Tributes pour in for veteran Dubai gynaecologist who helped deliver nearly 3,000 babies.
Dubai’s healthcare community is mourning the loss of Dr Mary John, a veteran gynaecologist from Kerala, India, who was credited with helping deliver nearly 3,000 babies during her nearly three-decade career in the emirate.
Fondly known as “Girly” among friends and family, Dr John died in Springfield, Illinois, in the US on August 21, 2026, according to her family. She was 81.
Tributes have poured in from doctors, hospital leaders and former patients, who remember her not only as a pioneering obstetrician but also as a mentor, friend and, for many, a second mother.
A career marked by milestones
Dr John joined Dubai Hospital in 1987 before moving to Latifa Hospital, then known as Al Wasl Hospital, in 1992. She went on to lead its gynaecology department from 1996 to 2006.
In 2013, she took charge of the Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre (DGFC), where she served until her retirement in 2016, completing 29 years of service in Dubai’s healthcare sector.
During her tenure, the DGFC, which played a pioneering role in infertility treatment in the emirate, was associated with the birth of nearly 3,000 babies.
She also played a pioneering role in advancing obstetric care in Dubai, introducing laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery when these techniques were still in their early stages. She further helped establish specialised fields such as feto-maternal medicine, colposcopy, uro-gynaecology and gynaecological oncology within the local healthcare system.
As the academic head of Dubai Medical College, Dr John trained generations of doctors, many of whom later went on to lead departments within the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Dubai Health. Colleagues say her contribution to medical education was as significant as her work helping thousands of families.
When she retired, the DHA recognised her decades of dedicated service and praised her efforts to develop Dubai’s gynaecology services in line with international standards.
After retiring from Dubai, Dr John moved to the US to be closer to her family, but colleagues say she remained connected to Dubai and continued to keep in touch with many of the doctors she had mentored.
Family’s tribute
Born in Kerala on June 17, 1945, Dr John is survived by her sons, Ashish and Anish, their wives, Teena and Kiran, and four grandchildren — Ashwin, Simran, Yohan and Inara. Within the family, she was lovingly known as Amma, while her grandchildren called her Ammi.
Her family said she also served the New York community as a respected OBGYN, touching the lives of patients in both India and the US.
They remembered her as a warm and compassionate person whose kindness extended far beyond the walls of her clinic. According to her family, kindness and compassion were values she lived by and shared with everyone she encountered.
In lieu of flowers, Dr John’s family has established a memorial fundraiser, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
“Like a mother to us”
Dr Muna Tahlak, now Chief Medical Officer at Dubai Health and Vice Provost for Clinical Affairs at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), was among Dr John’s early protégées.
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Tahlak recalled the deep bond they shared and described Dr John as someone who held a special place in her heart.
Dr John would often tell her that, had she had a daughter, she would have been around Dr Tahlak’s age, as she had two sons. She was also deeply proud of Dr Tahlak and played an important role in shaping her career.
Dr Tahlak said that while she initially focused primarily on patient care as a young doctor, Dr John mentored her towards leadership and administrative responsibilities. She credits her mentor’s guidance for helping her progress professionally and eventually become her successor.
Dr Tahlak recalled that even after Dr John moved away from Dubai, she would call every Eid to extend her greetings and check on the progress of the department. She described her former mentor as someone who guided many doctors through her kindness, care and vision.
“She was like a mother to us, always calm and understanding,” Dr Tahlak said.
A family friend
For Dr Mohammed Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), his connection with Dr John went beyond the professional sphere. She had helped deliver four of his children.
“She was one of those very special doctors you don’t often come across — compassionate, warm and so approachable that you felt she was a friend rather than simply your doctor. She became a family friend,” Dr Al Olama said.
A pillar of Latifa Hospital
Dr Faiza Badawi Mahgoub, who worked at Latifa Hospital until 2024 and now practises at Clemenceau Medical Center Hospital, remembered Dr John as a key figure in the hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology department.
She also highlighted Dr John’s contribution to medical education, particularly through her role as head of the obstetric division at Dubai Medical College.
“I had the privilege of working under her and alongside her in various roles since 1989. Her greatest passion was patient care, and she would spend hours in the clinic caring for her patients. She was dedicated, hardworking, honest and humble,” Dr Mahgoub said.
She recalled that Dr John strongly believed in teamwork and played a key role in establishing training programmes for generations of young doctors. Despite her leadership responsibilities, she remained deeply involved in patient care and was known for being available to the hospital around the clock.
“She was one of the leaders in developing guidelines, clinical governance and hospital accreditation. Her passing is a great loss to the many doctors who learned from her. May God rest her soul in peace.”
Decades of friendship
Dr Shabana Muzaffar, a gynaecologist at Chughtai Clinic in Dubai Healthcare City, first met Dr John in 1991 while working with her at Latifa Hospital.
The two developed a close friendship that continued long after Dr John retired, including during the years she spent living in Chicago.
“She was my mentor and a very kind person. She was also a close friend of my mother. My family and I would meet her whenever she was in Dubai, and we also met a few times in the US. We celebrated special occasions together,” Dr Muzaffar said.
Dr Muzaffar recalled how Dr John would call her every year on her birthday, sometimes as early as 6am. Earlier this April, she even sang a birthday song to her over the phone. The two last spoke around Dr John’s birthday in June and last met in person about two years ago, when Dr Muzaffar was living in New York.
Dr Anu C Mathews, who was an obstetrics and gynaecology resident at Latifa Hospital from 1996 to 2000, remembered Dr John as someone who devoted her life to medicine and made the most of every moment.
“She was polite, warm and deeply endearing. Working under her guidance helped sharpen my skills, while her example made empathy an integral part of my medical career,” she said.
Dubai church mourns
Dubai Mar Thoma Parish also expressed its condolences following the death of Dr John, remembering her as a former member of the parish.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Let us pray that God grants them heavenly peace and comfort during this time of grief,” the parish said.
Her funeral service is scheduled for September 6 at Mar Thoma Church in Springfield, according to the parish.
