History of the School of Medicine at Iran University of Medical Sciences

The School of Medicine at Iran University of Medical Sciences was established through the merger of two prominent medical institutions: the Ayatollah Taleghani Medical School and the Iran Medical Center.

Formation and Early Years

The Iran Medical Center commenced its operations in 1975, initially known as the Imperial Medical Center, and began admitting undergraduate medical students. From 1975 to 1978, the center welcomed four batches of students. Following the Islamic Revolution, the institution was renamed the Iran Medical Center.

In parallel, the Ayatollah Taleghani Medical School operated prior to the Islamic Revolution as the Medical Education Complex of the Iranian Red Lion and Sun Society (also referred to as the Batmanghelij Medical Education Complex). This institution began accepting 60 students annually from 1975, selected through a national entrance exam and interviews, targeting candidates from provinces that lacked medical schools, such as Gilan, Kermanshah, and Sistan and Baluchestan. Between 1976 and 1978, admissions expanded to include students from other provinces. After the Islamic Revolution, this complex was rebranded as the Medical Education Complex of the Red Crescent Society and subsequently became the Ayatollah Taleghani Medical School.

Reopening and Curriculum Development

After the cultural revolution, the Ayatollah Taleghani Medical School was reopened and began directly admitting students through the national exam in 1982. By 1985, significant changes in the medical education program were implemented, including the introduction of a pathophysiology course into the general medical curriculum. This course was offered concurrently to students of both the Iran Medical Center and the Ayatollah Taleghani Medical School.

In 1986, the establishment of the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education was formalized, leading to the merger of the educational and research complex of the Ministry of Health with the Iran Medical Center to create the School of Medicine at Iran University of Medical Sciences. Dr. Abolfazl Khosravi Zanjani was appointed as the first president of the university, while Dr. Ali Rezaei Zadeh became the inaugural dean of the School of Medicine.

The following hospitals were allocated to the university:

Imam Ali Hospital

Firouzgar Hospital

Shahid Navab Safavi Psychiatric Hospital

Shahid Akbar Abadi Maternity Hospital

Firouz Abadi Hospital

Shohada-ye 7 Tir Hospital

Shahid Rahmanian Hospital

Shafa Yahyaeian Hospital

Shahid Mottahari Burn and Trauma Hospital

Shahid Rajayi Heart Hospital

Shahid Hashemi Nejad Hospital

Hazrat Ali Asghar Hospital

Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital

Shahid Esmaili Psychiatric Hospital

Current Structure and Educational Programs

Today, the School of Medicine encompasses 11 educational treatment centers (educational hospitals), serving a diverse array of learners across various levels, from associate degrees to advanced specialty training. Several of these centers specialize in educational, research, and treatment services in fields such as pediatric reconstructive surgery, orthopedic emergencies and burns, psychiatry, women's health, and urology.

The School of Medicine comprises 13 departments dedicated to basic science education, staffed by more than 100 faculty members. In addition to instructing medical students in the basic sciences, these faculty members also mentor around 350 graduate students, including 185 master's students and 165 PhD candidates.

Furthermore, 27 clinical departments, comprising over 700 faculty members, provide training across various levels, from internships to subspecialties, within the educational treatment centers they oversee. The School of Medicine at Iran University of Medical Sciences is responsible for the education of over 2,800 students in the General Medicine program, 1,300 students in the specialty program, 142 students in the subspecialty program, and 190 students in the fellowship program.

This comprehensive educational framework underscores the commitment of the School of Medicine to fostering a high standard of medical education and training in Iran.