PGI's former Dean Dr Digambar Behera takes charge as president of National Academy of Medical Sciences
National Academy of Medical Sciences President
Chandigarh: Dr Digambar Behera, Professor Emeritus at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, assumed the role of President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) on Saturday.
Dr Behera has taken charge of the coveted post from Dr S K Sarin, the outgoing President, during a convocation function at the AIIMS, Jodhpur.
The 64th convocation and annual scientific conference of NAMS is being organized on 23rd-24th November at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. According to a statement here, Dr Behera will remain president of NAMS for three years, reports PTI.
Dr Behera said he is proud to occupy this position which was earlier held by legendary medical personalities of the country. “I will try to keep up the traditions of the academy and will work and see that NAMS contributes further to the medical education, research, and health care delivery in the country,” he said.
A renowned pulmonologist, Behera is currently the Director of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, and an advisor to the Task Force for National TB Elimination program of India. For his contributions in the domain of Medical Sciences, the Odisha Bigyan Academy conferred on Prof (Dr) Digambar Behera the Biju Patnaik Award for Scientific Excellence for the year 2016. He also received various other prestigious honours such as Padma Shri (2020), PRJ Gangadharam Award (2015), Kael Styblo Prize for Public Health (2009), and BC Roy Award (2004).
Prof (Dr) Digambar Behera is a highly regarded Physician and Researcher in Respiratory Medicine. Born in Cuttack District in 1953, Prof Behera received his MBBS from SCB Medical College, Cuttack, MD from PGIMER, Chandigarh, and MNAMS qualification in General Medicine and Respiratory Medicine. He was former dean (research) and head of pulmonary medicine department at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
He also worked as Director of the LRS Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi, for about 6 years. In his research career spanning over 35 years, Prof Behera has published nearly 500 papers in reputed journals, nearly 90 papers in international conferences, and about 80 papers in national conferences. His papers have enjoyed high citations and Impact factors. He has written chapters in about 40 texts and reference books and authored/edited several books.
He has supervised the thesis works of many Ph.D. and D.M./M.D. scholars. Prof. Behera has received many awards and recognitions from within the country and abroad for his work in areas including tuberculosis, lung cancer, COPD, asthma, and other respiratory diseases.
