SKIMS: Room No 159
In the dimly lit and rasping corridors of SKIMS Srinagar, a steady stream of distressed visitors escort their patients to various OPDs for consultation. Many would frown upon learning that one of the most distinguished doctors has retired and would no longer grace Room No 159.
In this room and elsewhere, Dr. Shariq Masoodi, a noted endocrinologist, has treated thousands of people suffering from obesity, metabolic syndrome, and associated endocrine disorders like diabetes and thyroid ailments.
Dr Shariq is a niche researcher whose papers have been published worldwide, award-winning scientist, endocrinologist, academician, and mass health educator rolled into one. He is arguably the most followed & trusted doctor on the internet in the Kashmir region.
His clinical expertise, compassion, and empathy have transformed SKIMS into a ‘sanctuary of cure’ for those battling endocrine and metabolic disorders. After more than 30 years of relentless service, Dr. Shariq might have hung up his white coat for good, but his legacy will continue resonating in SKIMS Srinagar & beyond.
Born into a humble yet widely respected Masoodi family in Sopore township, Dr. Shariq scripted his own success story. Raised by parents who instilled in him the value of perseverance, his early life was marked by simplicity but a deep yearning for learning.
Showkat Shafi, a former Kashmir University academic & Columnist, fondly remembers Dr Shariq’s “obsessive love for detective novels.”
“You would find him lost in the fictional world for weeks together during secondary school days . Still, he went on to secure his MBBS berth seamlessly. He was quite brilliant in academics,” says Shafi.
What began as a small dream soon became an illustrious career in endocrinology. His groundbreaking research on diabetes and metabolic disorders earned him global acclaim, with numerous peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals like the Lancet and Nature.
At the time of his superannuation, Dr. Shariq was the head of the Department of Endocrinology and Dean of Academic Affairs at SKIMS Srinagar.
He is a visiting professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. He has over 22,000 citations with an H-index of 39, some 226 publications, and a PubMed score of -130+. He has authored several independent book chapters internationally.
Yet, for all his global recognition, Dr. Shariq remained deeply committed to his Kashmiri roots, earning him the sobriquet of ‘Koshur endocrinologist.’ This is not just for his medical brilliance but for his kindness and the time he took to reach out to the masses.
Dr. Shariq has been an academician of distinction, mentoring dozens of doctoral and post-doctoral scholars and clinicians. Many of them now carry forward his legacy, leading endocrine research and clinics across the globe.
“As my guide and mentor during my DM at SKIMS, he was simply incredible,” says Dr. Shivani Sidana, head of the endocrinology department at AIIMS Bathinda, Punjab.
So illustrious has been his role in the SKIMS ecosystem that when asked for his comments on Dr. Shariq’s retirement, Prof (Dr) Mohammad Ashraf Ganai, the incumbent Director of SKIMS, said, “I am not letting him go. I will hold him back.”.
Dr Hamid Zargar, former director of SKIMS and himself a distinguished endocrinologist, echoes Dr Ganai’s sentiment: “He played one of the finest innings in SKIMS’ history.”
In the words of Kashmir acclaimed scholar Zareef Ahmad Zareef, “Dr. Shariq Masoodi didn’t just treat illnesses—he rejuvenated lives spiritually.”
Ace broadcaster Abdal Mahjoor defines Dr Shariq’s role in the Valley’s healthcare in a broader perspective.
“Dr. Masoodi’s humane approach to patient care has redefined the benchmarks of medical excellence, reminding us that the true art of healing lies not just in prescribing medications but in embracing the complexities of the human experience with empathy, kindness, and wisdom.”
Tariq A. Masoodi
Head - Strategic Communications & Policy
Fusion Care Hospitals Private Limited
