Dubai’s medical fraternity is paying tribute to Dr Mary John, the Kerala-born gynaecologist whose near three-decade career in the emirate touched thousands of families, following news of her passing in the United States last week.
Dr John, affectionately called “Girly” by loved ones, died in Springfield, Illinois, on August 21, 2026, at the age of 81, her family confirmed.
Her funeral will be held on September 6 at Mar Thoma Church in Springfield, with the Dubai Mar Thoma Parish, of which she was a former member, offering condolences to her family.
Colleagues and former patients across Dubai’s healthcare sector describe her influence as extending far beyond obstetrics, calling her a mentor who shaped an entire generation of doctors now leading departments across the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Health.
Dr John began her Dubai career at Dubai Hospital in 1987 before moving to what was then Al Wasl Hospital, now Latifa Hospital, in 1992, where she headed the gynaecology department for a decade starting in 1996.
She went on to lead the Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre from 2013 until her retirement in 2016, capping 29 years of service during which the centre, which pioneered infertility treatment locally, is credited with helping deliver close to 3,000 babies.
She is also remembered for introducing laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery to obstetric care in Dubai, and for helping establish subspecialties including feto-maternal medicine and gynaecological oncology in the emirate’s health system.
As academic head of Dubai Medical College, she trained doctors who now hold senior positions across the city’s health institutions, among them Dr Muna Tahlak, now Chief Medical Officer at Dubai Health, who described Dr John as a maternal figure who guided her from clinical work into hospital leadership.
Others who paid tribute included Dr Mohammed Salim Al Olama, an MoHAP undersecretary whose four children she delivered, and former colleagues at Latifa Hospital who recalled her dedication to patient care and medical training.
Born in Kerala on June 17, 1945, Dr John is survived by her sons Ashish and Anish, their spouses and four grandchildren. She later practised as an OBGYN in New York after leaving Dubai. In place of flowers, her family has launched a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in her memory.
