Padma Shri Prof. Dr. J.S. Guleria Passes Away at 98: Tributes Pour in for the Pioneer of Indian Clinical Medicine

New Delhi: The Indian medical community is in mourning following the passing of Padma Shri Prof. Dr. Jagdev Singh Guleria, who breathed his last on January 22, 2026, at the age of 98. A towering figure in the world of clinical medicine, Dr. Guleria was the former Dean and Professor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where he spent decades shaping the future of healthcare in India.

Affectionately known as a “doctor’s doctor,” Dr. Guleria was celebrated for his uncanny ability to diagnose complex conditions through simple bedside examination. In an age before CT scans and MRIs became routine, his clinical acumen was legendary; colleagues often remarked that he could provide a “full diagnosis with only half the symptoms” just by listening to a patient’s story and observing their physical signs.

Beyond his diagnostic brilliance, Dr. Guleria was a pillar of medical ethics. As the chair of the AIIMS Ethics Committee, his guiding principle was always the safety and dignity of the patient. He famously taught his students that medicine began with listening, not testing – a philosophy he practiced until his final days, reportedly seeing patients even into his late 90s.

Dr. J.S. Guleria’s passing marks the end of a golden era of clinical medicine, but his teachings remain the “healing balm” for thousands of doctors he mentored across the country.

1 min read January 29, 2026