Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has become the first woman officer to take over as the Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), which is responsible to the ministry of defence for overall medical policy matters related to the armed forces.
She holds the rare distinction of serving in all three branches of the armed forces. Vice Admiral Sarin served as Lieutenant to Captain in the Indian Army, from Surgeon Lieutenant to Surgeon Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy, and as an Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force.
Prior to her appointment as the 46th DGAFMS, she held various posts, including DG Medical Services (Navy), DG Medical Services (Air) and Director & Commandant of Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune.
Vice Admiral Arti Sarin AVSM, VSM becomes the 1st woman officer to take over as the Director General (DG) of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS)
— News IADN (@NewsIADN) October 1, 2024
She has a rare distinction of serving in all 3 branches - Army, Navy and Air Force, with her career in Forces spanning 38 years #IADN pic.twitter.com/L2TxBOUUiL
She is an alumna of AFMC, Pune, and was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1985.
.The appointment of Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM as the next Director General Armed Forces Medical Services is a unique event 77 years after Independence, as she will be the first woman officer to take over as the head of the Tri-service AFMS.
— Colonel Mayank Chaubey (@col_chaubey) October 1, 2024
Arti is directly… pic.twitter.com/xCblediEt0
Vice Admiral Sarin held several academic and administrative posts including Professor & Head, Radiation Oncology, Army Hospital (R&R) and Command Hospital (Southern Command)/AFMC Pune, Commanding Officer, INHS Asvini, Command Medical Officer in the Indian Navy’s Southern and Western Naval Commands.
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She was awarded Ati Vishist Seva Medal in 2024 and Vishist Seva Medal in 2021. Vice Admiral Sarin has also been conferred with Chief of Army Staff Commendation (2017), Chief of Naval Staff Commendation (2001) and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Commendation (2013) for distinguished service.