Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair, on Thursday, took over the office of Director General Medical Services of the Indian Army.
She is the first woman to be appointed to this key post. Lt Gen Nair was also the first woman to hold the post of DG Hospital Services (Armed Forces) on promotion to the rank of Air Marshal.
She graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, and was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1985. Lt Gen Nair has a Post Graduate degree in Family Medicine, and diplomas in Maternal & Child Health and Health Care Management.
Besides, she had also undergone a two-year training programme in Medical Informatics at AIIMS, New Delhi.
Lt Gen Nair was trained in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Warfare with the Israeli Defence Forces and in Military Medical Ethics with the Swiss Armed Forces in Spiez.
She is also the first woman Principal Medical Officer of Western Air Command, and Training Command, Indian Air Force (IAF).
Lt Gen Nair was nominated as an expert member of Dr Kasturirangan Committee for drafting part of the medical education component of the National Education Policy.
She has been awarded the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command and Chief of the Air Staff Commendations as well as Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India for her distinguished service.
