Lucknow: The responsibilities of Prof. R.K. Dhiman, Director of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, have been elevated further. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, appointed him as the Chairman of AIIMS Patna. Along with this, he has also been named a member of the Institute Body of AIIMS Patna, entrusting him with a key role in the institute’s administration.
Prof. Dhiman, a distinguished medical professional, has had a long and illustrious journey. He completed his MBBS (1984) and MD in Medicine (1987) from King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, and went on to earn his DM in Gastroenterology (1991) from SGPGIMS itself. Over the years, he has been awarded fellowships from prestigious bodies including the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the Royal College of Physicians (London and Edinburgh), and the National Academy of Medical Sciences.
A pioneer in public health, Dr. Dhiman played a crucial role in developing a cost-effective treatment algorithm for Hepatitis C in Punjab. The success of this “Punjab Model” became the foundation for the Government of India’s National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP), launched in July 2018, which ensures free diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis under the National Health Mission.
His excellence has been recognized through numerous national and international honors. In 2024, he was conferred the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu, and earlier, in 2008, he received the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award, the highest medical honor in India, from then-President Pratibha Patil. He has also been a four-time recipient of the ICMR Award.
Prof. Dhiman has made a global mark as well. He served as the President of the International Society on Hepatic Encephalopathy and Nitrogen Metabolism (ISHEN) from 2012 to 2019, and as Secretary of the Indian National Association for the Study of Liver (INASL) from 2016 to 2018. Currently, he serves as President of INASL. He also held the role of Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology (JCEH) for a decade (2011–2020) and was Governor of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) for six consecutive years (2011–2017).
With his new role at AIIMS Patna, Prof. Dhiman is expected to bring his expertise, leadership, and vision to strengthen the institute’s medical and research ecosystem.
