Armed Forces Medical College

The Department of Community Medicine at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) has a rich history that dates back to its establishment on 01 May 1948, under the leadership of Lt Col TD Chablani as the first Professor and Head of the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine. Since then, it has grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious departments at AFMC, playing a pivotal role in the education and training of medical students, physicians, and paramedical personnel in the field of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. The Department is renowned for its teaching, research, consultancy, and medico-social activities. It has achieved a unique distinction of being amongst the few Departments in a Medical College in India that has awarded four medical postgraduate degrees - MD (PSM), PhD, DIH, and DPH. Additionally, the dept intends starting fellowships in Prevention & Control of infectious diseases & Fellowship in Biomedical Research Methodology. The Department has trained more than 9000 MBBS students and awarded more than 250 MD degrees, one PhD degree, and almost 100 DPH and DIH degrees. Seven of its illustrious faculty members have risen to become the Commandant/Dean of the prestigious institution. Many civilian postgraduates from the Department have occupied senior positions in the Health Services of Maharashtra/ WHO /UN/ GOI highlighting the Department's significant contributions to the field of medicine.

The Department is also actively involved in several research projects under the aegis of the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and ICMR. It has conducted five WHO Fellowships in Entomology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Research Methodology, providing expert training in research projects, bioethics, and advanced statistical analyses for the college and the entire Armed Forces Medical Services. The Department coordinates the activities of the AIDS Control Organization of the Armed Forces, Armed Forces Central Epidemiological Surveillance Centre (AFCESC), Central Disease Registry (CDR) of the Armed Forces, and the Institutional Ethics Committee of AFMC. It also has three referral centres of the Armed Forces, the Entomology Division, which is a referral centre for all entomological matters pertaining to the Armed Forces, and the Public Health Laboratory, which is a referral centre for testing water quality, poison testing, and detection and monitoring of trace elements, the nutrition section which is a referral centre for matters on nutrition and well being. The Entomology division also maintains a live hatchery of vectors of public health importance, conducts trials of hygiene-chemicals for use in the Armed Forces. The public health museum of the department (Est 1944) is the biggest of its kind in South-East Asia and has constantly been upgraded and appreciated as an invaluable teaching aid by eminent medical personalities from India and abroad. The museum depicts various models and educational material of contemporary nature as well as advancements in health science over the years in the World with particular emphasis on the practice of public health and preventive medicine in the Armed Forces. The Department has also established a Wellness science centre,to increase awareness of these important issues among its students and the community. The department also has a vibrant Epidemiology, Ethics and Biostatistics Division which functions as a centre of excellence in research methodology and Biomedical research ethics. Overall, the Department of Community Medicine at AFMC is a world-class institution that continues to make significant contributions to the field of medicine through its exceptional education and training programs, cutting-edge research, and innovative public health initiatives.