INTRODUCTION
Department of ENT since its inception has always walked at pace with the national and global trends with respect to skills and had achieved expansion of necessary infrastructure and manpower for catering the ever-increasing health care demands of the lovely Valley.
Born initially as E ENT (eye, ear, nose, throat) the department was run by Late Dr Harbhajan Singh till his retirement as Professor and HOD in 1970. ENT was established as a separate department in late 1970 under the leadership of Dr I.P Kohli who retired in September 1974. Dr Mir Mohammed Maqbool took the reins of the department from there on for 18 glorious years up to august 1992. He has the distinction of starting postgraduate course teaching in department in 1976.
Late Dr Sheikh Abdul Ahad took over as HOD in September 1992, started modern otology in Kashmir and initiated Head and neck cancer surgeries in the department.
Dr Mohammed Lateef Chesti took over as HOD in June 2001 and under his leadership the department of ENT continuously evolved and showed improvement on every front. Head and neck surgery incorporated with ENT at GMC Srinagar during his leadership.
Dr Rafiq Ahmad Pampori took over as HOD on Ist May 2010 and during his time department improved further to an extend that we started approaching skull bases via endoscope and initiated cochlear implant surgeries. During his time our theatres were equipped with modern gadgets like Neuronavigation, Lasers, Harmonic scalpel, nerve monitors.
Dr Rauf Ahmad is the man credited with doing and teaching surgeries in a very meticulous way.He Joined as head in october 2015 and retired on 31 december 2021.
Prof Manzoor A. Latoo took over as head of department on 1-1-2022 as a young and dynamic head aiming to take department to new heights .
The Department is continuously progressing under the leadership of Prof Manzooor A. Latoo with the total harmonious commitment to the department by other faculty members namely, Prof Showkat A Showkat, Dr Nisar Hussain Dar, Dr Ahsan Ali, Dr Suhail amin Patigaroo, Dr K.S. Mehta, Dr Mir Sajad Qadri, Dr Aleena, Dr Umar shah, Dr Haris Qadri, Dr Junaid Nasim malik, Dr Rashid Rafiq
This Department is doing commendable work in the area of Microsurgery, Head and Neck surgery, Head and Neck Cancer, Phonosurgery, Rhinoplasty, Skull base surgeries, Endoscopic Sinus surgeries and is currently multispecialty tertiary care referral department with the most advanced infrastructure in form of Fully equipped Operation Theatres at its disposal serving the needy population in holistic manner.
The department has a qualified faculty with rich surgical expertise and teaching experience imparting training and teaching to MBBS, BDS students and MS post graduate students. The department in addition also imparts surgical teaching and training to Theatre Assistants and Nurses (AMT College) and conducts various assessments and examinations as per the norms laid down by the University of Kashmir in liaison with Registrar academics GMC Srinagar.
The department started its Post Graduate program in the year 1976 with 2 seats sanctioned annually which was increased from time to time as per the NMC (previously MCI) standards. The current enrolment capacity was increased to 8 candidates in the year 2018.
The department is actively involved in research activities in form of dissertations by Post graduate scholars under supervision of learned Guides, publications of articles/chapters in various International/National Journals/Books, Organizing Conferences/ CMEs/ Surgical Workshops/ Skill Courses
We presently have two wards allotted to ENT. Ward-1 for males and Ward-2 for females. There are at present three units in the department.