Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin Appointed as First Woman Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services

New Delhi: In a historic first, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has taken over as the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), becoming the first woman officer to hold the prestigious position. The DGAFMS is directly responsible for formulating medical policy matters related to the Armed Forces, and reports to the Ministry of Defence.

Before her appointment as the 46th DGAFMS, Vice Admiral Sarin held several high-profile roles, including Director General Medical Services for both the Navy and the Air Force, as well as Director & Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. An alumna of AFMC herself, she was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1985 and holds advanced qualifications in Radiodiagnosis and Radiation Oncology.

Over her 38-year career, Vice Admiral Sarin has held prestigious academic and administrative positions, including Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology at Army Hospital (R&R) and AFMC Pune, and Commanding Officer of INHS Asvini, a prominent naval hospital. She also served as Command Medical Officer in the Southern and Western Naval Commands.

Uniquely, Vice Admiral Sarin has served in all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces — the Army, Navy, and Air Force — rising through the ranks from Lieutenant to her current position as Surgeon Vice Admiral.

In recognition of her outstanding service and commitment to patient care, she has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021. Her long list of commendations includes honors from the Chiefs of the Army and Navy, and the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

Recently appointed to the Supreme Court’s National Task Force, tasked with formulating safe working conditions for medical professionals, Vice Admiral Sarin has been a strong advocate for women in the Armed Forces and is a shining example of the Government’s Nari Shakti initiative.