Dear Faculty members, resident doctors, administrative and nursing staff, technicians, attendants, sanitary workers and contractual staff of SGPGI
Greetings and a very warm welcome from the Director’s office……
It has been a wonderful homecoming for me to return to the folds of my alma mater, as the Director of the Institute. You all must be aware that after obtaining my MBBS and MD in Medicine degrees from KGMU in 1984 and 1987, I joined the Department of Gastroenterology at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education, Lucknow, India as a Senior Resident (DM Specialist training). After having clearing my examination in 1991, I joined the Department of Hepatology at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India as an Assistant Professor in 1993, and was working as Professor and Head of the Hepatology Unit at the time of assuming charge as Director, Sanjay Gandhi PGIMS.
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I am a keen believer of the adage “The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them”. My enthusiasm and passion to set up ‘state-of-the-art’ Hepatology and Liver Transplantation services at PGIMER, Chandigarh, led to me being closely involved with the running of Liver Clinic; teaching MD students and students specializing in Hepatology and Gastroenterology; carrying out independent research projects. To ensure optimal training of MD physicians interested in pursuing Hepatology as a career option, I helped set up a new super-specialty course (DM) in Hepatology at PGIMER for the first time in the country.
It was more than 27 years ago that I left the hallowed portals of this Institute but somehow it seems, that my heart never left. It has been a long-cherished dream to come back to SGPGI and give something back to the place which has played a major role in helping shape my future and of so many others, who have passed out from this premier academic establishment. My journey back to SGPGI has revived rich and deep memories, replete with reminisces of generations that completed the foundations of their professional lives on these very esteemed grounds.
I wish that in the coming years we should establish a dedicated organ transplantation program (heart, liver, kidney and pancreas) at SGPGIMS. This stems from my strong belief that we at SGPGIMS have the full potential to evolve into one of country’s top-of-the-rung transplant centers. We already have a functional renal and bone marrow transplant set-up and with the infrastructure of liver transplant already in place, it is only a matter of time and putting in extra efforts, that our dream of a world class solid organ transplant program at SGPGIMS takes a concrete shape.
The other thrust areas include setting up of a new Department of Hepatology for managing very sick liver disease patients in Liver ICU (the 6th such Department in the country), creation of an ‘Advanced Diabetic and Endocrine Center’, Departments of Regenerative Medicine, Neuro-Otology, Trauma Surgery, Emergency Medicine and Stand-Alone Renal Transplant Center, Infectious Disease Centre, Cardiac Center and Mother and Child Health Center. We shall also work hard on issues related to recruitment of Faculty and Non-faculty (Group A,B,C,&D) positions, promotions (ACPS/MACPS/DPC) of Groups A, B, C, & D and cadre restructuring of employees.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has seen us all rise to the enormity of the adversity as one united, common family selflessly devoted to patient care. Sensing the initial urgency and need to provide immediate care for COVID patients, a facility of 10 beds (with ventilators) and 4 beds (of isolation) was set up at the OPD block at the main SGPGI hospital since 20.3.2020. Subsequently as per directions of the Government, the Apex Trauma Center of SGPGIMS was converted into the Rajdhani COVID Hospital (RCH) and became functional on 16.04.2020. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath has also visited the hospital and was appreciative of the hard work being done by the healthcare workers in delivering COVID care.
I also take this opportunity to personally thank each and every employee of the institute for rendering exemplary services at the RCH tirelessly since the last few months. Let’s remember that “challenges and adversities are just meant to really help you know who you are. Storms hit your weaknesses, but at the same time, unlock your true strength”
I once again welcome you all and look forward to working with you to take SGPGI to new heights!!!!