(From left) Prof Kajal Jain, Prof Rajesh Kumar, Prof Jagat Ram, Prof Sujit Pandit, Prof I C Pathak and Prof G D Puri during alumni-cum-CME at PGIMER on Saturday. (Source: Express Photo)
THE DEPARTMENT of anaesthesia and intensive care, PGIMER, Chandigarh, organised the first meeting of academy of PGIMER anaesthesia alumni meet-cum-CME on Saturday.
The meeting was inaugurated by Professor I C Pathak, former director, PGI; Professor Jagat Ram, director, PGI; Professor Rajesh Kumar, Dean, Academic, PGI; and Dr Sujit Pandit, first alumnus of department of anaesthesia, PGI.
Inaugurating the meeting, Professor Pathak highlighted the important role played by anaesthetists in the successful conduct of surgeries. He said that the anaesthesia department at PGI was one of the best in the country, thanks to successive heads of the departments.
Professor Jagat Ram congratulated the anaesthesia team on taking this initiative.
The inauguration was followed by Dr Channan Singh oration. Prof Rajesh Kumar introduced speaker Dr Sujit Pandit, who was the first person to obtain post-graduation degree in anesthesia from the institute since its inception in 1963.
Dr Pandit talked about his experience at PGI from 1964, first as a lecturer and resident in anaesthesia and later as an associate professor in the same deparmtent. He recalled how PGI was envisioned and built by eminent doctors in the 1960s and how the department of anaesthesia had progressed from his time, when there were only three anesthetists at the institute. Dr Pandit later on moved on to University of Michigan, USA, and he, along with his wife, Dr Rukmini Pandit, also an alumnus of the institute, contributed enormously to the field of anaesthesia.
“Just like a bird makes a nest from multiple sticks, the alumni make the institute complete,” said Professor G D Puri. The meeting will continue till Sunday and the Continuing Medical Education programme includes eminent alumni from the institute delivering talk on important topics in the history and contemporary practice.