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 have more now than 200 numbers of MBBS graduates yearly and 25 numbers of MD Medicine student enrol 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. 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 UK, namely Prof M.C. Dutta (1994-96) and Prof B. Doley (1996-2006).
The second term of Prof Sanjeeb Kakati (2018-present) has seen a tremendous change in the infrastructure of the department. The 60 bedded ICU, initially meant for Japanese Encephalities patients was finally inaugurated and played a pivotal role in the management of COVID-19 pandemic in recent times. The 10 bedded geriatric ward was improved and the already existing 8 bedded Medicine ICU was upgraded with newer ventilators and many new machineries. The Departmental Library was upgraded with a large stock of new text books and Journals. With changing times and digitization of the world, internet facility in the department was started with free WiFi for all faculties and students of the department. Keeping with the new era of paper free world, an e-library was set up in the department which became the backbone of on-line classes and on-line MCI inspection in 2020. Infectious disease surveillance Program (IDSP) Office, which was set up for monitoring of infectious disease became the main office of COVID-19 management, regulating thousands of admissions, discharges and death review. Diabetes research lab with Anthropometric study facilities, DEXA room, Departmental museum and renovation of Faculty rooms were taken place during this period.
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