BENGALURU: The Dean, Research and seniormost faculty member of the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) Dr Janardhan Reddy has been appointed new interim director of the internationally known mental health and neuro sciences institute. He is senior professor, Psychiatry, NIMHANS, and an acclaimed specialist on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He heads the OCD clinic at NIMHANS, which is involved in clinical services, postgraduate training and research.
The incumbent interim Director, Prabha Chandra’s term ends this month on completion of 65 years. Reddy will remain the interim director until the Central government appoints a regular and full-term director of the institute.
Chandra had succeeded the former full term director Dr Prathima Murthy on March 14 this year and will retire on August 31. Reddy completed his MBBS from the Government Medical College, Ballari in 1986 and obtained his MD degree in psychiatry from NIMHANS in 1991. His areas of specialization include OCD and related disorders, bipolar disorders and clinical psychopharmacology.
According to sources, 14 candidates had applied for the post of director, NIMHANS and their interviews were conducted by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in July.
The director’s appointment is approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
Out of the 14 candidates, eight are from NIMHANS, the rest of applicants are from prestigious institutes from across the country, such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal, The Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi, the Trauma and Emergency Care Centre (TECC), Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry.
