SR Mehta VSM started a new facility of DOTS clinic, an additional unit of general medicine and a geriatric medicine department. Col AC Anand was influential in improving the postgraduate training programme and started monthly theme conferences on topics of contemporary relevance. During his tenure the department published various text books which had wide acceptance in elite academic circles. Col A S Narula spearheaded the department into another area of excellence in that he was instrumental in bringing out Saturday clinics of AFMC- a training manual for postgraduates which has set a high standard in medical schools all over India. Brig S Rohatgi during his tenure started the ART centre at AFMC which provides comprehensive care to people with HIV infection. Brig A K Nagpal started the e clinical laboratory for demonstration of clinical signs to the undergraduates and published the second volume of Saturday Clinics of AFMC and an Emergency Manual for postgraduates. Now the dept is being headed by Brig Velu Nair, VSM who is a world renowned figure in the field of hematology and stem cell research.
Armed Forces Medical College
The Department of Medicine came into being with the inception of Armed Forces Medical College on 01 May 1948. The First professor was the illustrious Lt Col S Medhi Basu who laid the foundation of this prestigious department. The staff consisting of a professor, two associate professors and three readers used to occupy offices in what is now the department of surgery. It was in 1967, under Brig RS Hoon, that the department moved to its present location. The primary function of the department has been teaching, patient care and research. Initially the department trained selected medical officers to make them graded specialists in medicine. Later, with the addition of graduate wing to the college in 1962, the department had the added responsibility of imparting training to undergraduates for MBBS degree. The department of medicine has been headed by stalwarts like Col CC Kapila, OBE, Col Inder Singh, Brig RS Hoon, AVSM, Brig JC Chatterji, Surg Cmde G Kuppuswamy, VSM, Brig IM Ahuja, Brig KJ Shetty, and Gp Capt SK Dham, VSM, all of who left no stone unturned in bringing up the department. Subsequently, the mantle of the head of the department of medicine was successfully passed on to their students like Col SP Kalra, Col AS Kasthuri, Col SR Mehta, VSM and Col AC Anand, VSM.
Some of those who headed the department have risen to high positions of DGAFMS, Chief Consultant (Medicine) and Commandant AFMC, and have been honoured by many civil and service awards. An impetus to the use of teaching aids was given by Col Inder Singh and Brig R S Hoon during their tenure. Surg Cmde G Kuppuswamy, VSM started the departmental library for the benefit of postgraduate students and teaching staff. Brig IM Ahuja during his tenure as head of the department brought in the concept of Super Speciality clinics and started the cardiac and rheumatology clinics. Subsequently, Brig KJ Shetty started the endocrine clinic. Col IP Bhalla encouraged the postgraduates to practice the art of clinical medicine. Col MM Gupta added the radioimmunoassay laboratory and calcium metabolism laboratory. Col AI Lazar during his short stay maintained the momentum of the work started by his predecessors. Gp Capt SK Dham as head of the department initiated various continuing medical education programmes, the most important being National Medicine Update and National Teaching Technology Update. Col SP Kalra gave the department a physical facelift and improved on the working environment. Col AS Kasthuri with his meticulousness was instrumental in streamlining all the office procedures. Col SR Mehta VSM started a new facility of DOTS clinic, an additional unit of general medicine and a geriatric medicine department. Col AC Anand was influential in improving the postgraduate training programme and started monthly theme conferences on topics of contemporary relevance. During his tenure the department published various text books which had wide acceptance in elite academic circles. Col A S Narula spearheaded the department into another area of excellence in that he was instrumental in bringing out Saturday clinics of AFMC- a training manual for postgraduates which has set a high standard in medical schools all over India. Brig S Rohatgi during his tenure started the ART centre at AFMC which provides comprehensive care to people with HIV infection. Brig A K Nagpal started the e clinical laboratory for demonstration of clinical signs to the undergraduates and published the second volume of Saturday Clinics of AFMC and an Emergency Manual for postgraduates. Now the dept is being headed by Brig Velu Nair, VSM who is a world renowned figure in the field of hematology and stem cell research.