Srinagar ~ Dr Tasleem Arif, a Kashmiri dermatologist from Soura, Srinagar, has been ranked among the world's top two per cent of scientists by Stanford University for the second consecutive year (2024–2025). Believed to be the first and only dermatologist from Jammu and Kashmir to achieve this distinction, Dr Arif joins 21 Indian dermatologists featured in the global list curated by Prof. John P.A. Ioannidis in collaboration with the Elsevier Data Repository.

Expressing gratitude, Dr Arif said,“I'm not proud for making it personally, but for representing the dermatological fraternity of my Union Territory-this is a proud moment for both my alma maters, GMC Srinagar and SKIMS.”

A prolific researcher with over 155 publications and several book chapters, Dr Arif is globally recognised for his pioneering work on scleroderma - an autoimmune disease that hardens the skin and internal organs. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Morphea and Related Disorders (2024), a comprehensive reference published by Bentham Science.

His research on“Esophageal involvement in systemic sclerosis and morphea” was reviewed by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)-a rare honour in global medical research. Dr Arif's diagnostic innovation, the“Tasleem's Water Jet Sign”, and his novel surgical techniques in vitiligo and hyperhidrosis have also earned international recognition.

A reviewer for prestigious journals including The Lancet and Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), Dr Arif also sits on the editorial boards of over 25 medical journals.