Karnal: Dr. Vikas Bhatia has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor ofPandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay University of Health Sciences, Karnal, bringing renewed hope that the long-awaited institution will soon begin functioning. Prof. (Dr.) Bhatia previously served as the Executive Director ofAIIMSBibinagar from May 8, 2020, to May 7, 2025, completing his five-year tenure. His appointment is expected to raise the university’s operational commencement, as the recruitment of faculty members is currently in progress. Dr. Bhatia has also been the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, since May 2021 and was the founder Dean of AIIMS Bhubaneshwar from 2012 to 2019. At AIIMS Hyderabad, he has been instrumental in commencing the OPD and tele-consultation facilities, developing 19 various departments, labs, and ICUs, and executing the indoor and COVID care services. During his tenure at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, he also started 58 academic courses, such as MBBS, MD, and B.Sc. & M. Sc (Nursing) & other academic activities and initiated a Journal as Chief Editor, “Indian Journal of Community & Family Medicine” under the aegis of MoHFW. Dr. Vikas Bhatia is an alumnus of MGIMS, where he completed his MBBS and MD in Community Medicine and is among the few privileged post-graduate students to earn his degree in 1989. Dr. Bhatia has served in PGIMER, Chandigarh, UCMS, Delhi, and the Government Medical College, Chandigarh, where he played a key role in establishing the Department of Community Medicine and Urban Health Training Centre in particular. During his mission of about 3½ years as National Professional Officer in UNICEF, he made a significant contribution with the Government of Uttar Pradesh in Immunization, creating a network of Health & Nutrition Resource Centres, introducing new vaccines of Japanese Encephalitis, SNCU, NRC, and others to strengthen maternal and child health. Dr. Bhatia has been recognised and honoured by UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and other organizations. With over 155 publications, authoring 2 books, publishing 52 funded project reports/documents, and making over 300 presentations, he has made enormous contributions in academics & public health at the national and international level. He has travelled extensively in India and abroad and is fully committed to improving the health care of the underprivileged community in the country. He has dedicated his work and contribution to his mentor and teacher, Badi Behen Ji, Late Dr. Sushila Nayar, as she carries her vision in reaching out to the poor and enhancing the academic environment in India. According to The Tribune, although the university building has been completed, its activities have remained stalled due to the absence of a Vice-Chancellor and teaching staff. The project, a flagship initiative of former Chief Minister and current Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, was first announced on December 13, 2014, soon after he assumed office. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on February 12, 2019, in Kurukshetra.