DR. ZABIH GHORBAN

August, 2007

 

Dr. Zabih Ghorban, Founder and Former Chancellor and Professor of Shiraz/Pahlavi University is one of those rare individuals who make a real difference. At a time when only two educated physicians were serving the whole province of Fars, Dr. Ghorban, saw his mission to establish a number of colleges and train desperately needed health care professionals for the province and the country at large. With dedication and a strong conviction, Dr. Ghorban practically single handedly created a medical school and later a University that within a generation became the finest University in Iran. In the Preface of the book “Medical Education in Shiraz A Personal Memoir by Zabih Ghorban”, Dr. Farhang Mehr, the former Chancellor of Shiraz/Pahlavi University wrote “If vision, courage and dedication are characteristics of greatness, Dr. Ghorban deservee salutation as a great man ” The chancellor's breadth of vision, farsightedness, and firmness of purpose in the face of many problems- financial and, sadly, political- resulted in the creation of an institution of immeasurable value to the people of Iran”. Dr. Ghorban's leadership and enthusiasm in helping people easily persuaded governmental or private organizations, as well as a pool of outstanding graduates of fine universities worldwide to join and help him in these humane endeavors. A fine example of this is the creation of the 200- bed Nemazi Hospital, one of the finest in the Middle East at the time, funded by Haj Nemazi another son of Shiraz. Born in Abadeh in 1903 after completing his elementary education, Dr. Ghorban attended the Tarbiat School and Alborz College in Tehran and then the American University of Beirut to receive his M.D. degree. Following a year of postgraduate studies in France , he returned to Iran in 1932 and settled in Shiraz. Recognizing an immediate need for trained health professionals, Dr. Ghorban created the School of Assistant Nurses in 1937, a four -year medical college' Amouzeshgahe' Ali Behdari” and a two year college “ Amouzeshgahe' Behyari” in 1945. English was adopted as the medium of instruction and this enabled the students to use a large body of literature and also made it possible to hire well known international academicians to help educate young Iranians. To treat patients and train doctors, he created the Saadi Hospital in 1945 with the help of the government and people of Shiraz. Under his leadership, Shiraz Medical School was established in 1949 and he was appointed as the dean while he was also serving as the Director-General of the Fars Province Health Department. Shiraz University , comprising of three schools, was officially inaugurated in 1955 with Dr. Ghorban as its Chancellor and the elected dean of the medical school. Dr. Ghorban was actively involved in the transition of the university to the Pahlavi University and after leaving his position as a chancellor in 1961; served the university in many capacities for several years. At present, Dr. Ghorban lives in Shiraz.