Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin Becomes First Woman to Lead Armed Forces Medical Services

In a historic first for India, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has been appointed as the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), the highest medical position in the Armed Forces, directly accountable to the Ministry of Defence for medical policy matters.

Vice Admiral Sarin, who took charge today, has previously held prominent positions, including DG Medical Services (Navy), DG Medical Services (Air) and Director of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune. An alumnus of AFMC, she was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1985, marking 38 years of distinguished service.

Her academic and administrative roles include Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology at Army Hospital (R&R) and Command Hospital (Southern Command), Commanding Officer of INHS Asvini, and Command Medical Officer for the Southern and Western Naval Commands of the Indian Navy.

Sarin holds an MD in Radiodiagnosis from AFMC and a Diplomate of the National Board in Radiation Oncology from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. She is also trained in Gamma Knife Surgery from the University of Pittsburgh.

Throughout her career, Sarin has earned several prestigious honours, including the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2024), Vishisht Seva Medal (2021), and commendations from the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

Additionally, she has been appointed by the Supreme Court as a member of the National Task Force to establish safe working conditions for medical professionals, as per a Ministry of Defence release.