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NIKI’s Trip to Iran 2006/1385:
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Mashhad:
NIKI’s yearly scientific/medical trip to Iran this year started on April 21st in Mashhad, the second largest city in Iran. Days were filled with scientific discussions, ground-rounds, workshops, and seminars. On the first day in Mashhad, our group met with the newly appointed president and vice-chancellor and faculty members of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. After the faculty introductions, each member of our group was assigned to specific division and was off to meet with faculty members and students in our specific scientific and medical field. Throughout the three days we spent in Mashhad, each of us gave between 1-3 seminars in the field of our interest. For example, Dr. Naser Parsa gave two talks entitled: to Division of genetics and, also at the BuAli Research Institute. In addition, we also visited the newly opened Razavi Hospital and its state of the art facilities and Shaikh Hospital for Children suffering from cancer. The latter was an emotional visit, however, we were encouraged to see tremendous steps being taken by the board of trustees from the hospital in making the hospital a better place for the children and their family. The highlight was meeting with students and future physicians and talking about their concerns as well as their interests in scientific didactic research. Our Mashhad visit was concluded by a luncheon get together with our faculty and student hosts in the grounds of Bu-Ali Institute and a tour of the botanical gardens of the Institute where many pharmaceutical research into the effects of specific herbs are being conducted.
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Shiraz:
Our next stop was Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Historically Shiraz University is well known for its advancement in medical and basic science research and that has been the case for over 40 years. Part of this advancement is due to the University’s close contact to some Universities in the Western countries. Like in Mashhad, we visited the departments in our specific field and talked to several faculty members and students. The highlight for me was how several medical students took the initiative to schedule another talk for me since my original scheduled seminar coincided with one of their lectures. The seminar to the Medical students lasted over 1.5 hrs that included many questions about HIV/AIDS biochemistry, public health, and modes of transmission and prevention. While the physicians in our group took advantage of touring divisions in the Medical School and Namazi hospital, Dr. Parsa and I visited the microbiology and genetics departments and actually observed few experiments. Dr. Parsa was instrumental in trouble shooting specific procedures in a cyto-genetics laboratory. Like in Mashhad, we met with the newly appointed Shiraz University president and discussed ways in which as a team we can assist in advancement of science and medicine in Shiraz.
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Esfahan:
Our next adventure took us to Esfahan visiting Esfahan Univeristy of Medical Sciences. Like SUMS, Esfahan University has a rich background in science, technology and medicine. Dr. Zargharzadeh from the International office at the University is always instrumental in organizing the trip. For me, Esfahan University is special since there are a few medical students who are working in the area of HIV/AIDS and I have been working with them for the past few couple of years. In both visits to Esfahan, they organized a get together with graduate and medical students to talk about their concerns and ways in which laboratory work can be enhanced in their field. Besides all the science, Esfahan is a wealth of traditions and Islamic Architecture and that is always special to see no matter how many times you have visited the city.
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Kashan:
From Esfahan, we made the 220 km drive North to Kashan. Kashan’s visit was an impromptu visit but filled with wonderful surprises both scientifically and culturally. Kashan is a cypress tree-filled oasis in the desert. The city is also filled with turn of the 19th century mansions and museums and gardens, the Fin garden being the famous one in the city. We were in Kashan for two days visiting the university and the faculty. On the first day we met with the Kashan University president and faculty. During the meeting, the president talked about his aspiration for the university and how he wanted the university to compete with the other top universities in Iran. It was very clear that the faculty embraced his vision. On our second day, they organized a small symposium for us where we gave talks in our specific field that was attended by students and faculty. Our stay at Kashan was a short one, but a special one and a collaboration that I believe will continue for years to come.
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Our trip to different universities and cities was a successful one and could not have been possible without the hard work, efforts, and vision of Dr. Farivar. We all are looking forward to future trips to Iran in 2007.
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Navid Madani, PhD
Department of Pathology,
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,
Harvard Unievrsity
