NIKI Academic Trip 2008
The NIKI Academic Trip 2008 to Iran was from 26 April to 16 May. The team included 40 prominent scientists/ university professors from USA, UK, Norway, Germany and France. The NIKI scientific team had programs at universities and research institutes including:
- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
- Arak University of Medical Sciences
- Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
- Royan Research Institute
- Isafahan Welfare Organization
In anticipation of our trip we planned a preliminary detailed program. Our activities at host universities were extensive and varied in content; from fast-paced, informative talks to practical field, research, and laboratory activities and to hands-on, goal-oriented trainings to establish advanced medical/surgical procedures. The programs were well organized and it was evident that extensive preparation for our trip was made.
On the first day of the program at each university, a comprehensive introductory meeting was arranged. The participants included NIKI lecturers, president, officials and also all head of departments of the university.
Scientific Programs
Scientific Talks
Every NIKI lecturer gave at least one scientific talk at each university. The audience was professors, residents and also students. The list of talks is available at: http://theniki.net/trip2008/programs.htm.
Establishing Simultaneous Kidney- Pancreas Transplantation (SKPT)
SKPT was established at Shahid Behshti University of Medical Sciences for the first time in the Middle-East. SKPT offers successful therapy for patients with juvenile onset diabetes (type I) and end-stage renal disease. NIKI owes this great development to Prof Shokouh-Amiri (Louisiana State University), a NIKI trustee and the head of NIKI Transplant Team. NIKI transplant team had also established the Pancreas transplantation program in Shiraz in 2005.
Establishing an International Joint Stem Cell Research Center in Tehran
After outlining the proposal for a joint research center by Shahid Beheshti University and Newcastle University, it was decided that further discussion would be useful with the three terminal officials from Iran and Britain and also NIKI to finalize the plan. A senior team from Newcastle University will have a visit to SBMU for finalizing the details.
Establishing a PhD Program on Urban Health Management
Prof Carolyn Stephens from London School of Health and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University of London headed a working team from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Municipality of Tehran to initiate a PhD program on Urban Health Management at SBMU. The program is expected to start in 2009. Following the arrangement by NIKI, a senior team from these institutions will have a visit to LSHTM and also Municipality of London in late summer.
International Congress of Stem Cell Research
It was decided that an International Congress on Stem Cell Research will be held in Iran in 2009 by Shahid Beheshti University and NIKI.
Establishing Surgical Skills Course
A team from Royal College of Surgeons; Prof Mike Larvin (University of Nottingham), Prof Steve Nixon (University of Edinburgh), Dr Asif Haq (King"s College Hospital) and Dr Parinaz Mohanna (St Thomas" Hospital) accompanied NIKI and conducted a course on Surgical Skills in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The course was in the form of “training the trainers” workshop.
One-day Seminar on Ethics & Law in Pharmaceutical Sciences
The seminar was organized jointly by NIKI and Iranian Research Center for Ethics and Law in Medicine on 5 May. Two NIKI lecturers; Prof Graham Dukes (University of Oslo) and Dr Alireza Haghighi (University of Oxford) gave talk in the seminar.
Group Therapy Workshop
Two workshops on Group Therapy were launched by Prof Esmail Mahdavi (University of Massachusetts Boston) to train the supervisors of Orphans Department of Iran Welfare Organization in Isfahan and Kashan.
Two-day Workshop on HOSPICE
A workshop on HOSPICE was conducted by Prof Nasser Ghasemi (Einstein Medical School) in Kermanshah and Tehran. Kermanshah University is establishing the first HOSPICE in Iran in 2009 with NIKI assistance.
Workshop on Health Economy/ Systems
A two day workshop was launched at Ministry of Health and Medical Educational, Shahid Beheshti University and also Tabriz University. It was conducted by Prof Roy Carr-Hill (University of York) and focused on Resource Allocation, Measuring Inequalities in Health, Social Determinants of Health, Intersectoral Planning and National Health Accounts.
Sabbatical Arrangement for Iranian Professors
NIKI provided some sabbatical/training opportunities to Iranian professors. For example, Prof Anup Patel (Laparoscopic Urology/ Transplantation; Imperial College London) and Dr Keyoumars Ashkan (Functional Neurosurgery; King"s College London) kindly accepted to offer two 6-month sabbaticals per academic year.
Meetings
Meeting with IRI Vice President for Science and Technology
On invitation of Dr Vaezzadeh (the IRI Vice-president for Science and Technology), the board of trustees of NIKI had a comprehensive meeting with him and his deputies. Dr Vaezzadeh greatly appreciated activities performed by NIKI in Iran and expressed readiness to fully support.
Meeting with Presiding Board of Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences (IAMS)
On invitation of Prof Malekzadeh (Deputy-president of Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences), NIKI board of trustees and some of its faculty members had a visit to the academy. The meeting focused on exploring grounds for future collaboration with NIKI. The IMAS attendees included Prof Iraj Fazel (President), Prof Reza Malekzadeh (Deputy-president), Prof Ali Nobakht Haghighi (Secretary).
Meeting with President of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)
On invitation of Prof Bagher Larijani (President of TUMS), NIKI board of trustees with the presiding board of TUMS. Prof Larijani requested closer scientific cooperation with NIKI.
Social Programs
One of the highlights of our program was the gracious hospitality of medical staff, trainees, students and staff. We were hosted and accompanied by the university officials/faculty for almost all of our meals. The meals allowed us very important time to casually discuss observation, comments and experiences in medical training in Iran and the hopes and future plans of our hosts. Our lecturers felt very privileged to get to know our hosts better during these occasions.
The special invitation was to University President’s Party on our last night in each university. This event was hosted by university at a beautiful banquet facility and included university officials, heads of departments and also key faculty members. It was nice to see some of the professors and attending we had met during the program in a more relaxed setting. It was also a very good opportunity to discuss the strengths and challenges of the system in the host universities, and also to add up the outcomes of the trip and plan for future programs.
During the afternoons and evenings we were hosted at several social programs; from sight-seeing to traditional music concerts and from visits to breathtaking monuments to social dinners at beautiful Persian restaurants.
We wish to thank all the faculty, residents, and students of our host universities for their hospitality and friendship during our trip. In particular, we would like to thank Dr Sadegh Vaezzadeh (Vice President of IRI for Science and Technology), Prof Alireza Zali (Chancellor of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences), Prof Ahmadreza Khalili (Chancellor of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences), Prof Babak Izadi (Chancellor of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences); Prof Bagher Larijani (Chancellor of Tehran University of Medical Sciences), Prof Ali Fani (Arak University of Medical Sciences) and Prof Abduallah Bahrami (Former Chancellor of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences).
We would also like to thanks all NIKI lecturers for their enthusiasm, expertise, and hard work.
We are heading into an exciting time for NIKI, a time in which we are being asked to grow and adapt to meet the needs of more universities as well as their faculty and students. We hope that we can continue to assist in the development of Iranian Universities to be world class medical institutions.
If we stand together, we will make even more development in science and medicine in Iran. We welcome all who want to have contribution to scientific development of Iran, you can simply contact us at: info{AT}theniki{DOT}net
Best regards;
Mohammad Farivar, MD, FACG
Harvard Medical School,
Co-founder and Trustee of NIKI | Alireza Haghighi, MA(Law), MD, FEACCI
University of Oxford,
Co-founder and Trustee of NIKI |
