SGPGI Director Dr R K Dhiman in NMC Committee to Grant Recognition to New PG Qualifications

New Delhi: The Director of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow, Dr. R K Dhiman has now been nominated as a member of the National Medical Commission's (NMC) Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) committee.

Recently, the PG Board of NMC announced the names of six selected members of the committee, which will grant recognition to the new PG medical courses across the country.

Apart from Dr. Dhiman, the Committee also includes Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Chancellor of Delhi ILBS, Dr. Vijayendra Kumar, Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Patna IGIMS, Dr K. Senthil of the Department of General Medicine at the Government Medical College, Madurai, Dr. Mohammed Kunnumal, Vice Chancellor of Kerala University, and Dr. Kailash S Sharma, Director (Academics), Tata Memorial, Mumbai.

Keeping in mind the need for specialty medical treatment, over the past decade, the number of PG medical seats has increased significantly. Along with increasing the number of seats in the existing courses, the Apex Medical Commission is also introducing new PG medical courses in the medical colleges across the country.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that, recently, back in September 2024, NMC invited applications for starting new post-graduate medical courses in an established medical institute, establishing a new post-graduate medical institution (standalone PG institute) and increase of seats in existing post-graduate medical courses for the Academic Year 2025-2026.

Now, NMC has set up a Committee that will grant recognition to the newly PG medical and super speciality courses. However, details regarding the functioning of the Committee and the role it will play to shape the postgraduate medical education are still awaited.

Dr. Radha Krishnan Dhiman has been nominated as a member of this committee. Last year, Dr. Dhiman was conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award in the field of Medicine. He is an eminent hepatologist, who is currently working as the Director of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow.

After completing his school education at a Government school, Dr. Dhiman obtained his MBBS and MD Degrees from King George's Medical College during the years 1978 -1988. He pursued specialist training from Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences and obtained the DM Degree in Gastroenterology in the year 1989-1991.

Thereafter he got the Membership of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (MNAMS) back in the year 1998. He also obtained the Fellowship of Americal College of Gastroenterology, USA in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2001, and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, and London in Gastroenterology in the year 2015. Thereafter, he became a fellow of the American Association for Study of the Liver (FAASLD) in Hepatology back in 2015.

Previously, he served as the Additional Charge of Vice-Chancellor of King George's Medical University (KGMU) from 13 July 2020 to 10 August 2020. He was also the Professor and Head of the Department of Hepatology at SGPGIMS from 16th February 2023 to 10th February 2023. Before that, he was the HOD of Hepatology at PGIMER, Chandigarh till 7th February 2020. At this institute, he served in the posts of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Additional Professor, and Professor in the Hepatology Department starting in 1993. Currently, he is the Director of both SGPGIMS, Lucknow.

Also Read: SGPGIMS Director Dr. RK Dhiman Conferred with Padma Shri in Medicine