Ex-PGI doc is chief of National Academy of Medical Sciences

Digambar Behera has taken over as president of the National Academy of Medical Sciences for a period of three years. He is the Professor Emeritus at the PGIMER, Chandigarh, and at present Director of the Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine at Fortis Hospital, Mohali.

He took over the charge from Dr SK Sarin, the outgoing president, during a convocation function held at the AIIMS, Jodhpur, where Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar was the chief guest.

The National Academy of Medical Sciences was founded in 1961. It is the highest academic body of eminent medical and biomedical scientists of India.

Dr Behera said, “I am honoured to serve at this position, which was earlier held by legendary medical professionals of the country, including eminent former PGI directors. I will try to keep up the traditions of the academy and will work to see that it contributes further to the medical education, research and health care delivery in the country.”

Dr Behera is a Padma Shri awardee and has 602 scientific publications, two text books on pulmonary medicine and five books to his credit..He has received more than 35 national awards and nine international ones. These include Dr BC Roy Award for Eminent Medical Teacher.