Family rejection, hunger and a court battle: Hyderabad’s Ruth John Paul becomes India’s first transgender PG doctor

There were days when Dr. Koyyala Ruth John Paul struggled to find food. Estranged from her family after coming out as a transgender woman, she spent years trying to make ends meet, searching for jobs while refusing to give up on her dream of becoming a doctor. When the path to postgraduate medical education was blocked by the absence of clear admission procedures for transgender candidates, she turned to the courts.

On Saturday (October 10, 2026) her perseverance culminated in a milestone. Dr. Ruth John Paul cleared all subjects in the recently announced MD/MS examination results, completing her postgraduate degree in Emergency Medicine at the ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Sanathnagar, Hyderabad, where she studied during the 2023-26 academic session. She has become the first transgender person in India to complete a postgraduate medical course. “I am feeling very happy. It is a matter of pride for me and my community. It is a great achievement in my life,” she said.

A childhood marked by loss

The youngest of three siblings, Dr. Ruth John Paul hails from Khammam district and grew up in a family with limited financial means. She lost her father when she was eight years old and was raised by her mother. She completed her schooling and intermediate education in her native district before clearing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and pursuing undergraduate medical education. She came out as a transgender woman during her undergraduate years. This led to her family rejecting her, leaving her separated from them for nearly six years.

The period that followed was marked by financial insecurity and the struggle to survive independently. “There were times when I did not even have food. I struggled to survive and looked for jobs,” she said.

In 2021, she found part-time work at Mitr Clinic (now Sabrang Clinic), which is India’s first transgender clinic. She worked there for around two years while continuing to prepare for postgraduate medical entrance examinations.

A legal battle to pursue her dream

Clearing the entrance examination was not the end of her struggle. Dr. Ruth John Paul said she encountered difficulties during postgraduate medical counselling because there were no clear protocols for accommodating transgender candidates.

With the assistance of transgender rights activist Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli, she approached the Telangana High Court seeking relief. The legal proceedings continued for nearly two years. An interim order from the High Court eventually enabled her to proceed with admission. In 2023, she secured a seat in Emergency Medicine at ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Sanathnagar.

Her admission marked a turning point, but the challenges did not end there. She said she continued to encounter stigma and apprehension from people who were unfamiliar with transgender individuals.

From apprehension to acceptance

Working in a clinical environment brought its own challenges. As an emergency medicine trainee, she had to interact with patients during some of their most vulnerable moments, while also navigating the prejudices that transgender people can face. She recalled how some people were initially hesitant or uncomfortable around her. “Initially, some people were scared and did not know how to respond. But when I interacted with patients and treated them with care, they began to appreciate me. People who were initially apprehensive have now become comfortable with me,” she said.

A doctor with a larger purpose

Now that she has completed her postgraduate course, Dr. Ruth John Paul wants to use her medical training to help people in need, particularly transgender individuals who require emergency and critical care. “I want to serve everyone, especially transgender people who face critical medical emergencies. I want to provide care without discrimination based on gender identity or sexuality,” she said.