AIIMS names 3 eminent doctors as Executive Directors

Brig (Retd) Raju Agarwal, former Principal and Dean of the Career Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, will assume charge as the Executive Director of AIIMS, Patna. 

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In addition, Dr Amita Jain, who previously served as Dean (Academics) and Head of the Department of Microbiology at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), has been selected to lead AIIMS, Rae Bareli.  

Expressing views on the development, Dr Amita Jain told TOI, "I am awaiting the formal appointment letter before outlining my plans for AIIMS, Rae Bareli. Once I join, I will set clear targets for the development of the institution."

Dr Amita Aggarwal is an Indian clinical immunologist and rheumatologist. Known for her studies in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, Aggarwal is a recipient of the Shakuntala Amir Chand Award of the Indian Council of Medical Research and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, National Academy of Medical Sciences and the National Academy of Medical Sciences. The Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India awarded her the National Bioscience Award for Career Development, one of the highest Indian science awards, for her contributions to biosciences in 2004.

Born in 1960, Dr Aggarwal earned her MBBS degree as well as an MD in Internal Medicine from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. She later completed her DM in Clinical Immunology from Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI). Dr Aggarwal is widely known for her research in the field of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, especially the pathogenesis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

Dr Amita Jain, a senior microbiologist, has an outstanding academic and professional background. She completed her MBBS in 1982, MD in Microbiology in 1986, and later earned her Ph.D. in 2017, all from KGMU. Over the years, she has been recognised with several prestigious honours, including the Prof. U. C. Chaturvedi Oration and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists (UP Chapter) in 2017 and the Vishwa Gaurav Samman awarded by the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2022.

She has also been conferred the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (London) and the Fellowship of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS) in 2018, as well as the Fellowship of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in 2021. In addition, she received the Award for Eminence in Research in 2014 and has been honoured multiple times by KGMU for excellence in research and teaching, including the Best Teacher Award in 2012.

Dr Raju Agarwal holds an MBBS degree from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) and an MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is also a Fellow in Gynaecological Oncology.

Highlighting the importance of these appointments, Prof JD Rawat, senior member of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Lucknow, said, "The decision reflects the city's strong standing in the field of medical education and healthcare. Having three of our city's doctors entrusted with leading prestigious AIIMS institutions is not just an achievement for them but also a matter of pride for the entire medical community."

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