Dr Vivek Lal, 58, an alumnus and head of the department of neurology at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), took over as the new PGIMER director on Friday.
According to an official communication, the appointments committee of the cabinet approved the proposal of the ministry of health and family welfare for the appointment of Professor Lal to the post of director, PGIMER, Chandigarh, for five years from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or until the incumbent attains the age of 65, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.
Soon after taking over the charge, Dr Lal said he will try his best to make PGIMER more patient friendly and improve the working environment at the Institute.
PGIMER was without a regular director since November 1, 2021, following the retirement of Dr Jagat Ram.
Dr Surjit Singh, the head of the paediatrics department, PGIMER, was given the officiating charge for six months (which ended on April 30) or till the regular director is appointed, whichever is earlier. Dr Jagat Ram had retired from the director’s post after serving for four years and seven months.
After completing his MBBS from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in 1985, Dr Lal got an MD in 1990 and DM Neurology in 1993 from PGIMER, Chandigarh. He went on to join the institute as assistant professor in 1994 and became professor in 2009, before taking charge of the neurology department’s head in 2014.
{{/usCountry}}After completing his MBBS from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in 1985, Dr Lal got an MD in 1990 and DM Neurology in 1993 from PGIMER, Chandigarh. He went on to join the institute as assistant professor in 1994 and became professor in 2009, before taking charge of the neurology department’s head in 2014.
{{/usCountry}}Having a teaching experience of 30 years, Dr Lal has approximately 170 publications in peer reviewed national and international journals, and book chapters to his credit. He has also worked as principal investigator in many research projects in the field of neurology, funded by ICMR, CSIO and PGIMER.
Dr Lal is also a member of various national and international scientific bodies, including the North American Neuro-Ophthalmological Society (NANOS), Indian Academy of Neurology and Neurological Society of India.
He had also served as the director and chairperson of global programmes, including teaching course, neuro-ophthalmology, XXIII World Congress Neurology, Kyoto Japan, 2017; XXIIV World Congress Neurology, Dubai 2019; and XXIV World Congress Neurology, Italy, 2021.
Under his leadership, PGIMER’s neurology department was designated as the nodal centre for post-Covid neurological complications and catered to patients from the entire region.