In the early 1990s, when Pakistan-sponsored terrorism had turned parts of Kashmir into ‘liberated zones’, Dr. Mohammad Sultan Khuroo, the Director of the prestigious Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), found himself amid a harrowing ordeal. Terrorists had taken control of the hospital, removing the ‘SK’ from the signboards and covering the walls with posters promoting ‘azadi’ and ‘jihad’. Khuroo’s fellow villager, the eminent surgeon Dr. Abdul Ahad Guroo, was abducted and shot dead, prompting a senior IPS officer to advise Khuroo to ‘disappear’ for his own safety.
A Remarkable Journey to Saudi Arabia
Honoring his father’s wish for him to serve his people, Khuroo initially took a year’s leave before joining the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There, he rose through the ranks, becoming a Professor and Head of the Department of Gastroenterology, and later establishing the Department of Liver Transplant, where he supervised over 100 critical surgeries.
A Life of Dedication and Excellence
Despite facing numerous hardships and financial constraints during his early years in Kashmir, Khuroo’s passion for medical research and his unwavering commitment to his profession drove him forward. His dedication earned him the esteemed role of the Saudi royal family’s physician, where he handled the healthcare of Kings Abdullah and Fahad. Even in the midst of turmoil, when his son Yasir was abducted, Khuroo’s resilience and determination remained steadfast.
A Legacy of Groundbreaking Discoveries
Khuroo’s most significant contribution to the field of medicine was the discovery of the Hepatitis ‘E’ virus while dealing with an epidemic that infected over 57,000 people in Kashmir in 1978. His groundbreaking research and expertise in gastroenterology and liver transplantation have earned him numerous accolades and medals, solidifying his reputation as one of the world’s top gastroenterologists and liver transplant experts.
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