Community and Family Medicine

Vision Statement

To be a leading centre of excellence in advancing health equity and well-being through innovative, evidence-based community-centred public health practice, medical education, and research, ensuring a healthier future for all.

Mission Statement

  • Teach and train future public health leaders and practitioners who are competent, compassionate, and committed to address the complex health challenges of diverse populations.
  • Conduct research that generates new knowledge, informs policy, and drives evidence-based public health interventions.
  • Provide exemplary community based services that promote health, prevent disease, and reduce health disparities through collaborative partnerships and advocacy.
  • Strengthen public health system through capacity building, technical assistance, and policy development.
  • Foster a culture of excellence and innovation that empowers communities to achieve optimal health and well-being.
  • Promote interdisciplinary collaborations with other institutions and departments to address complex health issues through a holistic and integrated approach.

Faculty

S. No. Photo Name & Qualification Designation Areas of Interest Email ID / ORCID ID
1 Dr. Anupam Parashar
M.D. Community Medicine		 Professor & Head
  • Primary Health Care
  • Non-Communicable Diseases
  • Health Promotion
  • RCH
 dr.anupam.cfm@aiimsbilaspur.edu.in

ORCID ID:
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2 Dr. Meenal Madhukar Thakare Dr. Meenal Madhukar Thakare
M.D. Community Medicine		 Additional Professor
  • Adolescent Health
  • Healthcare Delivery System
  • Mental Health
  • Social Medicine
 dr.meenal.cfm@aiimsbilaspur.edu.in

ORCID ID:
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3 Dr. Navpreet Dr. Navpreet
M.D. Social & Preventive Medicine
Diploma in Applied Epidemiology		 Associate Professor
  • Health Promotion
  • Epidemiology
  • Systematic Review
  • Translational Research
 dr.navpreet.cfm@aiimsbilaspur.edu.in

ORCID ID:
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4 Dr. Anupama Dhiman Dr. Anupama Dhiman
M.D. Community Medicine
Diploma in Applied Epidemiology		 Associate Professor
  • Maternal & Child Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Promotion
  • Medical Education
  • AI in Health Care
  • Operational Research
 dr.anupama.cfm@aiimsbilaspur.edu.in

ORCID ID:
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5 Dr. Nikita Sharma Dr. Nikita Sharma
M.B.B.S.
M.D. Community Medicine
DNB Community Medicine		 Associate Professor
  • Non-Communicable Diseases
  • Tobacco
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Vaccines
 dr.nikita.cfm@aiimsbilaspur.edu.in

ORCID ID:
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Services

In-patients Department:

  • Under Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Surveillance, the department carries out:
  • Coordinates with in-patient, emergency and out-patient departments to identify suspected VPD cases such as Acute Flaccid Paralysis, Fever with Rash, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Neonatal Tetanus and AEFI.
  • Proactive outreach to faculty and nursing officers to encourage reporting of suspected VPD cases.
  • Coordinates sample collection from suspected VPD cases at the institute.
  • Coordinates with the Office of District Immunization Officer, Bilaspur for transportation of samples to designated laboratories.
  • Coordinates with State WHO Consultant for logistics, sensitization and training of faculty, nursing officers and staff.
  • Maintains a comprehensive database of VPD cases at the institute.

Out-patients Department:

Immunization Clinic (AIIMS): Started on 17th Aug 2022. Services offered:

  • Zero doses (BCG, OPV, Hepatitis B) for all children delivered at AIIMS Bilaspur.
  • Immunization of under-5 children and adolescents under Universal Immunization Programme.
  • Immunization of pregnant women under Universal Immunization Programme.
  • Immunization of students and staff with optional vaccines.
  • Immunization of referred dialysis patients.
  • Counselling beneficiaries regarding vaccines and schedules.
  • Monitoring and management of AEFI.
  • Vaccine and logistics management.
  • Coordination for sensitization/training of nursing officers.
  • Participation in Pulse Polio campaigns.
  • U-Win portal used for registration.
  • Functional Cold Chain Point with eWIN for vaccine storage and handling.
  • Maintains comprehensive immunization database.

Lifestyle Management & Staff Wellness Clinic (AIIMS): Started on 13th August 2024.

  • Preventive health screening and assessments for faculty, staff, students, patients and attendants.
  • Monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar, haemoglobin, height, weight, waist circumference and BMI.
  • Management and counselling based on screening outcomes.
  • Counselling regarding nutrition, physical activity, mental health, tobacco and alcohol cessation.
  • Birthday invitation outreach for faculty, nursing officers and students.
  • Maintains clinic database.
  • Screening of sanitation staff.

Centre for Rural Health (Markand): Patient care services started on 02nd September 2024.

  • Primary healthcare services for all age groups.
  • Management of common illnesses and chronic diseases.
  • Screening for non-communicable diseases followed by counselling.
  • Antenatal check-ups under PMSMA.
  • Participation in Immunization services.
  • Referral of patients requiring advanced care to AIIMS Bilaspur.
  • Health awareness campaigns and health camps.
  • Participation in national health programmes.
  • Clinical and community teaching for postgraduate and undergraduate students.
  • Field visits, family allotment and community-based learning.
  • Intern training in rural healthcare delivery.
  • Maintaining patient database.
  • Participation in block-level meetings and stakeholder coordination.

Urban Health Training Centre (Roura): Patient care services started on 03rd March 2025.

  • Primary healthcare services for all age groups.
  • Management of common illnesses and chronic diseases.
  • Screening for non-communicable diseases with counselling.
  • Antenatal check-ups under PMSMA.
  • Participation in Immunization services.
  • Referral of patients needing advanced management.
  • Awareness campaigns and health camps.
  • Teaching and training for students.
  • Intern hands-on experience in urban healthcare delivery.
  • Maintaining patient records database.
  • Home visits to vulnerable populations.
  • Palliative care support to terminally ill patients.
  • Post-natal home visits.

Covid Vaccination Centre (AIIMS): Started on 02nd June 2021.

  • Planning and setup of registration, waiting, vaccination and observation areas.
  • Arrangement of vaccines, syringes and biomedical waste management.
  • Training staff for vaccination, storage and Cowin portal operations.
  • Public awareness through print and digital media.
  • Addressing public concerns regarding vaccine safety and efficacy.
  • Session-end reporting to District Immunization Officer.
  • Clearing pendency for second and precautionary doses.

Procedures (Diagnostic and/or Therapeutic):

  • Point of care tests during family adoption visits and health camps.
  • Health screening camps in villages under Family Adoption Program.
  • Health screening camps during fairs and old age home visits.
  • Participation in preventive and promotive health services during multi-specialty camps.

Participation in National Health Programme:

  • Coordinated with District TB Officer for Sub National Certification (SNC) for Tuberculosis surveys in Bilaspur during 2021-22 and 2022-23.
  • Contributed to Bronze Medal achievement for district during 2022-23.
  • Verification of TB Mukt Gram Panchayat claims during 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Statistics Courses & Short Term Trainings

S. No. Name of the Course Curriculum Duration of Course Present Number of Students Objectives / Brief Description of the Course
1 MD Community Medicine Community Medicine 03 Years 05

Postgraduates are trained to:

  • Function as public health specialists in implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national programmes.
  • Address public health problems prevalent in local areas.
  • Function as primary care / family physicians using a holistic approach.
  • Conduct community and hospital based research.
  • Teach and train undergraduate students.

Training includes:

  • Regular seminars and journal clubs.
  • Field visits with undergraduate students.
  • Postings at CRH, UHTC, Immunization Clinic and Wellness Clinic.
  • Rotatory postings in clinical departments.
  • Group discussions and faculty classes.
  • Participation in conferences and workshops.
  • Regular assessment and feedback.
2 MBBS Undergraduate Medical Education 05½ Years including Internship 250

Students are trained to:

  • Diagnose and treat common diseases as Primary Care Physicians.
  • Provide preventive and promotive healthcare.
  • Serve vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women and elderly persons.
  • Participate in National Health Programmes.
  • Use epidemiology for disease prevention and research.
  • Provide occupational health services.
  • Apply primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention principles.
3 Paramedical Sciences Environmental Science and Health Care Delivery Systems 04 Years 16

Provides understanding of:

  • Indian healthcare delivery system and comparison with global systems.
  • Demography.
  • General epidemiology and applications.
  • Visits to Sub Centre, PHC, CHC, SDH, DH, Medical Colleges, private hospitals, dispensaries and clinics.
4 Protocol Writing Workshops for Postgraduate Students Research Methodology 01 Day 89

Objectives:

  • Develop scientifically rigorous research protocols.
  • Understand protocol components: title, abstract, methodology, ethics, statistics, budget etc.
  • Frame research questions using PICO.
  • Select study designs.
  • Conduct literature search using PubMed, Cochrane etc.
  • Prepare methodology and sample size calculation.
  • Understand ethical principles and informed consent.
  • Use reference management software and citations.
5 Electives to MBBS Elective 1: Research Methodology
Elective 2: National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)		 28 Days 05

Objectives:

  • Understand scientific literature and research hypothesis.
  • Study designs, sample size and data collection tools.
  • Prepare concept notes and research proposals.
  • Understand implementation of NTEP at district level.
  • Learn lab services such as sputum microscopy and CBNAAT / TruNAAT.
  • Understand NIKSHAY portal and DOTS services.
  • Carry out SWOT analysis of NTEP.
6 CMEs for Community Health Officers through ECHO Management of Non-Communicable Diseases 06 Months 35

Covers:

  • Management of NCDs including mental health and neurological disorders.
  • Screening and follow-up at Health & Wellness Centres.
  • Community mobilization and health promotion.
  • Geriatric care and ageing related illness management.
  • Palliative care and caregiver support.
  • Strengthening telemedicine services with AIIMS Bilaspur specialists.

Projects

No. Title Principal Investigator Co-Investigator Collaboration (Department / Institute) Funding Agency Project Status
1 Pesticide exposure and chronic kidney disease of underdetermined origin (CKDu) among people living on agriculture in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Dr Anupam Parashar Dr Anupama Dhiman Nephrology, General Medicine H.P. Council for Science, Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE) Ongoing
2 Effect of the cement plant on the health of residents living in the vicinity of the ACC Cement Plant, Barmana, District Bilaspur. Dr Anupam Parashar Dr Navpreet, Dr Anupama Dhiman, Dr Nikita Sharma General Medicine Department of Health & Family Welfare, Himachal Pradesh Ongoing
3 Assessment of association of lifestyle-related disease biomarkers with autonomic and cognitive functions in different age group natives of Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. - Dr Meenal M Thakare - - Ongoing
4 A Nationwide Assessment and Compilation of Best Practices in Community Medicine. Dr Meenal M Thakare - - Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine Ongoing
5 Study of neurophysiological and biochemical parameters in hypothyroid patients of hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh. - Dr Navpreet Physiology, General Medicine, Endocrinology, Biochemistry ICMR Ongoing
6 Pulse oximetry screening to detect critical congenital heart disease in neonates of Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh - A cross-sectional study. - Dr Navpreet Neonatology ICMR Ongoing
7 Impact assessment of IEC intervention on knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists / chemists regarding skin dermatophyte infection in Northern India. - Dr Anupama Dhiman, Dr Navpreet Dermatology Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) Ongoing
8 Assessment of drinking water quality in Block Markand of District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. Dr Navpreet Dr Anupam Parashar, Dr Anupama Dhiman, Dr Nikita Sharma - - Ongoing
9 Maintaining continuity of NCD services during COVID-19 pandemic in India: Assessment of best practices by the States / UTs. Dr Meenal M Thakare - - - Completed
10 Baseline assessment of COVID disease, sequelae, vaccination status and willingness for further booster doses in the medical and paramedical staff of AIIMS Bilaspur. Dr Meenal M Thakare Dr Nikita Sharma - - Completed
11 A cross-sectional study on menstrual hygiene practices in adolescent school-going girls of North India. Dr Meenal M Thakare - - - Completed
12 To know the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum psychiatric illness in Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh: A community based cross-sectional study. - Dr Anupama Dhiman Obstetrics & Gynaecology CSR Completed

Expansion Plan

S. No. Collaboration For Collaboration with Department and Institute Services Offered / Work Undergoing in Collaboration
1
  1. Initiation of Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinic at AIIMS Bilaspur.
  2. Establishment of Biostatistics Section.
  3. Establishment of Public Health Lab.
  4. Establishment of Epidemiological Unit.
  5. Establishment of Family Care Study Section.
  6. Establishment of Health Education Section.
  7. Expansion of services at CRH and UHTC with initiation of special clinics such as NCD Clinic, Geriatric Clinic and Tobacco Cessation Centre.
  8. Develop innovative outreach programs to serve underserved populations in the surrounding community.
  9. Point of care devices for diagnosis / management of chronic diseases in the field / community.
  10. Establish continuing medical education (CME) programs for primary care providers.
  11. Establishment of model Centre for Rural Health and UHTC managed directly under administrative control of AIIMS Bilaspur.
  12. Initiation of Master in Public Health (MPH) and PhD courses in Community Medicine.
  13. Develop online learning modules and distance education programs.
  14. Create interprofessional education opportunities with allied health professions.
  15. Establish research collaborations with other departments and external institutions.
  16. Secure funding for research projects from national and international agencies.
  17. Focus on implementation research, translating evidence into practice.
  18. Create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
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