Message from the Chancellor

Dear Students, Researchers, Members of the Faculty, and Scholars,

Welcome to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), the first Iranian university of medical sciences, and a pioneer of medical education and clinical services in Iran, the surrounding region, and around the world.

Medical education in Iran has deep roots in human history. With historical and urban settlements dating back to 4,000 B.C., ancient Persians and contemporary Iranians always felt the need for up-to-date and relatively advanced medical support for the general population. Thus, this country has always been a welcome home for, and host to, medical researchers and scientists. Avicenna (aka Ibn Sina or Pur Sina), whose works on medicine were used as standard medical content at many medieval universities in Europe, and Rhazes (aka Zakariya Razi), who greatly contributed to the universal field of medical sciences through his unique discoveries, are two of the most outstanding figures among a multitude of great physicians and medical scholars of the country during past centuries.

Though medical education in Iran has seen its ups and downs, modern higher education in Iran, which notably started with medical education, has been today, Iranian universities are considered among the best in the region, and TUMS is by far the most outstanding university in the country, which is usually the first choice of bright students. In the recent years, up to 70% of top ranked students in the nationwide entrance exam have selected TUMS to pursue their education.

With 11 schools, 16 hospitals, approximately one hundred research centers, 75 libraries, and more than 1,600 young and seasoned faculty members, TUMS provides a comprehensive and academically-enriched educational experience to its students. Moreover, this university enjoys the presence of approximately 13,000 students, all of whom are meticulously selected and are top individuals in their relative fields of study. TUMS is proud and honored to educate about 40% of the country’s Ph.D. students in basic medical sciences.

During the past several years, TUMS actively and purposefully made further investments to expand its international outreach to connect with international audiences, entering numerous international academic and research collaborations, admitting students from all five continents, exchanging faculty members, and developing its international capacities from different dimensions, such as human resource education, establishing international offices, and rapidly improving its infrastructure.

I look forward to welcoming you to our university and wish you success in all your academic endeavors.

Abbas Ali Karimi, M.D., Ph.D.

Chancellor

Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)