The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh was conceived in 1960 as a center of excellence which would endeavor to develop patterns of teaching in postgraduate medical education in as many branches as possible and attempt to produce specialists in several disciplines of medicine.

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh was mandated to

• Provide high quality patient care.
  
• Attain self-sufficiency in postgraduate medical education and to meet the country’s need for highly qualified medical teachers in all medical and surgical disciplines.
  
• Provide educational facilities for the training of personnel in all important branches of health activity.
  
• Undertake basic community based research.

PGIMER has attained self sufficiency in postgraduate medical education and runs a continuous, full time residency program in most of the specialties of medical sciences e.g. medicine, surgery, pathology, etc.

There is a full fledged institute of nursing called National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE) which imparts quality nursing education.

Research forms an integral part of the education programme of the Institute. Scientific inquiry includes basic research, and clinic research. PGI has always made an endeavor to direct its various research activities to the relative needs of the society. The research work is carried out in accordance with nationally and internationally approved guidelines. It has to be cleared by a committee of experts from the viewpoint of its necessity and safety of the subjects to be studied along with its ethics. The student pursuing the post graduation and postdoctoral courses are required to write a thesis/dissertation on a particular subject. During training the residents thus gain a first hand experience of conducting research in the laboratories along with community and patient care management.

PGIMER has courses in the following fields:

• Medical
  
• Para medical
  
• Nursing
  
• Elective training
  
• Short term training

Under the aegis of Institute Cultural Committee, the residents, students and the employees of the Institute hold a number of cultural, literary and social activities every year. Such activities help to promote a common sense of brotherhood among the various segments of students and staff of the Institute besides providing the much needed diversion from busy academic and service routine.