An introduction to the department

A brief history of Department of Medicine, Assam Medical College and Hospital (1948-2025)

As Berry White Medical School (Est. 1900) was upgraded to Assam Medical College and Hospital on 3rd November, 1947, a new era of Medical Education started in North East India. It was in 1948, that the Department of Medicine was set up under the leadership of Prof P. N. Taneja, MD, MRCP, DCH (Head of Department 1948-52), followed by Prof B.H.P. Pai, (HOD 1952-56) (Retired Professor of Madras Medical College) and Prof M.V. Chari (HOD 1956-60). Post Graduate courses were introduced in 1960 under the leadership of Prof M.N. Bhattacharyya (HOD 1960-75) and the first batch of post graduate students qualified in 1963. With a humble beginning of 12 graduate students who qualified in MBBS in May,1952, 22 in December,1952 and 2 post graduate students who qualified as MD Medicine in 1963, we now have more than 200 numbers of MBBS graduates yearly and 25 numbers of MD Medicine students enroll each year.

The Department of Medicine flourished in the 70’s and 80’s under the guidance of Prof A. M. Rahman, MRCP (Edinburgh), Prof B.M. Goswami, FRCS,FICA, FIAMS, Prof D. N. Chakraborty and Prof D. N. Patwari, who were all trained abroad and emphasised on Bedside clinics. In the two tenures of headship of Prof H.P Baruah, MBBS, FRCP, FICP, FCCP, FIAMS (1988-90, 1992-94),a legendary teacher and physician, the department reached new heights of recognition and stature. He was a member of Fellow of Indian Academy of Medical Specialities (FIAMS). It was at this time that API (Association of Physicians of India), Assam Chapter was established. The virtues and tradition set in those days became the backbone of the department and was further taken ahead by two personalities who were MD Medicine from AMCH and further trained in the UK, namely Prof M .C .Dutta (1994-96) and Prof B. Doley (1996-2006).

The recent times have been very exciting for the department. The department moved to the new MEDICINE COMPLEX building in 2006. Prof G. N. Gogoi (HOD 2006-2007), Prof B. Laskar (2007-2008) and Prof R. K. Kotokey (2009-2012) took the department towards a new direction. It was in 2008 that an eight bedded ICU was started in the department of Medicine.

In 1963, the first batch of MD Medicine post graduate students passed and they were Dr Prafulla Chandra Barua and Dr Amal Chandra Barua. Since then, nearly 500 MD Medicine students have passed out from this Department. The number of post graduate seats also gradually increased from two to ten, and then twelve. This was followed by tremendous change in the first tenure (2012-2015) of headship of Prof Sanjeeb Kakati, under whom the first MCI Inspection of Post Graduate studies took place after its inception in 1960. It was after this MCI Inspection that the numbers of post graduate seats were increased to twenty-three in the year 2017(and further increased to twenty-five in 2020 in his second term).

With the beginning of Young Diabetes Registry (YDR), the Department of Medicine started to show tremendous growth in the field of research work in Upper Assam. A dedicated Immunology Laboratory was set up with DBT grant with two fluorescent microscopes. The YDR gave birth to many more ICMR funded projects. The department procured new instruments like two colour Doppler Ultrasonography machines, Upper GI Endoscope, Bone Mineral densitometry (DEXA), -80 degree refrigerators. This tradition was carried forward by Prof A.K. Das (HOD 2015-2018) who had several projects under DBT and ICMR in the field of Hepatology and Gastroenterology. Other faculties of the department were also encouraged to take up research work and the large number of publications during the recent years is a testament of this research oriented outlook of Prof S. Kakati and Prof A.K. Das. The second term of Prof Sanjeeb Kakati (2018-2020) saw a significant change in the infrastructure of the department. 60 bedded ICU, 10 bedded geriatric ward, Departmental Library with e-library and internet connectivity, Infectious Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) Office, Diabetes research lab with Anthropometric study facilities, DEXA room, Departmental museum and renovation of Faculty rooms were taken place during this period. There was also Undergraduate and Post Graduate MCI Inspection which resulted in the increase of seat capacity in both these courses.

The most challenging time in the history of the department was probably in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only the focus of the people of Dibrugarh was on the Department of Medicine, but the whole of Upper Assam and nearby states looked up to this Department for treatment, updates, and guidance. The challenge was taken up and for two years, during three – four waves of COVID-19, this department responded with persistence and dedication. The result was treatment of more than ten thousand cases in a planned protocoled way, improvement of infrastructure, hundred percent bedside oxygen supply, ten times increase in ICU beds and tremendous improvement in manpower training.

The mantle of the department was taken further by Prof Dipen Kr. Bhattacharyya and Prof Anjana Devee, who brought the academic culture back in the middle of the COVID Pandemic. This was followed by new challenges of the post COVID -19 era under the leadership of Prof Ajit Kumar Pegu. A new JE block with ICU was set up in 2022. A Departmental Skill lab and Departmental Archive was also established along with a Biobank and Diabetic Laboratory. The Departmental Library was also upgraded with a large collection of books and journals. Online Journals were also added in the library with adequate computers and free Wi-Fi.

Over the last 75 years the Department of Medicine has evolved tremendously with seven independent units, Cardiology, Nephrology, Neurology departments, Geriatric ward, and 60 bedded ICU. It has also several super-speciality OPDs running like Rheumatology Clinic, Diabetes Clinic, Hepatology Clinic, and Haematology Clinic on special weekdays. The Hemophilia Clinic was initiated by Prof Sanjeeb Kakati and is giving service to many needy persons with Hemophilia. The academic atmosphere is enriched with regular Seminars, Journal Clubs, Case presentations, Interdisciplinary meets, Death reviews and Integrated Classes. Several national and state level Conferences have been organised by the Department of Medicine. The Department also houses the Headquarters of API Assam Chapter and Indian Rheumatology Association, Assam Chapter. They have also been publishing the Official Journal of API Assam Chapter, namely “Assam Journal of Internal Medicine” biannually for last 11 years, whose founding editor was Prof. Sanjeeb Kakati.

From April, 2025, Prof. Prasanta Dihingia has taken over the charge of HOD, Department of Medicine.

Left to right :First Row -Dr. Anupam Dutta , Dr. Mitraa Shyam, Dr. S.L Das , Dr. Juma Das , Dr.R.M. Doley

Second Row -Dr. R. K. Dhanowar, Dr. A. K. Das, Dr. P.K. Dihingia, Dr. A.K. Pegu, Dr. S. M. Baruah, Dr. P. K. Dutta

Standing - Dr. Rohini Kumari Pegu ,Dr. Anwesha Phukan, Dr Sabir Islam , Dr. Suramita Chanda , Dr Tanvee Yusuf ,Dr. Amit Kumar, Dr. Lucymoni Tayung , Dr. Pran Krishna Bharali, Dr. Kashyapi Lahan, Dr. Udayan Borborah, Dr. Apurba Dutta, Dr. Anirban Borah, Dr. Liza Hazarika, Dr. Bidisha Dangaria

HOD List (Till Date)

Latest Faculty Details :

Sl. No.	Name	Designation	Qualification	E-mail	Photo
1	Dr. Sanjeeb Kakati	Professor & Principal	MBBS, MD (Med.)	drsanjeeb_kakati @yahoo.co.in
2	Dr. Prasanta Dihingia	Professor & Head	MBBS, MD (Med.)	drprasantadihingia @gmail.com
3	Dr. Anup Kumar Das	Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	anupkrdas5 @gmail.com
4	Dr. Ajit Kumar Pegu	Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	drakpegu @rediffmail.com
5	Dr. S.L. Das	Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	drsubhalakshmidas @gmail.com
6	Dr. R.K. Dhanowar	Associate Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	rddhanowar643 @gmail.com
7	Dr. S.M. Baruah	Associate Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	baruahsmb @gmail.com
8	Dr. Juma Das	Associate Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	drjdas16 @rediffmail.com
9	Dr. P.K. Dutta	Associate Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	drpranjaldutta @rediffmail.com
10	Dr. R.M. Doley	Associate Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	drrimamonidoley @gmail.com
11	Dr. Anupam Dutta	Associate Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	dranupamdutta80 @gmail.com
12	Dr. Daisy Doley	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.), DM (Rheumatology)	daisydoley.28 @gmail.com
13	Dr. Shekhar Jyoti Gogoi	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	shekhargogoi23 @gmail.com
14	Dr. Apurba Dutta	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	apurba.amc01 @gmail.com
15	Dr. Mitraa Shyam	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	mitraashyam @gmail.com
16	Dr. Rohini Kumari Pegu	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	rohinipegu91 @gmail.com
17	Dr. Arniban Borah	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	arnibanborah89 @gmail.com
18	Dr. Suramita Chanda	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	suramitachanda16 @gmail.com
19	Dr. Lucymoni Tayung	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	drlucymonitayung @gmail.com
20	Dr. Prankrishna Bharali	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	moinateok91 @gmail.com
21	Dr. Kashyapi Lahan	Assistant Professor	MBBS, MD (Med.)	kashyapi2015 @gmail.com
22	Dr. Udayan Borborah	Registrar	MBBS, MD (Med.)	uborborah @gmail.com
23	Dr. Amit Kumar	Registrar	MBBS, MD (Med.)	amitkumar.ak292 @gmail.com
24	Dr. Bidisha Dangaria	Registrar	MBBS, MD (Med.)	dangariabidisha @gmail.com
25	Dr. Anwesha Phukan	Registrar	MBBS, MD (Med.)	anweshaphukan1995 @gmail.com
26	Dr. Liza Hazarika	Registrar	MBBS, MD (Med.)	lizahazarika581 @gmail.com
27	Dr. Tanvee Yusuf	Registrar	MBBS, MD (Med.)	yusuftanvee @gmail.com
28	Dr. Sabir Islam	Registrar	MBBS, MD (Med.)	sabirislam @gmail.com

OPD, Emergency & Indoor Services Schedule

UNIT - I

UNIT - II

UNIT - III

UNIT - IV

UNIT - V

UNIT - VI

Faculty Achievements

Prof. Sanjeeb Kakati

Publications:

1. “Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission - Myth or Reality.”
   Published in API update Assam 2024

2. “A Study of Insulin Resistance in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus”
   Published in International Journal of Scientific Research (ISR)

Prof. Prasanta Dihingia

Publication:

• “A Study Of The Complications Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In A Tertiary Care Hospital And Their Correlation With Hba1c Levels.”

Prof. Anup Kumar Das

Publication:

• “Study of the Microbiological Profile of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients of Cirrhosis of Liver with Ascites.”
  Published in International Journal of Scientific Research

Prof. Ajit Kumar Pegu

Publications:

1. “Brucellosis Presenting with Pancytopenia and Massive Splenomegaly: A Case Report from an Endemic Region.”
   Published in Mathews Journal of Case Reports

2. “Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome: A Systemic Approach to Management.”
   Published in Assam Apicon 2024 Update

Prof. Subhalakshmi Das

Projects:

• Principal Investigator: Antimicrobial Stewardship Program multicentric ICMR project (Antimicrobial Resistance)

• Co-Investigator: Lyme Disease Project in collaboration with Neurology

Publications:

1. An Enigmatic Case of Adult-Onset Still's Disease

2. Barriers to Home-Based Prophylaxis Therapy in Persons with Hemophilia (PWH)

3. Case Report: An Enigmatic Case of AL Amyloidosis

4. Diagnostic Performance of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POC-US) in Haemophilia Joint Health: A Comparative Study

5. A Prospective, Noninterventional Study to Evaluate the Impact of Emicizumab in the Management of Hemophilia A

Dr. Srimanta Madhab Baruah

Publications:

1. “Rheumatoid Arthritis in Pregnancy.”
   Published in API National Update 2024

2. “Case Based Study on Uveitis in HLA-B27 Positivity.”
   Published in API National Update

3. “Bronchial Asthma COPD Overlap Syndrome.”
   Published in API Update Assam 2024

4. “Multidrug Resistance in Tuberculosis.”
   Published in API Update Assam 2024

Dr. Rima Moni Doley

Publication:

• “Study of Serum Uric Acid Levels in Essential Hypertension and its Correlation with the Severity of Hypertension.”
  Published in International Journal of Public Health Research and Development

Dr. Rajesh Dhanowar

Publications:

1. “A Study of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.”
   Published in Assam Journal of Internal Medicine

2. “Association of Liver Fibrosis based on Transient Elastography and Quantitative HBsAg Levels in HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.”
   Published in European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine (EJCM)

3. “Clinical Study of Newly Diagnosed HIV Patients with Special Reference to Skin Manifestations and Its Correlation with CD4 Counts.”
   Published in International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 2024

4. “The Study of Estimation of Serum Fructosamine in Diabetic Patients with Special Reference to Hbe Disease.”
   Published in European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine (EJCM)

Dr. Juma Das

Publication:

• “Assessment of Vitamin D Levels in Patients of Chronic Liver Disease with Hepatic Encephalopathy.”
  Published in International Journal of Medical Science and Innovative Research (IJMSIR)

Dr. Pranjal Kumar Dutta

Publications:

1. “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Peripheral Neuropathy among Young Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Upper Assam: A Cross-Sectional Study.”
   Published in Journal of Diabetology

2. “A Study on the Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection by Rapid Urease Test in Patients Undergoing Upper GI Endoscopy for Dyspeptic in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Upper Assam.”
   Published in International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 2024

3. Non-autoimmune, lean diabetes in young people from Assam, India highlights the role of undernutrition in its aetiology – PHEnotypingNOrthEastINDianYoung type 2 diabetes (PHENOEINDY-2)

4. “Serum Vitamin D Level in Patients with Sepsis and its Correlation with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score: A Cross-sectional Study”
   Published in Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research

Dr. Anupam Dutta

Publications:

1. A Prospective, Noninterventional Study to Evaluate the Impact of Emicizumab in the Management of Hemophilia A

2. Barriers to Home-Based Prophylaxis Therapy in Persons with Hemophilia (PWH)

3. An Enigmatic Case of Adult-Onset Still's Disease

4. Diagnostic Performance of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POC-US) in Haemophilia Joint Health: A Comparative Study with MRI

Dr. Apurba Dutta

Publication:

• “Assessment of Vitamin D Levels in Patients of Chronic Liver Disease with Hepatic Encephalopathy.”
  Published in International Journal of Medical Science and Innovative Research (IJMSIR)

Dr. Rohini Kumari Pegu

Training:

• Participated in a training programme on “Comprehensive Care in Haemophilia” in October 2023 at Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Dr. Suramita Chanda

Training:

• Training on Primary Immune Deficiency Disorder under WHO and ICMR held in Shillong in October 2023

Publication:

• “Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission - Myth or Reality.”
  Published in API Update Assam 2024

Dr. Amit Kumar

Trainings:

1. National Training of Trainers (ToT) on Clinical Management of Dengue, Chikungunya and Japanese Encephalitis – November 2023, New Delhi

2. One Day State Level Integrated Workshop on Emergency Management and Treatment of Snake Bite, Dog Bite & Leptospirosis – September 2024, Guwahati

Dr. Udayan Borborah

Training:

• State Level Capacity Building Workshop for Management of Drug Resistant TB

Publications:

1. Study of Liver Function Tests in Patients Presented with Features of Congestive Cardiac Failure

2. Study on Interpretation and Analysis of Factors Associated with Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident

3. A Study of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients with Cirrhosis of Liver – A Hospital Based Study

Dr. Bidisha Dangaria

Publication:

• “Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition Estimation Using DEXA Scan in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.”
  Published in International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research

Dr. Anwesha Phukan

Trainings:

1. Training Workshop on Stroke Management by NIHR Global Health Research Group – 18.11.2023, Tezpur Medical College & Hospital

2. National Sickle Cell Disease Workshop by Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion – 7-9 February 2025, Kolkata

Publications:

1. “Clinical Profile of Antitubercular Drugs Induced Liver Injury in Patients Receiving Treatment under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program in a Tertiary Care Centre”
   Published in International Journal of Health Research and Medico-Legal Practice

2. Associate Editor – “Mushroom Poisoning: What Should We Know to Prevent Death from It?”
   Awareness Booklet by API Dibrugarh

Dr. Liza Hazarika

Training:

• Training Workshop on Stroke Management by NIHR Global Health Research Group – 18.11.2023, Tezpur Medical College & Hospital

Dr. Tanvee Yusuf

Observer-ship:

• Observer-ship in Medical Genetics at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad (15th February – 1st March 2025)

Publication:

• “Serum Vitamin D Level in Patients with Sepsis and its Correlation with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score: A Cross-sectional Study”
  Published in Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research

Dr. Sabir Islam

Publications:

1. “Correlation of Immunological Failure and Virological Failure in a Group of HIV Patients on 1st Line ART.”
   Published in International Journal of Health Research and Medico-Legal Practice

2. “Next Generation HIV Care.”
   Published in API Update Assam 2024

Departmental Activities :

Awareness Programs: 

1. Sensitisation Programme on Vaccine Preventable Diseases

   • Conducted by: NSPN WHO in collaboration with Community Medicine

   • Date: 09.05.2024

2. Hypertension Detection Camp & Awareness Program

   • Occasion: World Hypertension Day

   • Venue: Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh

   • Date: 17.05.2024

3. Interaction with Young Diabetes Patients

   • Occasions: World Diabetes Day & Children's Day

   • Venue: Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh

   • Date: 14.11.2024

4. Publication of Awareness Book on Mushroom Poisoning

   • Published by: Department of Medicine in collaboration with API, Dibrugarh Branch

   • Month: November 2024

5. Awareness Camp on World AIDS Day

   • Date: 01.12.2024

Achievements of Post Graduate Students :