Department of Pathology Started in January, 1993 Recruitment Rules for Faculty

Dr. Harsh Mohan has been serving as founding Professor & Head, Department of Pathology at Govt. Medical College, Chandigarh since 1^st Jan 1994 todate. He is a Gold Medallist from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and did his MBBS in 1977 and MD (Pathology) in 1980, both from PGIMS, Rohtak. Subsequently, he served on the faculty of his Alma Mater in various capacities before moving to Chandigarh as Professor & Head of Pathology department in GMCH Chandigarh which, as an able team leader, he developed from scratch. The department under his stewardship is presently running courses of MD and DNB Pathology and BSc (MLT) as well. He has also held the additional charge as the Medical Superintendent of the 500-bedded Government Medical College Hospital, Chandigarh for 2 years (Dec 2005 to Dec 2007) and Professor-Incharge Academics of the Medical College for one year (Jan 2007 to Jan 2008).

Dr Mohan has published 242 scientific papers in biomedical journals (that includes 129 in international journals), attended and participated in 130 conferences/CMEs, delivered guest lectures at several academic fora including several at International level and presented 5 scientific orations. He has contributed chapters to half a dozen books and is the sole author of 5 well known textbooks in pathology for medical and dental students running in multiple editions which are widely read all over India as well as in some other countries. In 2006, two of his textbooks were conferred national award for excellence in the field of medical, technical and scientific category by the Federation of Indian Publishers.  He has been conferred the national award for Excellence in teaching in 2008 at Belgaum.

 He is a well known surgical pathologist, with special areas of interest in gynaecologic, breast and dermatologic pathology. Dr Mohan is a reviewer for various national and international journals, referee for ICRETT research projects of UICC, Geneva, and referee for National Book Trust, Delhi, India. He has been conferred honorary Membership (MNAMS,1998) and Fellowship of National Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS, 2010), India, Fellowship of Indian College of Pathologists (FICPath, 1999), Life Fellowship of UICC, Geneva (FUICC, 2001) and is a Founding Fellow of Dermatopathology Society of India (1997). He attended ICRETT Cancer Fellowship in Holland in 2000, was a Visiting Professor to University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA, in 2006 and addressed Annual Convocation of Srilankan College of Pathologists in Colombo as their guest in 2005.  

Besides being examiner in various universities at undergraduate and postgraduate level including at PGI, Chandigarh and at AIIMS, Delhi, he has been associated with national medical academic bodies such as Inspector for Medical Council of India, Inspector for DNB Pathology in India, and Member of DNB (Pathology) Curriculum Committee.

He has successfully held the post of Editor-in-Chief of Indian Journal of Pathology & Microbiology for 5-year term (2003-07), an indexed official journal of IAPM, and President of Indian Association of pathologists and Microbiologists (2008). Currently, he is IAPM national coordinator for restructuring pathology education in India.

Dr. Uma Handa joined the department on 01.02.1993 as Demonstrator and has shown dedication and immense interest in Cytopathology. She is currently working as Professor in the Department. She has done a UICC Cancer Fellowship on Pap screenning. A number of publications in the National & International journals in her credit.

Dr. Rajpal Singh Punia joined the department on 04.08.1997 as Senior Lecturer  and is currently working as Professor. He is keen and reputed histopathologist. He has authored three books in Pathology. A number of publications in the National & International journals in his credit.

Dr. Anita Tahlan joined the department on 21.09.2001 as Senior Lecturer. Her field of interest is Haematology and Clinical Pathology. Mmany publications and presentations are included in her curriculum-vitae.

Dr. Anshu Palta joined the department on 18.10.2003 as Senior Lecturer. She is keenly interested in Hematology and Clinical Patholgy works.

Dr. Niti Singhal joined the department on 26.12.2007 as Assistant Professor. She is presently involved in reporting and research works in Cytology.

Dr. Amar Ranjan Singh joined the department on 21.10.2008 as Assistant Professor. He is presently looking after Postmortem   Specimens nd is involved in research works.

In Jan. 1994 the department of Pathology started functioning independently for all activities including investigative services, teaching and training of students. Since, then the department has progressed rapidly in terms of expansion in services, recruitment of able faculty members & paramedical & supportive staff and installation of sophisticated and modern equipments.

SERVICES

The department has started a post graduate research lab. In addition, range of various immunohistochemical stains have been added which now help in further making a more specfic diagnosis. For better services a fully Automated Tissue Processor, a semi-automated stainer and a Cryostat have been added.

RESEARCH & TRAINING

Activities :

1. The department successfully hosted the 1^st Zonal CME(IAPM-NW) Chapter on 11^th & 12 ^th October, 2002.

2. The editorial office of the IAPM has shifted to the department, when Dr. Harsh Mohan was elected Editor-in-Chief of IJMP in 2002.

3. Guest Lectures by Dr. Osma from Holland, Dr. Rakesh Gupta from UK & Dr. Ramesh Chandra Arya from Kuwait. Prof. Prem Chopra from AIIMS, New Delhi.

4. Fifth Edition(International) 'Textbook of Pathology' by Dr. Harsh Mohan.

TEACHING & TRAINING

MD Pathology- First batch(2001) of three MD Pathology students joined the department and started undergoing a very well organized vigorous teaching programme & passed out in January, 2003. Presently there are 11 post graduate students in the department.

MBBS - Teaching of undergraduate students is done by modern methods by use of audio-visual aids, projection slides, seminars and group discussions.

MLT- The training of paramedical students of vocational MLT & Diploma MLT continued. In addition a more active role is being played by the department by participation in dual model of teaching.

Others : The department participates in training of in-service doctors from Punjab Health Corporation. The department conducts regular weekly biopsy-cytology round with clinicians and the staff participates in staff clinical meetings. Intradepartmental discussions on difficult cases, journal club & seminars are held weekly. The faculty & Senior residents are encourged to pursue research work & publications and present their work at Zonal, Regional & National level conferences.

Departmental Library : Rich departmental library having more than 100 books of recent edition on various sub-specialties.

Museum : The department has one of the best organized and modern museum. The museum has about 1000 specimen (mounted & wet). Another unique feature include a display of education material such as numerous line drawings of specimen, charts of pathogenesis, similies of common terms used in pathology and a gallery full of portraits of famous pathologists with their major contribution tracing the history of patholgy.

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS IN LAST ONE YEAR

1. Malik A, Narang S, Handa U, Sood S. Multiple myeloma presenting as bilateral orbital proptosis. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2009 Sep-Oct;57(5):393-5. 

2. Handa U, Garg S, Mohan H, Garg SK. Role of fine-needle aspiration cytology in tuberculosis of bone. Diagn Cytopathol. 2010 Jan;38(1):1-4. 

3. Nanda A, Handa U, Punia RS, Mohan H. Fine needle aspiration in retroperitoneal Castleman's disease : a case report. Acta Cytol. 2009 May-Jun;53(3):316-8. 

4. Upender S, Mohan H, Handa U, Attri AK. Intraoperative evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast carcinoma by imprint cytology, frozen section and rapid immunohistochemistry.Diagn Cytopathol. 2009 Dec;37(12):871-5. 

5. Sood T, Handa U, Mohan H, Goel P. Evaluation  of aspiration cytology of ovarian masses with histopathological correlation. Cytopathology. 2009 Jun 4.  

6. Handa U, Chhabra S, Mohan H.Plasma cell tumours:cytomorphological features in a series of 12 cases diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology. Cytopathology. 2009 Mar 13.  

7. Khurana U, Handa U, Mohan H, Sachdev A. Evaluation of aspiration cytology of the liver space occupying lesions by simultaneous examination of smears and cell blocks. Diagn Cytopathol. 2009 Aug;37(8):557-63. 

8. Handa U, Garg S, Mohan H. Fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of abdominal TB : A review of 92 cases.. Trop Doct. 2009 Jan;39(1):30-2.  

9. Handa U, Dhingra N, Chopra R, Mohan H. Pleomorphic adenoma:Cytologic variations and potentialdiagnostic pitfalls. Diagn Cytopathol. 2009 Jan;37(1):11-5. 

10. Handa U, Chhabra S, Mohan H. Epidermal inclusion cyst: cytomorphological features and differntial diagnosis.  Diagn Cytopathol. 2008 Dec;36(12):861-3. 

11. Saini A, Harjai K, Mohan H, Punia RP, Chhibber S. Long-term flaxseed oil supplementation diet protects BALB/c mice against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Med Microbiol Immunol. 2009 Nov 17. [Epub ahead of print] 

12. Chhabra S, Mohan H, Bal A. Granulomas in association with neoplasm : a reaction or a different primary process ? J Postgrad Med. 2009 Jul-Sep;55(3):234-6.

13. Punia RPS, Dhingra N, Chopra R, Mohan H, Chauhan S. Lymphnode infarction and its association with lymphoma: a short series and literature review. NZMJ 2009:122(1289); 40-44.

14. Punia RP, Dhingra N, Chopra R, Mohan H, Huria A. Left –sided gastroschisis with meromelia of the limbs: a rare association. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2009;49 (1): 33-34.

15. Garg S, Punia RP, Basu S, Mohan H, Bal A. Comparison of needle autopsy with conventional autopsy in neonates. Fetal Pediatric Pathol 2009:28;139-50.

16. Handa U, Singhal N, Punia RS,Garg, Mohan H. Cytological features and differential diagnosis in a case of extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma; a case report. Acta Cytol 2009:53;704-06.