‘Never forget the larger vision of healthcare equity, rural outreach’

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin emphasizes leadership, innovation, and equity in healthcare at Sri Ramachandra Institute convocation.

“The nation you serve will look at you not just as a physician but as a leader, educator, and innovator. Whether you choose the path of research, clinical service, administration, or public health, never forget the larger vision of healthcare equity, rural outreach, and gender sensitivity,” Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director-General, Armed Forces Medical Services, New Delhi, told students on Friday.

Delivering the address at the 39th convocation of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), she highlighted the importance of hands-on patient care, soft skills in medical practice, communication with patients, and teamwork.

“In a world plagued by new-age pandemics, mental health crises, conflict-related injuries, and climate-linked diseases, your role is more critical than ever. Be that calm in the chaos, the light in despair, and the voice of reason amid fear,” Ms. Sarin said.

Healthcare today, she said, was no longer just about curing diseases, it was about creating a health-secure nation. “As India progresses towards the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ @ 2047, you are the architects of a new era of healthcare digital, inclusive, preventive, and personalised medicine,” she said, adding that: “Don’t let your knowledge remain in textbooks or journals, but translate it into compassionate care, ethical choices, and innovative solutions for real-world problems.”

“We stand at the crossroads of technology and tradition. Artificial intelligence, genomics, wearable health monitors, robotic surgeries, and drone-based medical logistics are no longer dreams, they are today’s realities,” she said.

She presented 40 gold medals to 29 candidates on the occasion. V.R. Venkataachalam, Chancellor of SRIHER, presented degrees to 637 graduands, who included Ph.D scholars, undergraduates, and postgraduates in medical, engineering, and management sciences. SRIHER’s Pro-Chancellor R.V. Sengutuvan and Vice-Chancellor Uma Sekar were among those present.