31 May : Surgeon Vice Admiral Vinod Kumar Saxena, AVSM, VSM will take over as Director General Medical Services (Navy) on 01 June, 2009. He graduated from JLN Medical College, Ajmer and did MS (Gen Surgery) from Mumbai University. He was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in the rank of Surgeon Sub Lieutenant, on 28 Oct 1971. He subsequently completed his super specialisation in Uro Surgery and is today, a renowned Uro Surgeon with some 250 Renal Transplants to his credit. Before taking over the reins of the Medical Branch of the Indian Navy, the Admiral has served as the Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces) and Director General (Org & pers) in the Office of the DGAFMS. He has Commanded INHS Asvini, the premier hospital of the Indian Navy. He was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 1997 and
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2007 for distinguished service of an exceptional order. He has remained a practicing physician at heart and continues to dear the teachings of Hippocrates, principal amongst which is, "Thou Shalt Not Harm Thy Patient”.