On October 1, 2024, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin became the first woman to be appointed as Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). In this role, she will oversee medical policy matters for the Armed Forces, reporting directly to the Ministry of Defence.
Before taking over as the 46th DGAFMS, Vice Admiral Sarin held notable positions including Director General of Medical Services for both the Navy and Air Force, as well as Director & Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. She is an alumna of AFMC, where she earned her MD in Radiodiagnosis, and also holds a Diplomate National Board in Radiation Oncology from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. She further trained in Gamma Knife Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.
With a distinguished career spanning 38 years, Vice Admiral Sarin has held a variety of academic and administrative roles, such as Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology at Army Hospital (R&R) and Command Hospital (Southern Command)/AFMC Pune. She also commanded INHS Asvini and served as Command Medical Officer for both the Southern and Western Naval Commands.
Vice Admiral Sarin holds the unique distinction of having served across all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces, rising from Lieutenant to Captain in the Army, Surgeon Lieutenant to Surgeon Vice Admiral in the Navy, and reaching the rank of Air Marshal in the Air Force.
Her dedication to patient care and unwavering commitment have earned her numerous accolades, including the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021. She has also received commendations from the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
In addition to her leadership roles, Vice Admiral Sarin was recently appointed to the National Task Force by the Supreme Court to help establish safe working conditions and protocols for medical professionals. A strong advocate for women in the military, she continues to inspire young women to join the Armed Forces, embodying the spirit of the government’s Nari Shakti initiative.
