Munish Sood
Mandi
A final-year MBBS student from Himachal Pradesh has won a gold medal at a prestigious national undergraduate medical conference for the second consecutive year, reaffirming the growing academic and research credentials of the state’s government medical institutions.
Devanshi, a final-year student at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital (SLBSGMCH), Nerchowk, emerged as the top performer at MED-ASCENT 2026, hosted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital (RPGMC), Tanda, from June 20 to 21.
The conference brought together undergraduate medical students from leading medical colleges across India to compete in scientific and clinical events. Devanshi secured the gold medal after delivering outstanding performances in the Clinical Case Presentation and Research Poster Presentation categories.
What makes the achievement particularly significant is that it marks her second consecutive gold medal at the national conference. She had also topped the previous edition of MED-ASCENT, winning gold in the Clinical Case Presentation and Research Question Presentation events, reflecting remarkable consistency in clinical reasoning and medical research.
Congratulating the student, Principal Prof. Dr. Rajesh Kumar said the accomplishment was a matter of immense pride for the institution and highlighted the growing emphasis on academic excellence and research among undergraduate medical students in Himachal Pradesh. He noted that such achievements reinforce the institution’s commitment to nurturing future clinicians with strong research and presentation skills.
The recognition is being seen as another milestone for SLBSGMCH, Nerchowk, one of Himachal Pradesh’s leading government medical colleges, which has steadily expanded its academic footprint in recent years.
Medical educators say achievements of this nature not only recognise individual excellence but also underscore the increasing participation of undergraduate students in evidence-based research, scientific inquiry and clinical innovation—areas that are becoming central to modern medical education in India.
Devanshi’s back-to-back national success places both her institution and Himachal Pradesh on the academic map, reflecting the growing competitiveness of students from state-run medical colleges on national platforms.
