What is the stipend offered at PGIMER Chandigarh for junior residents?

Junior Residents at PGIMER Chandigarh get salaries of around INR 9,90,244. PGIMER offers salaries not stipends. You will need to pay taxes, which is not the case for a stipend. If you can apply for house rent allowance if you aren’t a taking hostel accommodation. The house rent allowance is around INR 9,000. If you apply for house rent, your salary will be around INR 81,000 after taxes.

What is the number of MD/MS seats at PGIMER Chandigarh?

The number of MD/MS seats at PGIMER Chandigarh changes every year, every session, according to your category (General, OBC, SC, ST, Sponsored, etc.) and branch or department. This is because for every session admission to the vacant seats is based on the previous pass-outs in that branch or department. It also depends on the demand of a particular work in that department and other factors. Check the JSP Page website - pgimer.edu.in before every session to get the exact number of seats available in that particular session. This session there are a total of 148 seats and 33 of them are for the General category students.

Which is a better institution for doing a post graduation SGPGI Lucknow or PGI Chandigarh?

Both SGPI Lucknow and PGI Chandigarh are esteemed medical institutes of the country. Here are some of the facts I thought were worth mentioning. The institute that offers students practical work to develop enhanced skills should be the one to opt for. Such an institute is Chandigarh PGIMER. It is reckoned as one the best institutes after Delhi AIMS for postgraduate and Ph.D. Programs. PGI Chandigarh is an autonomous institute and is under the central government whereas SGPI is an autonomous is an institute under the legislature act (UP Government) Although both the institutes are in the same league with AIIMS Delhi, every institute has its own benefits. PGI Chandigarh provides the best facilities to its students in the PG courses such as the clinical seats. Such a facility is not offered to the students in SGPI but is an exception when it comes to super specialty. You should also consider the distance of these institutes from your residence. As it is one of the important things while choosing a college. Decide which one meets all your requirements and then opt accordingly.

How do I study biochemistry for the PGMEE/AIIMS-PG/PGIMER Exam?

You must open the previous years exam papers of Biochemistry. Mark all of the topics in your biochemistry textbook where previous questions have been asked. There is a good chance that questions on these topics will be asked again in future exams. This is especially true for PG Entrance exams in Biochemistry, Dermat, Psychiatry, and Physiology. If you are an MBBS student, first watch the Kaplan biochemistry videos, then the Lippincott illustrated biochemistry videos, and finally the harper Kaplan videos. You will understand the concepts and there will be no need to memorize any reactions.

Among VMMC, UCMS and PGIMER (and the RML hospital) which is the best for an MD in general medicine?

Among the three option mentioned, PGIMER and RML hospital is the best option for doing an MD in General Medicine. It offers great exposure and academics. The spectrum of cases, facilities available, quality of care offered is exceptional. Other than Oncology, you will have exposure to all subspecialties. UCMS is almost in the same range. However, it has a locational disadvantage. Other than that the spectrum of cases and academics offered at the institute is quite good. VMMC is also a decent option. But it has a high patient load. Academics are really poor and you will have to go out of your way to learn things.

How should someone prepare for NEET-PG/ AIIMS-PG/ JIPMER-PG/ PGIMER/ SGPGIMS/ NIMHANS right from 1st year of MBBS?

Here are some of the things that you can do to prepare for these examinations right from the first year onwards. Don’t just mug up the syllabus right before the examination. You won’t remember the things that you read in long term and won’t be able to apply in MCQs. Check the previous year’s question papers of the examination that you are targeting. Mark them and practice. Understand the examination pattern. In the new pattern, one question requires knowledge of 3-4 subjects. You have to be able to apply basic knowledge of the subjects to solve it. Attend dissection and all Physiology and Biochemistry practicals mindfully. This will help in Pathology. Be serious about your studies. Plan everything before and go about it at your own pace.

Which exam is tough to crack the AIIMS PG or the PGIMER Chandigarh?

AIIMS is definitely the better option. There are many reasons why it is the superior choice. One of them is the competition. You will be competing with lakhs of students to get selected. This entrance examination is trickier than all other entrances. Irrespective of how well-prepared you are, you are likely to get stuck between choices in the examination. PGIMER has a standard examination pattern. They usually aim to test how thorough you are. Also, the competition is much less. Since around 15000 or fewer people appear in the examinations.

Which is a better institution for doing a post-graduation: AIIMS or PGIMER, Chandigarh?

Among AIIMS and PGIMER, the latter is comparably better. The experience and exposure you will get there are unmatched. AIIMS has a tendency to refer simple or non-interesting cases to Safdarjung, so students don’t get the chance to see all types of cases. PGI on the other hand is not a referral medical center. So, residents can see all types of cases from simple to complicated. Although owing to its location, AIIMS offers better training platforms for residents to take off.

Which is a better institution for doing a post graduation SGPGI Lucknow or PGI Chandigarh?

Both SGPI Lucknow and PGI Chandigarh are esteemed medical institutes of the country. Here are some of the facts I thought were worth mentioning. The institute that offers students practical work to develop enhanced skills should be the one to opt for. Such an institute is Chandigarh PGIMER. It is reckoned as one the best institutes after Delhi AIMS for postgraduate and Ph.D. Programs. PGI Chandigarh is an autonomous institute and is under the central government whereas SGPI is an autonomous is an institute under the legislature act (UP Government) Although both the institutes are in the same league with AIIMS Delhi, every institute has its own benefits. PGI Chandigarh provides the best facilities to its students in the PG courses such as the clinical seats. Such a facility is not offered to the students in SGPI but is an exception when it comes to super specialty. You should also consider the distance of these institutes from your residence. As it is one of the important things while choosing a college. Decide which one meets all your requirements and then opt accordingly.

PGIMER Chandigarh: Admission 2023, Ranking, Courses, Fees, Cutoff, Placement, Scholarships

Q: Is PGIMER a good college?

PGIMER has consistently been ranked 2nd by NIRF for the past three years and the cut-off for the institute is very high, so overall PGIMER is a good college.

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) is a public postgraduate medical research university located in Chandigarh, India. PGIMER Chandigarh is a deemed university and is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It offers educational, medical research, and training facilities in all specialties, super specialties, and sub-specialties.

PGIMER Chandigarh has been ranked the 2^nd best medical institute in the NIRF Rankings 2023, by the Ministry of Education.
It is an Institute of National Importance and has been one of the most popular postgraduate medical institutes.
PGIMER offers more than 50 postgraduate medical and paramedical programs, including MD, MS, DM, M.Ch, and MPH.
The institute also offers Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral degrees in medical sciences.
Admissions to PGIMER Chandigarh are done on the basis of scores in the entrance exams followed by counseling.
PGIMER accepts INI CET scores for admission to MD, MS, D.M, M.Ch, and MDS courses.
PGIMER Chandigarh has a 277-acre residential campus with all the necessary and modern amenities.

According to the PGIMER Chandigarh NIRF Report 2022, 175 students of the institute are placed in its Placement Drive 2021 with a median salary of INR 15 LPA offered to PG (3-year) batch students. Top recruiters visiting the PGIMER Campus are Apollo Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Manipal Hospital, AIIMS, and others.

Table of Content

PGIMER Chandigarh Highlights
PGIMER Chandigarh Admission 2024 Dates
PGIMER Chandigarh Rankings 2023
PGIMER Chandigarh Courses & Fees
PGIMER Chandigarh Admission 2024
PGIMER Chandigarh Result 2024
PGIMER Chandigarh Cutoff 2023
PGIMER Chandigarh Placement 2023
PGIMER Chandigarh Facilities
PGIMER Chandigarh Scholarships
PGIMER Chandigarh Alumni
PGIMER Chandigarh Departments
PGIMER Chandigarh FAQs

Life at PGIMER Chandigarh

PGIMER Chandigarh Highlights

Given below are the important highlights of PGIMER Chandigarh:

PGIMER Chandigarh Highlights
Established \| Type	1962 \| Public
Location	Sector-12, Chandigarh, India
Approved By	UGC, INC & MCI
NIRF Ranking (Medicine)	2
Campus Size	277 Acres
Courses Offered	UG, PG, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral, Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Popular Courses	MD, MS, DM, M.Ch, MPH, M.Sc.
Admission Criteria	Entrance-Based
Entrance Exams	INI-CET & PGIMER Entrance Test
Facilities Available	Medical Support Systems, Sports Complex, Library, IT Center
Top Recruiters	Apollo Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Manipal Hospital, AIIMS
Average Placement Package	INR 15 LPA (Estimated)
PGIMER Website	https://pgimer.edu.in/

PGIMER Chandigarh Admission 2024 Dates

PGIMER Chandigarh offers admission to various PG, Super Speciality, and Doctoral courses on the basis of scores in the respective entrance exams. Admission to PG and Super Specialty courses such as MD, MS, MDS, DM, and M.Ch. is done on the basis of scores in INI CET conducted by AIIMS Delhi. INI CET January 2024 Exam Schedule has been released.

Here are the important dates for PGIMER Chandigarh Admission 2024:

Events	Dates
INI CET January 2024 Basic Registration	September 15, 2023 – October 5, 2023
Status of Registration and Basic Information	October 6, 2023 – October 7, 2023
Final Status of Accepted Registration and Basic Information	October 8, 2023
Exam Unique Code (EUC) Generation	September 30, 2023 – October 14, 2023
Final Status of Online Registration	October 10, 2023
INI CET January 2024 Admit Card Release Date	October 10, 2023
INI CET January 2024 Exam Date	November 5, 2023

PGIMER Chandigarh Rankings 2023

PGIMER Chandigarh is an eminent medical institution that is also recognized as an Institute of National Importance and a Center of Excellence in India. PGIMER Chandigarh has consistently been ranked among the top medical institutes in India by NIRF.

PGIMER has been ranked the second-best medical institute in the Medical Category by NIRF after AIIMS Delhi over the past few years.

Ranking Body	Year	Ranking
NIRF	2023	2
NIRF	2022	2
NIRF	2021	2
NIRF	2020	2
NIRF	2019	2

PGIMER Chandigarh Courses & Fees

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research majorly offers various postgraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral courses in the field of Medicine. Admission to various courses at PGIMER is based on either national-level entrance exams or exams conducted by the institute itself. PGIMER also offers a few UG courses such as B.Sc, B.Sc. Nursing, Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing, and BPT.

Here is the detailed information on PGIMER Chandigarh Courses & Fees along with the Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

Courses	Course Details	Eligibility Criteria	Selection Criteria
B. Sc. Nursing	Duration: 4 Years Course Fees: INR 6,035 (First Year)	Passed 10+2 with 50% marks aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, English, and Biology/ Biotechnology from a recognized board.	PGIMER Entrance Examination
B. Sc. Nursing (Post Basic)	Duration: 2 Years Course Fees: INR 6,030 (First Year)	Completed 10+2 along with 50% marks in General Nursing and Midwifery and must be a registered nurse or midwife.	PGIMER Entrance Examination
MD	Duration: 3 Years Course Fees: INR 7.11 K (For 3 Years)	MBBS Degree along with 1-year Internship.	Score/Merit in INI CET
MS	Duration: 3 Years Course Fees: INR 7.11 K (For 3 Years)	MBBS Degree along with 1-year Internship.	Score/Merit in INI CET
Master in Public Health (MPH)	Duration: 2 Years Course Fees: INR 6,440 (First Year)	MBBS/BDS/B.V. Sc/BE/MA/M. Sc with at least 50% marks in aggregate.	PGIMER Entrance Test + Personal Interview
DM	Duration: 3 Years Course Fees: INR 7.33 K (For 3 Years)	MD Degree in relevant discipline recognized by MCI.	Score/Merit in INI CET
M.Ch	Duration: 3 Years Course Fees: INR 7.33 K (For 3 Years)	MS Degree in relevant discipline recognized by MCI.	Score/Merit in INI CET
M. Sc. Nursing	Duration: 2 Years Course Fees: INR 13,050 (First Year)	B.Sc. Nursing/Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing Degree from a recognized university with 2 years experience in bedside nursing or public health nursing in a public/private hospital.	PGIMER Entrance Exam
Ph.D.	Course Fees: INR 10.12 K	MD/MS or any equivalent degree recognized by the MCI.	PGIMER Entrance Test + Interview

PGIMER Chandigarh Admission 2024

PGIMER Admissions are conducted twice a year in two sessions namely January Session and July Session for MD, MS, DM, and M.Ch. Admissions to various PG and Super Speciality courses are offered on the basis of INI CET and INI SS scores respectively. The candidates have to then appear for INI CET/INI SS counseling to get a seat in the desired course at PGIMER. For other courses, the institute conducts its own entrance examination followed by a personal interview in a few cases.

How to Apply for PGIMER Chandigarh Admission 2024?

PGIMER Application Form for other courses is released on the official website of PGIMER. Here are the steps to apply for PGIMER Admission 2024:

Visit the official website of PGIMER. (https://pgimer.edu.in/)
Search for the admission notification and click on the same.
Click on `New Registration’ and the page will be redirected to the registration form page.
Fill in the basic details such as Name, Date of Birth, Mobile Number, Email ID, and Gender.
The User ID and Password will be sent to the registered mobile number.
Login using the credentials and fill out the application form.
Enter the Personal, Qualification Details, and Test Center Details.
Upload the scanned photograph and signature in the specified size.
Pay the requisite application fees using a Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking.

Documents Required for PGIMER Admission 2024

Marksheets for Qualifying Examination
Entrance Exam Scorecard
Category Certificate
Date of Birth & ID Proof
MCI Registration Form, if applicable
Certificate of Internship

PGIMER Chandigarh Results 2024

PGIMER Chandigarh releases the results for various entrance examinations and semester exams online on its official website. The candidates can check their results using their User ID and Password on PGIMER official website.

How to Check PGIMER Result 2024?

Here are the steps to check PGIMER Result 2022:

Visit the official website of PGIMER.
Click on the link for PGIMER Result.
Enter the login credentials such as the Registration Number (User ID) & Password.
The result would be displayed on the screen.
Download and take a printout of the same for future reference.

PGIMER Chandigarh Cutoff 2023

PGIMER Chandigarh considers INI CET ranks for admission to MD/ MS/ MCh/ DM/ MDS programs. AIIMS Delhi conducts the Institute of National Importance Common Entrance Test (INI CET) every year in two sessions- January and July. INI CET July 2023 Round 2 Seat Allotment has been announced on July 7, 2023 while INI CET July 2023 Round 1 Seat Allotment was announced on June 23, 2023. Here are the round-wise seat allotment lists for INI CET July 2023 Session:

Cutoff Rounds	Download Link
Mock Round 1	Click to Download
Round 1	Click to Download
Round 2	Click to Download

INI CET January 2023 Open Round Seat Allotment was released on February 4, 2023 for admission to PGIMER Chandigarh MD/ MS/ MCh/ DM/ MDS courses. Here are the closing ranks for course-specific specializations for the Unreserved (UR) category for Round 1, 2, and Open Round for INI CET January 2023 Session:

MS/ MS/ MCh/ DM/ MDS Specialisation	Closing Rank – Round 1	Closing Rank – Round 2	Closing Rank – Open Round
Biochemistry	2669	6669	Seats Filled
Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology	46	46	Seats Filled
General Surgery	253	1624	Seats Filled
Medicine	30	30	Seats Filled
Nuclear Medicine	147	212	Seats Filled
Obstetrics & Gynaecology	259	270	Seats Filled
Orthopedic Surgery	100	58	Seats Filled
Otorhinolaryngology	461	586	Seats Filled
Pharmacology	2249	Seats Filled	Seats Filled
Psychiatry	450	482	Seats Filled
Paediatrics	101	131	131
Ophthalmology	301	456	674
Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care	767	879	1244
Pathology	1030	6189	2115
Community Medicine	1142	1977	5363
Transfusion Medicine	1628	2319	10,226
Microbiology	2077	4923	14,127
Forensic Medicine	1669	2189	23,271

PGIMER Chandigarh Placements 2023

PGIMER Chandigarh Placement Cell helps in the placement and recruitment of its students in internships at PGI hospitals and government hospitals, where they receive hands-on training. PGIMER graduates have good opportunities in reputed organizations in India and internationally, with good pay packages.

NIRF Report 2022 shows that PGIMER placed 175 students in 2021.
Out of 175 students, 27 were placed in the PG (2-year) batch and 148 from the PG (3-year) batch.
The median salary offered to PG (2 years) and PG (3 years) students were INR 7.53 LPA and INR 15 LPA, respectively.

The table below gives detailed information about the PGIMER Chandigarh Placements:

Particulars	Placement Statistics 2022 (PG 2-Year)	Placement Statistics 2022 (PG 3-Year)
No. of Students Graduated	57	228
Number of Students Placed	27	148
Placement Rate	47%	65%
Average Package	INR 7.53 LPA	INR 15 LPA
Top Recruiters	Max Healthcare, Apollo Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Manipal Hospital, AIIMS

PGIMER Chandigarh Facilities

PGIMER Chandigarh has a vast campus and infrastructure providing all basic and extra-curricular amenities to its students. PGIMER Chandigarh offers the following facilities to its students:

Library

PGIMER's Dr. Tulsi Das Library was founded in 1962.
It has 45,696 books, 57,610 bound journals, and 414 international and 96 national journals (print/online).
Currently, the library houses 4,851 theses from many fields, including MD, MS, DM, M.Ch, Ph.D., and M.Sc.
Science Direct, MD consult, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford Journals, and 494 online full-text journals are among the online databases subscribed to by the library.

Hostel

PGIMER Chandigarh also offers hostel accommodation to admitted students.
The institute offers partially furnished hostel accommodation within the campus of the Institute.
PGIMER doesn’t offer accommodation to Sponsored/Deputed/Foreign national candidates.
Candidates need to pay INR 5,000 as security money that will be refunded at the time of vacation of room.
PGIMER Hostels are equipped with all basic amenities along with Mess/Canteen facilities.

Gym

PGIMER also focuses on physical fitness along with intellectual fitness.
The institute has indoor and outdoor games for faculty members and trainees.
Competitions are organized on campus for sports enthusiasts.

Swimming Pool

PGIMER has a Water-Sports Complex for the PGI employees and their families.
It has 8-lane swimming pools with a well-decked area with provision for a Health Club and a Cafeteria.
The pool is available to Swimmers for 3 hours daily from April to October, every year.

Sports

Table tennis, badminton, cricket, lawn tennis, football, and other sports are available at the university.
PGIMER hosts a number of sports tournaments at regular intervals.

Cultural Fests

PGIMER hosts several events, fests, and competitions every year.
The Cultural Committee of the institute holds one week-long cultural bonanza SPRING FEST.
This fest includes dance, drama, arts, literary activities, music, debates, quiz, essays, etc. for the students and the faculty.

PGIMER Chandigarh Scholarships

PGIMER Chandigarh offers scholarships to minority communities and economically backward classes. PGIMER Chandigarh accepts scholarships through National Scholarship Portal (NSP). NSP offers 3 scholarship schemes namely Pre-Matric. Post Matric and Merit-cum-Means based scholarships. Students can apply for the PGIMER scholarship on the official website of NSP.

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Amount	Maintenance Allowance
Post-Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities	Not less than 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final examination & Annual Income not more than INR 2 Lakhs	INR 3,000	Hosteller- INR 1,200 Per Month; Day Scholar- INR 550 Per Month
Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses	Not less than 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final examination & Annual Income not more than INR 2.50 Lakhs	INR 20,000	Hosteller- INR 1,000 Per Month; Day Scholar- INR 500 Per Month

PGIMER Chandigarh Alumni

PGIMER Chandigarh has a very strong and famous alumni network with some of the alumni being social activists and Padma Shri Awardees. Here is a list of PGIMER Chandigarh Notable Alumni:

Alumni Name	Designation
Ram Baran Yadav	First President of Nepal
Dr. Swastik Agrawal	Consultant
Sarbeswar Sahariah	Nephrologist and Organ Transplant Specialist
Harpinder Singh Chawla	Dental Surgeon and Padma Shri Awardee
Jagjit Singh Chopra	Neurologist and Padma Bhushan Recipient
Jagat Ram	Ophthalmologist and Padma Shri Awardee

PGIMER Chandigarh Departments

PGIMER Chandigarh offers various postgraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral courses in medical science in different departments as follows:

College/Department	CD Rating
National Institute Of Nursing Education- [NINE]	7.6 out of 10
Psychiatry	8.0 out of 10
Biotechnology	8.35 out of 10
Neurology	8.0 out of 10

PGIMER Chandigarh FAQs

Ques. Is PGIMER Chandigarh better than AIIMS?

Ans. PGIMER has been consistently ranked the second-best medical institution after AIIMS Delhi in India by NIRF. PGIMER has shown a tremendous increase in its point in the research and professional practice category.

Ques. Does PGIMER Chandigarh offer UG courses?

Ans. Yes, PGIMER offers admission to UG courses such as BSc Nursing, BSc Nursing (Post Basic), B.Optom, B.Ph.T, BPH, etc.

Ques. Which entrance exams are accepted by PGIMER Chandigarh?

Ans. PGIMER Chandigarh accepts INI CET scores for admission to MD/MS and INI SS scores for admission to DM/MCh, which are conducted by AIIMS Delhi.

Ques. Does PGIMER Chandigarh provide Scholarships to students?

Ans. PGIMER Chandigarh does not provide any scholarships considering the fees for all courses of PGIMER are almost negligible. However, the candidates are eligible to apply for scholarships through National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

Ques. Does PGIMER Chandigarh offer MBBS?

Ans. No, PGIMER Chandigarh is a postgraduate institution. Thus, it doesn't offer an MBBS degree.

Ques. In what specializations, MCh is offered at PGIMER Chandigarh?

Ans. At PGIMER, MCh is offered in the following specializations: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Urology, Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Gastroenterology, Head and Neck Surgery, Renal Transplant Surgery, Vitreoretinal Surgery.

Ques. Is PGIMER Chandigarh a private or government college?

Ans. PGIMER is a public medical university established in 1962 and is located in Chandigarh, India.

Ques. Is PGIMER a good college?

Ans. PGIMER has consistently been ranked 2^nd by NIRF for the past three years and the cut-off for the institute is very high, so overall PGIMER is a good college.

Ques. Is PGIMER Chandigarh MCI accredited?

Ans. Yes, PGIMER is recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI). PGIMER, Chandigarh was founded in 1962 and has since produced approximately 9,000 M.Ch surgeons and 6,000-7,000 DM physicians.

Ques. Which institute is good for PG courses, PGIMER, or AIIMS?

Ans. PGIMER is a better option for PG courses as academic activities, and exposure is much better as compared to AIIMS.

Ques. Is PGIMER Chandigarh overrated?

Ans. No, PGIMER Chandigarh provides the finest faculty and mentors for training students. The exposure of the student during the internship period is unmatchable which makes the difference in the experience of managing cases at different levels.

Ques. What are the future prospects of senior residents at PGIMER?

Ans. The future prospect of senior residents is as follows:

Private Practice
Superspecializations Fellowships
Government Hospitals Consultancy
Junior Consultants in Private Hospitals

Ques. How is the MD course at PGIMER with a specialization in Radiodiagnosis?

Ans. MD in Radiodiagnosis is a good course with high-quality MRI and CT, exposure, and academics. Residents also do a number of interventions in Radiology and handle many cases.

Ques. What are the facilities offered by PGIMER Chandigarh?

Ans. The facilities offered by PGIMER Chandigarh are:

Hostel
Medical/Hospital
Library
Sports
IT Centre
Swimming Pool

Ques. Does PGIMER Chandigarh offer M.Sc?

Ans. Yes, PGIMER Chandigarh offers the M.Sc course at the postgraduate level for a duration of 2 years. Admission to the course is based on entrance examination conducted by the institute.

Ques. What are the courses offered by PGIMER Chandigarh?

Ans. PGIMER Chandigarh offers B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. M.D., M.S, M.Ch. and D.M. courses in various specializations in medical science.