Santokh Singh Anand

Santokh Singh Anand (9 November 1909 – 4 June 1996) was an Indian surgeon and medical educator known for his contributions to developing medical education and institutions in India. He was instrumental in establishing the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, and served as its first Director.

Early life and education Santokh Singh Anand was born on 9 November 1909 in Sibi, Baluchistan (present-day Pakistan). He completed his M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) at King Edward Medical College, Lahore, in 1932 and earned the Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) in 1939. In 1951, he was awarded fellowships from the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and the American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP). Dr. S. S. Anand, along with Dr. Tulsi Das and Dr. Pran Nath Chhuttani, proposed the concept of the institute. Fellowship of the Rockefeller Foundation (1961). Visiting professor at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith (1967).

He also contributed to medical organizations:

President, Association of Surgeons of India (1959) and its Thoracic Section (1960). Scientific Advisory Board of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). President, Selection Board of the Union Public Service Commission. Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University and Punjabi University.

In 1977, the Medical Council of India awarded Anand the Dr. B. C. Roy Award in the category of "Eminent Medical Teacher in Surgery".

Legacy S. S. Anand died on 4 June 1996. In 2009, the Association of Surgeons of India established the Prof. Santokh Singh Anand Endowment Lecture in his memory to honour his contributions to surgery and medical education.