The life and career of professor Parviz Dabiri (1921-2012).

Dr. Parviz Dabiri (1921–2012) was a distinguished professor of pathology at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran and an in uential mentor who devoted most of his fruitful life to the promotion of science and culture. He passed away, at age 91, on July 3, 2012 in Isfahan. Professor Dabiri was born in Tehran to an educated family. His father, Seyed Mehdi Agha was a senior of cial of the Ministry of Finance. His grandfather Seyed Ali Mohammad Khan, also known as Dabir-o-al-Molk, was an expert in Iranian traditional music and a writer in the Court of Nasser Al-Din Shah Qajar. He was a descendant of Abu’l-Qasim Farahani who was known as Qá’im Maqam (1779–1835), the open-minded Prime Minister in the early 19th century during the Qajar Period (1794–1925). His mother, Mrs. Monir-Safolmolk was a teacher of Persian literature. After completing high school in 1940, the young Parviz entered Tehran School of Medicine and received his MD degree in 1946. Thereafter, between 1946 and 1948, he began his residency training in biology and pathology at Tehran Medical School. His main pathology masters were two pioneer pathologists in Iran: Dr. Mostafa Habibi-Golpayegani (1904–1948) and Dr. Kamal-o-Din Armin (1914–1995).1,2 Dr. Dabiri married Azar Aghazadeh who was appreciated by him for her support in all aspects of their mutual life. In 1948, after their marriage he went to Harand near the Batlaq-e-Gavkhuni (the terminal basin of the Zayandeh River in east Isfahan) to treat malaria patients. At that time, malaria was prevalent in Harand. Two years later, in 1950, he was appointed Associate Professor of Pathology and Embryology at Isfahan Medical School, which was established in 1950.3 He was the founder of the Pathology Department at this school and its af liated educational hospitals. At the end of World War II, around the rst half of the last century, Dr. Dabiri was pioneer as an activist young professor of University on the Iranian uprising against British Oil Company. In 1955 Dr. Dabiri became a full professor. Subsequently, Professor Dabiri went to the United States to continue his studies in pathology at the Medical School of the University of Virginia. He also received a World Health Organization scienti c scholarship and travelled to several European countries to update his knowledge of pathology. Professor Dabiri established a Pathology Museum at the Isfahan School of Medicine. He was a dedicated teacher who trained several residents of pathology and taught many medical students. He was full of passion and had a positive attitude in teaching. Accordingly, his courses were memorable learning experiences for students (Figure 1). In 1981, Professor Dabiri retired. However in subsequent years he continued his academic endeavors at the new medical school in Najafabad, Isfahan Province, an endeavor that he continued until the last years of his life. Professor Dabiri was one of the founders and permanent members of the Iranian Association of Pathologists (IAP). He attended several meetings of the IAP and was elected as the President of its General Assembly. Dr. Dabiri was an honorary member of the Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences since 2001. He prepared over 6000 pathology slides, around 3000 colored pictures of various pathologic disorders, large-sized microphotographic color pictures, and approximately 1000 black and white or colored microphotographic pictures for educational purposes. Dr. Dabiri attended many local and international scienti c meetings (Figure 2). History of Contemporary Medicine in Iran