It was a proud moment for the Indian Armed Forces when Brigadier Poonam Raj created history by becoming the first woman officer to take over the command of the General Hospital in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. This historic appointment holds special significance as Brigadier Poonam Raj is now leading a forward hospital in a challenging counter insurgency/counter terrorism environment. This shows that avenues are opening up for women officers to be posted in senior military roles.
Brigadier Poonam Raj is a highly regarded ENT surgeon. She is known for her expertise in cochlear implants and middle ear surgery. She has extensive experience working within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) which includes working in various administrative and clinical roles.
Director General of Military Health Services, Vice Admiral (Dr) Arti Sarin has praised Brigadier Raj for her unprecedented role. Dr Sarin emphasised the importance of Brigadier Poonam Raj’s leadership in managing a vital medical facility under challenging circumstances.
Some pictures of a formal ceremony of transfer of charge at the command have been circulated on social media in which Brigadier Poonam Raj is seen signing official documents and interacting with fellow officers.
