Srinagar, Feb 28: J&K Government Friday appointed Dr Samia Rashid as incharge principal Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, after retirement of Dr Parvaiz Ahmad Shah.
“Consequent upon the retirement on superannuation of Dr. Parvaiz Ahmad Shah, Principal, GMC, Srinagar on Feb 29, 2020, and in the interest of administration and patient-care, Dr. Samia Rashid, Professor (Head, Department of Medicine), GMC Srinagar shall look after the charge of the post of Principal, GMC, Srinagar with effect from March 1, 2020, in addition to her own duties till the post is filled up on regular basis,” reads an order issued by Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education.
Prof. Rashid has done her MBBS and MD from GMC Srinagar. Subsequently, she joined GMC as a faculty member and became head of medicine department.
She was appointed as Principal GMC Srinagar in April 2017 by State cabinet headed by then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, based on the recommendations of establishment cum selection committee. However, J&K High Court in April 2019 set aside the cabinet order.
During her earlier stint, the Super Speciality (SS) Hospital was made functional in addition to major upgradation in healthcare and academics in the GMC Srinagar. Also, super specialties in Cardiology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Neurology were started at SS hospital. She even streamlined the academic affairs of the undergraduate students of the GMC Srinagar.
She said GMC Srinagar is an institution that rests on very secure and strong foundations. “In the last nearly six decades it has the distinction of producing some of the best doctors who been recognized in various geographies across the globe for their professional competence, compassion, dedication and sheer hard work.It shall be my endeavor to continue to maintain the high standards of academic excellence that the college has been known for,” she said.
“Having said that ,there still is a lot of work to be done to keep pace with the rapid developments that are taking place in the field of medical research and technology.In this connection in the coming months, I plan to identify the areas where we need to focus.
Given the limited bandwidth of colleagues, who are busy teaching and treating patients, and of course the availability of resources we will need to prioritize these actions and closely monitor their progress,” she said.
“I am planning to initiate closer interaction with other institutions in the field of medical sciences and health care, particularly rural GMCs, SKIMS and the Department of Health Services, to make coordinated efforts towards streamlining and upgrading the health care sector in the valley. We need to look at in a holistic manner and endeavor to achieve better synergy by working closely together,” she said.
“Also, it shall be my endeavor to bring openness and transparency in our working and to that end I would encourage faculty and students to share their views on how to accomplish this. To initiate a free, open and transparent communication I intend to set up regular interaction amongst us,” she said.
