Heartbeat: Wave goodbye to… Dr Deep Chand
January 23, 2020
Dr Deep Chand, a Consultant Radiologist is retiring from our Trust after a career that has spanned four decades. From 1977 – 1981, Dr Chand worked as a registrar and senior registrar in radiology at North Staffordshire Hospital. In 1982 he joined our Trust as a consultant radiologist and since then has gone on to have a distinguished career.
Working as a consultant radiologist he has pioneered CT scanning. He’s also been pivotal in the introduction of ultrasound, MRI scanning and nuclear medicine as a whole. Dr Chand is the Chairman of the Division of Radiology and regularly contributes to the teaching and assessment of staff. He commented: “As a teacher, I’m extremely proud of my students. 75 per cent of my students are consultants, group clinical directors and presidents in the UK and overseas.”
Outside of working at our Trust Dr Chand has had an equally impressive career. At 43, he joined the Territorial Army as a private soldier and rose through the ranks to become lieutenant colonel. He said: “I joined the Territorial Army at 43 years old with my registrar and radiographers. Together we created a radiology department in the 202 Field Hospital, Birmingham.”
Dr Chand served in both Gulf wars. During the latter, he ran a 200-bed military hospital over six months in Basra. Working on the front line Dr Chand and his colleagues provided life-saving care by introducing the use of ultrasound. This helped with the diagnosis and management of battle casualties.
He added: “I had the opportunity to serve Her Majesty the Queen, country and mankind during my deployment in the first Gulf War. I am grateful to Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust for releasing me. The team and I not only supported our soldiers, but we were also able to create another ward for local children and females to help save lives.”
Dr Chand has received several awards recognising his outstanding career and for his service to queen and country. He has been admitted into the Order of St. John – a royal order of chivalry awarded by the Queen. He has also received the Territorial Decoration award for long service, as well as being appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.
On top of all this, Dr Chand supports several charitable works. He dedicates his time to many medical and humanitarian projects in deprived areas. One such project includes establishing a home and school for children in India.
Dr Sarah Yusuf, Group Director of Imaging said: “Dr Chand has made an immense contribution not only to our department but to our country too. He’ll be leaving behind big, if not impossible, shoes to fill. We appreciate everything he’s done since joining our Trust in 1982. We’ll be sad to say goodbye to a much-respected colleague and friend.”
After leaving the Trust Dr Chand won’t be slowing down. He’s looking forward to gardening, travelling, spending time with his family and attending the defence studies dining club. He’ll also be completing his autobiography. When asked why he said, “I’d like to inspire the younger generation from underprivileged backgrounds to have progressive careers as I have been able to.”
From all of us at the Trust, we’d like to thank you for your hard work and dedication, Dr Chand. We wish you a happy retirement.