During his tenure at CH, Bangalore he brought up the Orthopaedic centre to a high standard with excellent surgical results. He started joint replacement surgeries for the first time in this hospital and brought in many other technological improvements.

As an outstanding sportsman he has represented IAF in football and Command level in squash. As officer-in-charge sports he developed many sports facilities for officers, men and their families. For disabled patients he took keen interest in modernising Hospital Physio Occupational Centre.

For distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander VK Gupta.

Wing Commander Gokul Nath (15156) Med commissioned in Oct 77, obtained his MD (Gen Med) from AFMC Pune in 1982. Recognised early for his professional competence, he was selected for further specialisation in Nephrology at a time when service hospitals were setting up Dialysis Units all over the country. On his acquiring DM degree in Nephorology from renowned CMC, Vellore, he was posted to Air Force Command Hospital Bangalore in 1984. Since then he has devoted himself to develop a Nephrology Centre of excellence at CHAFB. The Haemodialysis Unit started by him has gradually built up adequate functional capacity to treat all referrals from Service hospitals far and wide.

His increasing clientele of end stage renal diseases, his concern for suffering patients and his desire to provide a more lasting cure prompted him to take up a case for transplant centre at CHAFB. Having overcome the initial reluctance from his superiors, with single minded determination, persuasion, attention to every detail of infrastructure requirements, he succeeded in getting the license for renal transplantation in a record time in Jun 98. The number of transplants performed have since steadily increased and now CHAFB has become one of the most favoured centres for Dialysis as well as renal transplant in service.

For this singular achievement of far reaching benefit to Defence personnel and for distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Gokul Nath.

Group Captain Jayanta Kumar De (12250) Med was commissioned on 21 Nov 1969. After serving in various Air Force units, he was selected to undergo specialisation in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which he completed with Flying colours in 1977. He has served in almost all Air Force Hospitals as a Gynaecologist of repute. Recognising his professional competence, he was handpicked to become a reader in the Deptt. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune from 1989 to 1994. For his devotion to duty and professional commitment, he was awarded Commendation by the CAS in 1980 and by AOC-in-C, TC IAF in l996.

Group Captain De was posted to CHAFB in Oct 94, where as Head of Deptt. of Gynaecology, he spearheaded modernisation of antenatal gynaecological care by incorporating new equipments and technique. With single-minded determination he persued the setting up of fertility clinic and was responsible for bringing joy into the life of many hitherto childless parents. This achievement was attained with the available resources, which is creditable considering the cost involved in starting and running fertility clinics. Being a dedicated teacher he headed the Academic and Training Deptt of CHAFB, Bangalore and due to his relentless persuasion of the Karnataka University authorities, recognition for post-graduate training to CHAFB was restored. This effort has had far reaching benefits and has paid rich dividends by the way of training many specialists of all discipline for the Armed Forces. Despite many odds he has succeeded in delivering excellent professional gynaecological care to his patients, which has made him as one of the most sought-after gynecologists in the Armed Force today.

For his various meritorious achievements that have resulted in far reaching benefits to many defence personnel and their families and for distinguished service of a high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Jayanta Kumar De.

Wing Commander Deepak Rautray (16194) Med was commissioned in the Medical Branch in Aug 1980. He is presently posted to Air Force Command Hospital, Bangalore with effect from 20 Dec 1996, as the Oncosurgeon.

In these five years, he has successfully established the Malignant Diseases Treatment Centre at this Hospital. He has raised the Centre to its present state of excellence single handedly, without the services of any medical or Radiation Oncologist, wherein it is rendering quality multimode Cancer care to hundreds of patients every year. All the cancer patients reporting to his centre are managed here itself, with commendable results and excellent clientele satisfaction. In recognition of his professional standing, he has been nominated to the executive council of the Bangalore Surgical Society and the Bangalore Oncology Group.

In Dec 2001, like a devoted soldier he responded to the needs of his country and the Armed Forces, by offering his services to the Govt of India, as a member of the Indian medical mission to Afghanistan (Mazar-e-Sharif) during the war (Op Enduring Freedom) in that country. There, as a Team leader of the only Indian presence at the strategically important Mazar, he was required to function under most trying and adverse circumstances not only at a professional level but also at a diplomatic and social level, to fulfill the aims of the Govt of India. With total disregard to the threat to his own life and limbs, he led his pioneering team with tremendously admirable professional skill, diplomatic maturity and social propriety, to do his country and the Armed Forces proud. This awesome task mandated the highest degree of dedication, devotion and professional excellence. His work has been greatly appreciated by the Governor of Balkh Provinces.

For distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Deepak Rautray.

Air Commodore Kevin Fernandez (12660) Med has been posted as Deputy Commandant, Command Hospital (CH), Air Force Bangalore since 01 Oct 04. During has career spanning 35 years, he had held various important appointments that includes medical officer at various Units and Senior Medical officer of premier flying station.

From the day he took over as Dy Comdt, his stress was on improving clientele satisfaction, both for the ex-servicemen and serving personnel. Infrastructure of existing ECHS polydinic was improved. All ECHS OPD services were brought under one roof and waiting time was reduced. His efforts were instrumental in getting land released for permanent ECHS poly-clinic in Army land near the hospital. Thus over 35,000 ECHS beneficiaries are today happier than ever before. As Senior Executive Medical Officer, he ensured Regimental Medical Officers of surrounding Armed Forces units provided better health care services to their clientele. His liaison with the local Army, Navy and Air Force one star Commanders has helped in improvement of patient facilities in the hospital in the form of water dispensers, colour TVs, landscaping the hospital, roadside pavements for patients and creating additional parking areas. An open door policy to all patients both outdoor and indoor and their kith and kin improved clientele satisfaction to a great level.

In CH, AF Bangalore, training of postgraduates, interns, nurses and medical assistants was closely monitored by the Deputy Commandant. 100% pass in all PG exams held by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) in April 05 and Probationary Nurses Exams in Oct 05 was achieved. Saving of Rs 1,80,000/- was achieved for the Air force by obtaining an exemption from RGUHS for Helinet - Internet connectivity through RGUHS portel to gain access to over 300 medical journals. Para Medical Training was stepped up and recognition was obtained for ten courses by paramedical board of Karnataka Govt., whereby Air Force medical assistants could now obtain diploma in various subjects unlike in other services and would have brighter rehabilitation prospects. The Air Force team was trained under the supervision of Deputy Comdt, which won the second prize at the Inter Services Nursing Competition held at AMC Centre, Lucknow in Nov 05 where seven teams participated.

His organizational ability was utilized for annual Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine conference held in Sept 05, hospital anniversary, Air Force day and AMC day. His liaison with Indian Space Research Organization went a long way in obtaining hardware gratis for the Air Force for setting up the Telemedidne hub at CH by 08 Oct 05 and completing phase-1 connectivity with remote Air force bases and CH for specialist consultancy. His untiring effort to get going the E- medical education through telemedidne is praiseworthy.

His hard work, commitment, dedication and pleasant interpersonal relationship went a long way in winning the Raksha Mantri Trophy in Nov 05 for the best CH in the country.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Air Commodore Kevin Fernandez.