SRINAGAR: In a landmark achievement that has stirred admiration across Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Syed Aalishan Fatima from Srinagar has become the first female doctor from the Union Territory to qualify for the prestigious DM Cardiovascular, Endovascular and Interventional Radiology course at AIIMS Delhi.
Dr Aalishan secured All India Rank 3 in the April 2025 session of the highly competitive INI-SS (Institute of National Importance Super Speciality) Entrance Examination, a feat made even more remarkable by the fact that she accomplished it in her very first attempt. Her success is being hailed as a symbol of rising female excellence from the Valley in the most demanding domains of medicine.
“This milestone is not mine alone,” Dr Aalishan is reported to have said in an emotional message. “It belongs to every young girl from Jammu and Kashmir who dares to dream beyond boundaries. Let your dreams be louder than your doubts.”
A mother to a 15-month-old baby, Dr Aalishan has balanced personal and professional responsibilities with extraordinary determination. She completed her MBBS at the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, in 2011 and subsequently pursued an MD in Radiodiagnosis at the same institution, following her achievement of a State Rank 13 in the NEET-PG 2018 examination. She further attained her DNB Radiodiagnosis from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, in 2022.
Her academic journey culminated in a Senior Residency at Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital and Super Speciality Hospital (SSH), which she completed in May 2025, during which she also embraced motherhood. Speaking of that phase, she said, “Motherhood made me stronger. It refined my time, focus, and sense of purpose.”
Dr Aalishan’s brother, Dr Syed Fakhrudin Hamid, is the current Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag. She credits her family for being the bedrock of her journey. “My parents, siblings, husband, and in-laws were my constant support system,” she said. “This is as much their victory as it is mine.”
Her achievement is being widely celebrated not just for its academic merit, but also for what it symbolises, the rise of Kashmiri women in fields long dominated by men. Many young female students across Jammu and Kashmir have already expressed inspiration from her story, describing her as a role model who embodies perseverance and excellence.
In her message to aspiring medical professionals, Dr Aalishan said, “Don’t let your fears stop you from stepping into uncharted territory. The world is yours to conquer.”
As she prepares to begin her DM course at AIIMS Delhi, Dr Syed Aalishan Fatima stands tall, not just as a doctor but as a trailblazer whose journey resonates with the aspirations of a new generation of Kashmiri youth.
