Dr Chitra Sarkar takes over as JIPMER Puducherry President

Chennai: Dr Chitra Sarkar has been appointed as the new President of the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry. Dr. Sarkar is an eminent academician, clinician, and researcher with more than four decades of distinguished service in teaching, clinical practice, and research. According to an UNI report, a nationally and internationally acclaimed pathologist, she has made pioneering contributions to the field of neuropathology, with special emphasis on neuro-oncopathology and molecular oncopathology. Also Read:JIPMER launches Capacity Building Unit under Mission Karmayogi Initiative Since 2018, Dr. Sarkar has also been serving as the President of AIIMS, Kalyani, where she has provided visionary leadership in institution building and academic development, a PIB release said. Recognized as one of India’s foremost clinician-scientists, Dr. Sarkar combines the skills of an astute pathologist, an inspiring teacher, and a world-class researcher. Her outstanding contributions have placed India firmly on the global map of pathology and neurosciences. She has been featured among the “100 Distinguished Women in Science in India” by the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru, and named as one of the three pioneering “Women in Neurosciences in India” in Neurology India (2019). Her academic achievements include more than 400 peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals (garnering over 11,000 citations with an h-index of 53) and 34 book chapters. She is also the editor of the acclaimed book Essentials of Diagnostic Surgical Neuropathology. Dr. Sarkar has played a key role in shaping global tumor classification systems through her work with the World Health Organization (WHO). She has co-authored chapters in the WHO Classification of CNS Tumors, the WHO Classification of Pediatric Tumors, and the WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuro-Endocrine Tumors. Notably, she is the only member from India in the CIMPACT-NOW consortium (Consortium to Inform Molecular and Practical Approaches to CNS Tumor Taxonomy) of the International Society of Neuropathology, which aligns brain tumor classification with the latest molecular discoveries. Following her appointment, Dr. Vir Singh Negi, Director of JIPMER, formally welcomed Dr. Sarkar and held an official meeting with her. He briefed her on the institute’s rich history, major milestones, and present operational framework, while also outlining the forthcoming developmental projects planned at JIPMER. Dr. Vir Singh Negi said, “The appointment of Dr. Chitra Sarkar as President marks a significant milestone for JIPMER. Her proven leadership and scientific excellence will further strengthen the institute’s role as a premier centre of medical education, research, and healthcare.” With her unparalleled expertise, pioneering research, and proven leadership at premier institutions, Dr. Chitra Sarkar’s presidency is poised to guide JIPMER into a new era of academic excellence, innovation, and institutional growth.