New Delhi, Oct 1: Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has made history by being appointed as the first female Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), as informed by the Ministry of Defence. This role places her in charge of medical policy for the Indian Armed Forces.
Before assuming this significant position as the 46th DGAFMS, Vice Admiral Sarin held several notable roles, including Director General of Medical Services for the Navy and Air Force, as well as Director and Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune. A graduate of AFMC, she was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1985 and holds an MD in Radiodiagnosis, alongside a Diplomate National Board in Radiation Oncology from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. She also received specialized training in Gamma Knife Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.
With a career spanning 38 years, Sarin has held various academic and leadership positions, including Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology at Army Hospital (R&R) and Command Hospital (Southern Command)/AFMC Pune. She has also served as Commanding Officer of INHS Asvini and as Command Medical Officer in the Indian Navy’s Southern and Western Naval Commands.
Sarin’s career is particularly notable as she has served in all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces: as a Lieutenant to Captain in the Army, from Surgeon Lieutenant to Surgeon Vice Admiral in the Navy, and as an Air Marshal in the Air Force.
Her commitment to patient care has earned her several prestigious awards, including the Ati Vishist Seva Medal in 2024 and the Vishist Seva Medal in 2021. She has also received commendations from the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for her distinguished service.
Recently, she was appointed to a National Task Force by the Supreme Court to develop safe working conditions for medical professionals. An advocate for women in the military, Sarin has been influential in motivating young women to join the Armed Forces and represents the Government’s Nari Shakti initiative.
