K K Talwar likely to be next PGI director

CHANDIGARH: Prof KK Talwar, head of department of cardiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, is likely to be the next director of PGI Chandigarh, replacing the present incumbent Prof SK Sharma, who retires on March 31.
Talwar’s name is understood to have been recommended for the post by a nine-member selection committee, which met in the national capital on Monday with Union health and family welfare minister Sushma Swaraj in the chair.
Talwar’s name is learnt to have been proposed by Swaraj and the other members unanimously agreed with her choice. Prof SK Sharma was present in the meeting as member secretary.
Sources said the selection committee’s recommendation now goes to the institute body, scheduled to meet on February 14, for ratification before it goes to the cabinet committee on appointments (CCA) for a final decision.
However Talwar’s appointment is almost certain since never before has a selection committee’s recommendation been rejected, the sources added.
Talwar, 57, worked for 11 years in the PGI - from January 1970 to October 1980 - during which he did his DM in cardiology. Later he joined AIIMS as assistant professor and has been there ever since.
He became professor in 1989 and also received the prestigious BC Roy award for 2000 in the category of eminent medical teacher. He became head of department of cardiology two years ago.