During the recent Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu bestowed the prestigious Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) upon Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai (Retd.), SM, VSM. This honor acknowledges her distinguished service and exceptional contributions throughout her military career.
Surgeon Vice Admiral Sahai, who retired as the Director General Medical Services (Navy), achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the eighth woman officer in the Indian Armed Forces to rise to a three-star rank and the fourth to hold the rank of Surgeon Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy.
She began her illustrious career after being commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1986, following her graduation from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune. Specializing in Pathology, she further advanced her expertise by obtaining a super-specialization in Oncopathology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.
Over nearly four decades of service, Surgeon Vice Admiral Sahai held numerous prestigious academic and leadership roles. She served as Professor and Head of the Department of Laboratory Sciences at both the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) in New Delhi and the Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment. Additionally, she was a Professor at the Department of Pathology at AFMC, Pune, where she made significant contributions to military medical education and the field of pathology.
In a historic achievement, she became the first woman Commandant of the Army Medical Corps Centre & College in Lucknow before her appointment as Director General Medical Services (Navy). Furthermore, she broke ground as the first woman officer elected as Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps, marking a significant step forward in the history of the Armed Forces Medical Services.
Her dedication to medical education was recognized internationally when she was awarded the prestigious Fellowship from the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) in Philadelphia during 2013–14, highlighting her commitment to improving medical education.
In addition to the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Surgeon Vice Admiral Sahai’s accolades include the Sena Medal (SM), the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), and commendations from the Chief of the Army Staff and the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Western Command), underscoring her exemplary professional service.
The conferment of the AVSM highlights Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai’s outstanding leadership, pioneering achievements, and lasting impact on military healthcare, medical education, and the Armed Forces Medical Services.
