Dr Randeep Guleria has been appointed as the new director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, replacing Dr MC Mishra, who headed the institute for three years.

Guleria is currently the head of the Department of pulmonary medicine at AIIMS.

53 doctors, including 35 from outside AIIMS, had applied for the post of the director of AIIMS. Three doctors made it to the final list including Guleria, head of department of paediatrics Dr V K Paul and Cardiology Professor Dr Balram Bhargava.

“My priority will be to take this institution to new heights in patient services, academics and research work. Also, focus will be on taking everyone along, be it doctors, nurses or students,” Guleria told The Times of India.

He joined AIIMS in 1992 as an assistant professor in the department of medicine. In a span of 23 years, he has held several positions in the institute, including that of professor and head of pulmonary medicine and sleep disorders.

Guleria served as personal physician to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for over three decades.

Guleria is a member of many key government panels, including a joint monitoring committee to monitor outbreaks of new diseases.

The hospital treats more around 12,000 people in its out-patient department every day.