Dr Dilip Mhaisekar, the man who with his vision brought total change to the system of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor now has taken over as Director of Medical Education and Research (DMER) of Maharashtra. It is expected that he would steer the projects or themes introduced by his predecessor ‘Padma Shri’ Dr T P Lahane and also try to provide new dimensions to the medical education in the State. Dr Lahane who has introduced several changes to the functioning of DMER demitted office on June 30. Till the end of his tenure, Government did not appoint anybody in his place.

 

The speculations about the name of Dr Mhaisekar were doing rounds much before the retirement of Dr Lahane. But Government has maintained secrecy about his name. Dr Ajay Chandanwale, Joint Director was looking after the responsibility of Dr Lahane after his retirement. Surprisingly, the tradition of handing over the charge was not followed. Dr Lahane did not hand over the charge to anybody. Today the Department has come up with the letter of appointing Dr Mhaisekar as Director of Medical Education. Dr Dileep Mhaisekar is a well-known Pulmonologist and was working as acting Dean of Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded.

 

It was Dr Mhaisekar who came with the proposal of changing MUHS act as several things of the act have become redundant. According to sources close to Mantralaya and people from medical fraternity, Dr Mhaisekar would surely take the medical education in state at a different peak. It was Dr Mhaisekar who for the first time has introduced the ranking system for the colleges with health sciences courses. He along with his colleague Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Mohan Khamgaonkar has brought competency based medical education. Dr Mhaisekar’s appointment is being hailed by the people from all strata.