Chandigarh : February 28 : After a successful career spanning almost 32 years, Prof. Neelam Varma, Head, Department of Hematology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, retired today i.e. on 28th February, 2021. She joined the Department of Hematology as an Assistant Professor in 1989 and rose to become Head of Department in 2006. She was also the chairperson -Pathology (Group ‘C’) Departments, from 2013-2016.
Under Prof. Varma’s headship, the Hematology Department progressed greatly with many new tests, automation and computerization facilities being introduced. She established the facilities for diagnosis and monitoring of hematological disorders by cytogenetic, molecular genetics and flow cytometric analyses, in the department. She also brought about expansion of the department in terms of strength of faculty, technical staff and secretarial staff. DM Hematopathology course (2nd of its kind in the country) was started in her tenure in 2011, most of her students are holding positions of eminence within the country and abroad.
Prof. Varma’s research interest included hematopoietic stem cell disorders, i.e. leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinemia (PNH) and she has published more than 340 articles in national and international journals and 24 chapters in books. She has received many honors and awards; and is a member of various scientific societies and has been President of the Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in 2017-2018.
Prof. Reena Das will now be heading the Department of Hematology.
