New Delhi: The Government of India has appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja as the next Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). Currently serving as the Director General Medical Services (Air), he will assume charge from the afternoon of August 31 following the retirement of the incumbent DGAFMS, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin.
According to the Ministry of Defence, Air Marshal Thareja is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, and was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1986. He earned an MD in Medicine in 1997 before completing a DM in Gastroenterology from AIIMS, New Delhi, in 2005, where he received the Best DM Student Award. He is also a graduate of the National Defence College and secured an ‘A’ grading in all military courses.
During his nearly 40-year career, Air Marshal Thareja has served in several key clinical, academic and leadership roles within the Armed Forces Medical Services. His notable appointments include Senior Consultant (Medicine) at the Office of the DGAFMS, Commandant of Military Hospital Pathankot, Commandant of Command Hospital Lucknow, Director and Commandant of AFMC Pune, and Director General Medical Services (Air).
As DGMS (Air), he led multiple initiatives aimed at strengthening operational medical readiness. His tenure included enhancing the Armed Forces Medical Services’ preparedness for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and overseeing the operational deployment of the BHISHM Cube, a rapid medical response system designed to support operational as well as humanitarian missions.
Apart from his administrative responsibilities, Air Marshal Thareja is an accomplished gastroenterologist, teacher and researcher. He has mentored several postgraduate and super-speciality students and has authored more than 50 research papers published in leading national and international medical journals.
In recognition of his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal twice (VSM & Bar).
