On August 1, 2024, Lt. Gen. Sadhna Saxena Nair assumed the office of Director General Medical Services (Army), making her the first woman to hold this esteemed position. Before this role, she was the first woman to serve as DG Hospital Services (Armed Forces) after being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal.
Lt. Gen. Nair graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune with an outstanding academic record and was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1985. She obtained a Post Graduate degree in Family Medicine, Diplomas in Maternal & Child Health, and Health Care Management. Additionally, she completed a two-year training program in Medical Informatics at AIIMS, New Delhi. She received training in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Warfare with the Israeli Defence Forces and in Military Medical Ethics with the Swiss Armed Forces in Spiez. Lt. Gen. Nair is also the first woman Principal Medical Officer of Western Air Command and Training Command in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Lieutenant General Nair was nominated as an expert member of the Dr. Kasturirangan Committee for drafting the medical education component of the National Education Policy. In recognition of her meritorious service, she has been awarded the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, and Chief of the Air Staff Commendations, as well as the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Prerna Lal/MSM)
