Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), paid a solemn tribute to the fallen heroes of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, during her farewell visit to the institution on 10 August 2026.
During the visit, the DGAFMS paid homage at Prerna Sthal, the college war memorial dedicated to the bravehearts of AFMC who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. She laid tribute to the fallen personnel and remembered their courage, dedication and selfless commitment to duty.
Addressing the gathering, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin called upon the present generation of medical officers, faculty and students to uphold the ethos of service exemplified by the institution’s fallen heroes. She emphasised that the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation carries an enduring responsibility for every generation serving in the Armed Forces Medical Services.
The visit held particular significance as Surgeon Vice Admiral Sarin has herself shared a long association with AFMC. She completed her MBBS and postgraduate studies at the institution before going on to build a distinguished career spanning the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
Sarin was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1985 and has served across all three Services during her career. Her appointments have included Director and Commandant of AFMC, Director General Medical Services (Air), Director General Medical Services (Navy) and, since October 2024, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services.
She holds the distinction of being the first woman to serve as DGAFMS and has emerged as one of the most senior-ranking women officers in the history of the Indian Armed Forces. Her career has reflected the tri-service character of the Armed Forces Medical Services, with extensive experience in military healthcare, medical education, administration and specialised medicine.
Her farewell visit to AFMC provided an opportunity to reconnect with an institution that played a formative role in her professional journey. The homage at Prerna Sthal also reinforced the close link between AFMC’s tradition of medical excellence and its enduring commitment to service before self.
The tribute underscored the importance of remembering the institution’s fallen personnel and ensuring that their sacrifices continue to inspire future generations of military doctors and healthcare professionals.
The visit concluded with a renewed emphasis on preserving the values of courage, duty, compassion and service that remain central to AFMC’s identity and the broader ethos of the Armed Forces Medical Services.
