Dubai: Her colleagues, students, subordinates and friends think Dr Mary John, who leaves Dubai Health Authority(DHA) after 29 years of service, is a doctor blessed with the humane qualities of compassion, patience and dedication. it is these qualities that have endeared Dr John to the health-care community of Dubai.
While Dr John and her husband, Dr K.Y. John, are looking forward to joining their sons, Ashish and Anish, in the US, and also participating in the wedding celebrations of her younger son, the medical fraternity bids her farewell with a heavy heart. Many of them recalled fondly the inspiring association they had with her.
Dr Muna Al Tahlak, CEO of Latifa Hospital, recalls the day she joined as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist under Dr John. “I was returning to the UAE after 16 years after completing my undergraduate studies in Ireland and postgraduate studies in the US. So, for me, she was more than just a head of the department as she made my transition to the medical protocols followed here so much easier. She had trained in the US and was able to relate to me so well as we shared a similar educational background.
“I have learnt from her that it is important to be calm in the face of crisis, listen to others before taking a decision and always work together as a team on any project. For Dr John, her patients were special, she always dealt with them with such humility and gentleness would often see her patients way beyond her consultation time until late afternoon. Her patients had incredible faith in her and I have tried to imbibe all her qualities.”
Usha Kumari Pillai, one of the oldest serving nurses at Dubai Health Authority (DHA), who has worked for 33 years since 1986 and currently works as a supervisor for the delivery suite in Latifa Hospital, recalled Dr John’s kindness and compassion to not just her patients but to her subordinates as well. “I was already at Latifa Hospital [earlier called Al Wasl] when Dr John joined and had the opportunity to actually be part of the orientation to get her settled as she was coming from the US where different medical protocols were followed. I noticed that she had a professional demeanour but was a very friendly, humble, kind and affable person who immediately endeared herself to her patients and all of us.”
Former nurse Mary Kutty Thankachan, who left Dubai last year after her retirement, spoke to Gulf News from Kerala on her memories of Dr John. “Dr John and I belong to the same district in Kerala and I have had the opportunity to visit her home here. It was indeed a privilege to have worked with a person like her who taught me the importance of calmness and always discouraged us from getting into a panic no matter what the crisis. She remained unfazed and ready no matter what the situation. I remember her as a very spiritual and pious lady who never spoke a rude word to anyone, be it the staff or the patients.”
Close friend and consultant dermatologist Dr Chandra Shekhar recalls Dr John for her special healing touch. “Besides being one of the finest human beings I have known, Dr John has this healing touch which goes way beyond science or her degree. Whenever she visited my ailing mother, her mere presence and touch immediately had a ‘feel good’ impact on my mother. I think that was the case with most of her patients who had this unflinching trust in her.”
Dr Styliani Adrikou, laboratory director at Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre (DGFC) who joined the organisation in 2013, the same year Dr John joined as director, recalls the difficult times they had when their centre was working towards international accreditation. “We were working towards obtaining Canadian accreditation for the centre and all I can say is Dr John’s leadership was wonderful and inspiring. She had this tremendous positivity, a special smile for everyone and was so polite and kind that we sailed through all the challenges. It was a real privilege working with her.”
