Renowned Dental Surgeon Recognised for Lifelong Contributions
New Delhi: Dr. Anil Kohli, a distinguished dental surgeon, has been awarded the prestigious Excellence in Medicine Award by the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) during its 111th Foundation Day celebrations. The honour recognises his outstanding and lifelong dedication to the medical field, particularly dentistry.
Stellar Academic and Professional Journey
Dr. Kohli began his career at King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, specialising in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics. He earned numerous accolades including the Gold Medal for Best House Surgeon and the S.S. Bhatnagar Award for academic excellence.
First Dental Surgeon to Receive Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan
For his exemplary service to the nation, Dr. Kohli was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005, making him the first and only dental surgeon in India to receive both honours. He also received the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award in 2007.
Honoured with Honorary Military Rank and Served Nation’s Leaders
Dr. Kohli was bestowed the honorary rank of Brigadier in the Army Dental Corps by the late President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Over two decades, he served as the dental surgeon to several Presidents and Prime Ministers of India.
Transformative Leadership in Dental Education
As former President of the Dental Council of India (DCI), Dr. Kohli spearheaded reforms in dental education, enhancing supervision and regulatory measures to improve teaching and clinical practice nationwide.
Academic Contributions and Global Engagement
He has served as Dean of Dental Sciences at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and held positions on boards of studies at multiple premier universities. Internationally, Dr. Kohli was an Adjunct Professor at Tufts University and Boston University in the USA, and is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons in Glasgow, England, and Edinburgh.
Research and Editorial Work
Dr. Kohli has published over 40 research papers in national and international journals. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Journal of Dental Research and represents Asia in IFEA, a global endodontics body.
