DW BUREAU / Chandigarh   PGI Dean (Research) Prof AK Gupta who is popularly known as 'Teacher of Teachers' will be superannuating on Friday after serving the PGI, Chandigarh and the AIIMS, New Delhi for over three decades. Dr Gupta has to his credit the unique distinction of being the longest serving Medical Superintendent cum Professor and Head, Department of Hospital Administration across the nation considering his association with PGIMER Chandigarh dating back to January 1996. He is a fellow of academy of medical sciences (FAMS) and was awarded Commonwealth Medical Fellowship for one year in 1991-92, availed at University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. According to his colleagues in PGI, Prof Gupta's students of Hospital Administration trained at AIIMS (1988-1995) and PGI, Chandigarh (1996-2021) have attained among the highest professional positions such as Lieutenant Generals, Air Marshal, Director AIIMS, Professors and Heads of the Department of top Institutes of India. An alumnus of Government Medical College, Jammu, and All India Institute of Medical sciences, (AIIMS), New Delhi (1986), have worked with two best Institutions of India, AIIMS New Delhi and PGIMER, Chandigarh and brings on board multifaceted experience of over 33+ years as an Administrator-cum-Faculty Hospital Administration in varied areas in the health and hospital sector including health system strengthening, operations and management, tele-consultation, quality improvement and implementation of hospital/health Management Information System in two very best Medical Institutes of India, PGI Chandigarh and AIIMS, New Delhi. Equipped with Commonwealth Medical Fellowship for one year in 1991-92, availed at University of Liverpool, united Kingdom, Prof Gupta's multiple academic accomplishments include his being Short term Consultant to World Health Organization (SEARO), New Delhi, International Consultant to World Health Organization, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Maldives many times. Permanent Special invitee in Project Management Committee of PMMSY of GOI (2004-2010), also President of Academy of Hospital Administration, an apex association of Hospital Administrators in India from 2018-2020, Expert Member of Technical Evaluation Committee from 2005-2010 & Team Leader for Capacity Building Programme for senior functionaries under Pardhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), Government of India and Faculty for Management Development Programme for doctors working under National Rural Health Mission, MOH, Government of India. Prof Gupta's leadership has been instrumental in bringing rich laurels to the institute including PGIMER being awarded under the Centre'+ char(39) +'s '+ char(39) +'Kayakalp'+ char(39) +' programme with first prize in first Kayakalp competition and consecutively for three years for its efforts in promoting hygiene and health facilities; 'Best Hospital' for its contribution in the promotion of cadaver organ donation for four years in a row by National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), MOH, GOI; 'Cleanest Public Hospital in the country' during INDOSAN 2016 workshop by Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation & awarded by Hon'ble PM of India; "Skoch Order-of-Merit" for three of his projects: Tele-evidence, Improving hospital utilization by use of Information technology as a management tool and Promoting Eye Donation and Healthcare Excellence Award under the category "Most Effective Health Technology System" for developing software. Credited with highest scientific contribution in the discipline of hospital administration, Prof Gupta has 83 scientific papers published in national and international journals of high impact factor and citation index. He is one of the editors of a book published by Elsevier (USA) on hospital administration 'tilted. "Hospital Administration -- A problem solving approach" also. Besides, he has chaired scientific sessions in about 30 national level conferences and has been research guide in 44 thesis studies of post graduate students which resulted in the formulation of 'Hospital Infection Control Manual' and 'Hospital Disaster Plan' etc. Prof Gupta's personal commendations are equally laudable as he has been conferred with Honorary Paul Harris Fellowship of Rotary Club in August 2018; Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indus Foundation at the Indo Global Health Care Summit; State Award for meritorious public service by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in 2014; the award money of Rs 51,000 donated to the poor patient fund of PGIMER and Commendation Certificates for devotion to duty and rendering outstanding services by Chandigarh UT in 2000 and then again in 2006. His social commitments are also worth a mention considering him being the Chairman, Healthcare Committee, PHD Chambers, Mentor for 'Healthcare & Life Sciences' program of CII Chandigarh UT, premier industry bodies, Active Member of Rotary Club, Blood Bank Society, Punjab Red Cross and Lifeline. (editor@dailyworld.in)