• Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair took charge as the Director General Medical Services (Army) on August 1, becoming the first woman officer to be appointed to the post.

• Lt Gen Nair graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, with a distinguished academic record and was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1985.

• She holds a post-graduate degree in family medicine, diplomas in maternal and child health and healthcare management, and has undergone a two-year training programme in medical informatics at AIIMS, New Delhi.

• She was trained in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare with the Israeli Defence Forces and in military medical ethics with the Swiss Armed Forces in Spiez.

• She is the first woman to hold the post of DG Hospital Services (Armed Forces) on promotion to the rank of Air Marshal.

• Lt Gen Nair is also the first woman Principal Medical Officer of Western Air Command, and Training Command, Indian Air Force (IAF).

• She was nominated as an expert member of Dr Kasturirangan Committee for drafting part of the medical education component of the National Education Policy.

• For her meritorious service, she has been awarded the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command and Chief of the Air Staff Commendations as well as Vishisht Seva Medal by the President.

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