The Challenges of Medical Education during the Second Pahlavi Era (1941-1978)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Research Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, Institute of Western Studies and Scientific Research, Department of History of Science, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Following the Second World War, structural changes shadowed Iran’s higher education system in medicine. Major strategies, programs, teaching methods, etc., underwent significant changes during the second Pahlavi era. This study aimed to examine, academically and historically, the transformations in medical education during the second Pahlavi era. Regardless of its intrinsic value, it elucidates the roots of many contemporary problems and issues in medical education.
This study utilizes a descriptive-analytical method within the framework of historical studies, relying on archival documents and library resources from the second Pahlavi era (statistical yearbooks, guidelines, executive programs of organizations and ministries, and historical texts of that period) in an attempt to address research questions.
 The findings indicate that significant international developments, domestic public demands, fundamental structure weaknesses, and the absence of centralized policies have led to a discourse inclined towards change and improvement in medical education during the second Pahlavi era.
As a historical and continuous process, medical education is observable and dynamic. In the second Pahlavi era, it was presented and introduced as a necessary issue requiring change, directly impacting the quality of public health. This approach later led to integrating medical education into the service delivery system within the revolutionary discourse.

Highlights

Amir Mohammadi (Google Scholar)

Keywords


  1. Adham, H., 1934. Health, prevention, and education. Iranian Health Journal, 1(3), pp. 231-232.
  2. Azizi, M., 2014. Investigation of the state of responsive medical education in Iran. Journal of Educational Studies, Center for Studies and Development of Medical Education, 3 (1), pp. 50-59.
  3. Demorgan, J., 1956. Demorgan’s Travel Book. Translated by Jahangir Qaim Magami. Tehran: Tahori Publications. [in Persian]
  4. Detrick, E., 1973. Memories of presence in Tehran ( John Detrick professor of medicine and formerly Dean of Cornell University Medical College Tehran, December 1973). Tehran: no publisher.
  5. El Yassin, A., 2014. History of development planning in Iran. Tehran: Society of Consulting Engineers. [in Persian]
  6. Executive scientific documentation of the integration of medical education and service delivery system, 2003. Tehran: Golrang Printing Tehran.
  7. Hafizi, M., 1953. Guide for medical school, pharmacy-dentistry, and affiliated hospitals and schools. Tehran: Tehran University Press. [in Persian]
  8. Higher education statistics of Iran - Academic year 1348-49, 1972. Tehran: Scientific and Educational Research and Planning Institute.
  9. Higher education statistics of Iran - Academic year 1351-52, 1972. Tehran: Scientific and Educational Research and Planning Institute.
  10. Hussein Fereshteh, M., 1994. Problems and Issues in Higher Education: Perspectives on Iran-United States Educational Relations and Influences. ERIC, p. 28. ERIC Number: ED375690.
  11. Khademi, M., 1983. Planning of medical education and medical assistance based on application in the Islamic Republic of Iran (M.A. Thesis). Faculty of Health, University of Tehran, Tehran.
  12. Manuscript No. 297/693, 1952. Circular document to the female principals of public and national high schools for girls regarding the need to use the book on hygiene written by Dr. Rastegar for teachers and students of fifth grade and above [Manuscript]. Held at: Tehran: Organization of Documents and National Library of Iran.
  13. Medical education and medical coverage in rural areas of the country, 1972. Tehran: Scientific and Educational Research and Planning Institute.
  14. Nouri Hekmat, S., 2011. Implementation challenges of the plan to integrate health specialist training in Iran’s health service delivery system and providing a solution. (Ph.D. Thesis). Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran.
  15. Oberling, SH., 1949. Health Program for Iran. Education and Training Journal, 23(11), pp. 45-53.
  16. Pahlavi, M., 1995. Response to history. Tehran: Translator’s Publishing House. [in English]
  17. Rahnama, M, Razavi, T, Ziaee, M and Farman M., 1974. Report of the country’s health and medical problems review committee. Tehran: Ministry of Health. [in Persian]
  18. Ronagi, A., 1973. Emigration of Iranian doctors to America. Shiraz: Pahlavi University. [in Persian]
  19. Samirad, A., 1972. Statistical status report and health education. Tehran: no publisher. [in Persian]
  20. Shariat, T., 2006. Professor Oberling and his role in Iran’s modern medical education. Tehran: Publications of the National Museum of Medical History.
  21. Sheil, L., 1989. Lady Shail’s Diary. Translated by H. Abu Tarabian. Tehran: New Publishing. [in Persian]
  22. Statistical Journal No. 1 of the Iranian Medical System, 1970. Tehran: Iranian Medical System Organization.
  23. Statistical Journal No. 3 of the Iranian Medical System, 1972. Tehran: Iranian Medical System Organization.
  24. Statistical Journal No. 4 of the Iranian Medical System, 1973. Tehran: Iranian Medical System Organization.
  25. Statistical yearbook of the year 1350, 1972. Tehran: Statistical Center of Iran.
  26. Statistics and Surveys, 1973. Journal of the Ministry of Health, 183, pp. 97-125.
  27. Summary of the fifth development program of the country, 1352-1356, 1973. Tehran: Program and budget organization.
  28. The report of continuous and non-continuous construction projects, 1972. In: The budget law of 1351, the description of the implementation of government programs and operations. Tehran: Program and budget organization. pp. 262-270.
  29. Treatment and Medical Education, 2014. Document on transformation and innovation of medical sciences. Tehran: Ministry of Health.
  30. , A., 1962. Iran’s Pahlavi University: A Decade of Cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania, Studies Exchanges. Pennsylvania: Copeland.