In Memoriam: Dr. Naseem Salahuddin (1944–2026) – Founding Editor, Visionary Leader, and the Mother of Infectious Diseases in Pakistan

Abstract

Dr. Naseem Salahuddin—our beloved mentor and a fierce, unwavering defender of human dignity—is no more. Her sudden departure on May 22, 2026, leaves the entire medical community in profound mourning.

Dr. Naseem laid the very foundation of the Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (IDSP) in 1993, and later spearheaded and launched the Infectious Diseases Journal of Pakistan (IDJP). To understand the genesis of this monumental legacy, one has to look back to the quiet, determined beginnings of a specialty that did not yet exist in our country.

When reflecting on those early days, Dr. Altaf Ahmed—Head of Infection Control and Clinical Microbiology at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Center, Lahore, her dear colleague, and one of the fellow founding pioneers of Infectious Diseases in Pakistan—shared this deeply heartfelt remembrance:

“I first met her in 1993 at Liaquat National Hospital — a slim, elegant, soft-spoken, middle-aged physician. Most of her conversation was in English rather than Urdu. She introduced me to “KIDS” — the Karachi Infectious Diseases Society — and invited me to its meetings. There were only 10-12 of us, sitting in a room, discussing infectious diseases. Two years later, we decided KIDS should grow into IDSP and expand its reach.

At that time, there was no journal dedicated to infectious diseases in Pakistan. She was a gifted writer with a strong command of English and frequently contributed articles to newspapers, especially DAWN. One day she said, “Let’s start an infectious diseases journal focused on our national issues.” Back then, JPMA was the only reputed medical journal, but it did not focus on ID. In 1994 she started with the “Karachi Infectious Diseases Newsletter” which in 1995 became IDJ — the Infectious Diseases Journal. She solicited articles from colleagues, reviewed manuscripts, raised funds for printing, and distributed copies herself. A one-woman army.”

Indeed, Dr. Naseem raised an army of dedicated specialists in Infectious Diseases in Pakistan by her sheer grit, dedication, and boundless love for her country. For those of us who grew up under her wings, the most beautiful reward was her maternal pride; she constantly expressed how deeply proud she was to see us all growing, thriving, and taking the field of Infectious Diseases to new, unprecedented heights

In her honor, we stand together today to pledge to uphold the exact values she demanded of us every single day. We promise to keep the pages of this journal a sanctuary for rigorous, data-driven truth, ensuring that local data is always met with international standards of excellence. We commit to keeping this platform a vibrant, welcoming voice for young, emerging researchers, lifting them up just as she lifted us. We will continue to publish the science that matters to our people—focusing on diseases specific to our region—and we will ensure that our voice is heard clearly in the international community. We will guard the independence and ethical boundaries of this journal with the same fierce, unyielding discipline that Dr. Naseem modeled for decades.

With profound grief and the heaviest of hearts, the Editorial Board of the Infectious Diseases Journal of Pakistan (IDJP) is officially transitioning the name of our beloved founding member and guiding light, Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, from our active editorial roster.

While her name moves from the operational masthead, her spirit is permanently, indelibly etched into the very DNA of this journal and into the heart of every physician who carries her torch.

Rest in eternal peace, Dr. Naseem. We miss you profoundly, but we promise to march on.