In a landmark development for medical education in India, the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) has officially announced the commencement of its DM (Doctorate of Medicine) in Medical Genetics program starting this academic year. With this launch, MAMC secures its position as the eighth institution in India to offer this highly specialized super-specialization.
The introduction of the course comes at a time when the global medical landscape is shifting rapidly toward precision medicine and genomic therapeutics.
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow pioneered the DM Medical Genetics program in 1990. However, there was a stark 24-year gap before another Indian institute initiated a super-specialization course in the field.
The momentum has shifted significantly in the past 12 years, with six more institutes launching their own programs. By becoming the eighth institute to join this league, MAMC is helping to address the historical shortfall of formally trained clinical geneticists in the country.
Admission and Academic Structure
For each academic cycle, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has sanctioned two seats. Prospective candidates will be selected based on their performance in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Super Specialty (NEET SS).
The DM program is led by two of the most distinguished names in the field—Director Professor (Dr.) Seema Kapoor and Professor & Head of Department (Dr.) Amit Gupta. The academic ecosystem is bolstered by a team of three faculty members and five scientists.
Infrastructure
What sets the MAMC program apart is its comprehensive, state-of-the-art diagnostic and research infrastructure. The department is equipped to handle a broad spectrum of genetic testing, ensuring that students gain hands-on experience with both traditional and next-generation technologies.
The facility boasts a full suite of genomic tools, including:
- Cytogenetics
- Sanger Sequencing
- Next-Generation Sequencing
- Oxford Nanopore Sequencer
- TMS & GCMS
- Newborn Screening
MAMC’s elevation to a DM-granting institution in Medical Genetics is a natural progression of its established track record in the field. The college is already recognized for its robust and highly successful Newborn Screening (NBS) program, which serves as a cornerstone for the early detection and management of inborn errors of metabolism.
MAMC also operates as a designated Center of Excellence (COE) for rare diseases under the National Rare Disease Policy (NRDP). This COE status means that incoming DM residents will be stepping into an active clinical environment already equipped to manage and treat complex, rare, and genetic conditions.
