Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai Takes Charge as Director General Medical Services (Navy)
Maritime News India : New Delhi, India – On October 14, 2024, Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai, SM, VSM, officially assumed the role of Director General Medical Services (Navy). With a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, Vice Admiral Sahai brings a wealth of experience to her new position.
Commissioned in the Army Medical Corps on December 30, 1986, she is an alumnus of the esteemed Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune. Specializing in Pathology and further specializing in Oncopathology from AIIMS, New Delhi, her academic and professional achievements are commendable. She has served as the Professor and Head of the Department of Lab Sciences at both the Army Hospital Research and Referral (AHRR) and the Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt. Additionally, she has held the position of Professor at the Department of Pathology at AFMC.
Trailblazer in Medical Leadership
Before her appointment as DGMS (Navy), Vice Admiral Sahai made history as the first woman Commandant of the AMC Centre & College and Officer-in-Charge of Records. Notably, she is also the first woman officer to be elected as Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps, setting a precedent for future generations of female leaders in the armed forces.
Her commitment to medical education is evident, as she was awarded the prestigious FAIMER Fellowship in 2013-14 for her contributions to advancing medical education in Philadelphia, USA.
Recognitions and Awards
In acknowledgment of her exemplary service, Vice Admiral Sahai has received the Sena Medal in 2024 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2018. Her leadership and dedication have also been recognized with commendations from the Chief of the Army Staff twice in 2008 and 2012, and from the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Western Command) in 2010.
As she steps into her new role, Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai aims to further enhance the medical services of the Indian Navy, continuing to inspire and lead in a field where she has already made significant strides.