Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin Becomes India's First Woman to Head Armed Forces Medical Services

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has become the first woman to lead the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) as Director General, a significant moment for women in the Indian military. Sarin's 38-year medical career includes leadership roles across all three branches of the armed forces. She has also been appointed to a national task force to ensure safe working conditions for medical professionals following a tragic incident in Kolkata. Sarin's appointment aligns with the government’s Nari Shakti initiative, highlighting her contributions to motivating women in the armed forces.

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin made history on Tuesday by becoming the first woman to head the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) as the Director General. With 45 male predecessors, Sarin’s appointment is a significant milestone for women in the Indian military, aligning with the government’s Nari Shakti initiative.

The 60-year-old will lead AFMS for two years, directly reporting to the defence ministry and overseeing medical policy matters related to the military. Prior to this role, Sarin headed the Navy’s medical services directorate and held several prestigious positions, including Director General Medical Services (Air) and Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune.

Sarin's appointment follows that of Lieutenant General Sadhna Saxena Nair, who became the first woman Director General Medical Services (Army) two months ago.

With a medical career spanning 38 years, Sarin is an MD in radiodiagnosis from AFMC and holds a Diplomate National Board in radiation oncology from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. She has trained in Gamma Knife surgery from the University of Pittsburgh and held key academic and administrative positions throughout her career, including professor and head of radiation oncology at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) and Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune.

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Sarin has the rare distinction of serving in all three branches of the armed forces, progressing from lieutenant in the army to surgeon vice admiral in the navy and as an air marshal in the Indian Air Force. This versatility highlights the unique nature of military medical services, where doctors can serve across branches.

Additionally, Sarin was recently appointed to the national task force created by the Supreme Court to ensure safe working conditions for medical professionals. The task force was constituted after the tragic incident involving the alleged rape and murder of a female resident doctor in Kolkata, sparking nationwide protests. The task force aims to prevent violence against medical professionals and establish enforceable protocols for safe working environments.