WHO Country Office Representative in Iran, Two Italian Psychiatrists Meet TUMS Chancellor to Discuss Italian Model of Mental Health

WHO Country Office Representative in Iran, Two Italian Psychiatrists Meet TUMS Chancellor to Discuss Italian Model of Mental Health
Date: 6/29/2011

TUMSPR News: Dr. Ambrogio Manenti, the World Health Organization Country Office representative in Iran, alonglised two Italian psychiatrist who are WHO’s consultant on community-based mental health met with Dr. Larijani on June 28, 2011.

Dr. Ambrogio Manenti, the World Health Organization Country Office representative in Iran, alongside two Italian psychiatrist who are WHO’s consultant on community-based mental health, Dr. Abolhassani, TUMS vice-chancellor for health, Dr Nasehi, the head of the Office for Mental Health and Addiction Prevention at the Ministry of Health and some other officials met with Dr. Larijani, TUMS Chancellor on June 28, 2011.

Emphasizing on the most important features of the Italian model of psychiatry, Dr. Bolhari said deinstitutionalization, closing down of traditional asylums, was the core objective of this approach and being a pioneer in this area, Italy had urged WHO to adopt the approach in Europe and other countries.

Thanking the Chancellor for the reception, Dr. Amrogio Manenti, talked about the coincidence that some Iranian authorities responsible for mental health had asked him about mental health collaborations, and having worked in Palestine (Gaza) and Balkans on the issue, he had invited the Italian psychiatrists to come to Iran to introduce the approach.

He referred to the movement in the Italian psychiatry that lead to the legislation of community-based psychiatry in 1978 as a movement that based its core activity of dismantling large [traditional] psychiatric institutions and promote mental health. He said a set of services were needed to answer the needs of patients as well as activating the social and economical sectors of the society. He said WHO endorsed community mental health in 2001.

Dr. Roberto Mezzini, a WHO consultant and one of Franco Basaglia’s aides, thanked the Chancellor for the meeting and said it would be great to help the Iranian mental health system to close the gap with the population needs as they had first-hand account of the experience after the approval of the relevant law in Italy.

He said the Italian mental health model was sustainable and very well integrated in the health network. Having other experiences in two other countries, Dr. Mezzini said good practice was the main objective and their mission was to support any pilot centers for providing mental health.

Dr. Renzo Bonn, another WHO consultant and a social psychiatry lecturer at the University of Udine in Italy, said he was happy to be here and that their experience had been received well. He said the Iranian heath system network was similar to their mental health services in some ways.

Dr. Nasehi the executive for Mental Health and Addiction Prevention at the Ministry of Health said that the latest statistics showed a prevalence rate of 21% for psychological problems which was the first burden of diseases in women and it was only second to accidents in men, depicting negligence of the issue in the past with resultant criminal behaviors in the present. He expected the Ministry of Health could provide the necessary man-power and financial resources to address the problem.

He then said a mental health center had been newly established and a second one was under way. He hoped the approach could support mentally ill patients and reduce the burden of disease and costs.

In the end, Dr. Larijani welcomed the guests and stressed the need for community-based mental health regarding the high burden of the disease in the country. He said fortunately the health networks were in place and they could be activated in this direction too, especially in villages and small cities. He believed the weak performance of the system in large cities was because of the poor interaction between the public and private health sectors and said a comprehensive plan might provide a solution. He also referred to the 10-year long training of family physicians and inclusion of these services in their curriculum as a solution to change the behavior of people in their communities.

Dr Larijani said there was an undeniable link between the growing problem of addiction and mental health insufficiencies and hoped there could be integration between the project and the present health policies to tackle the problem.

Finding some similarities between Italian and Iranian cultures, the Chancellor wished Dr. Bolhari and his colleagues could make the most of the opportunity brought about by prospective collaborations with Italian counterparts.

Finally, the Chancellor said the vastness of the country and its research centers justified implementation of different approached to ultimately foster the ones with the best evidence.

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Dr. Renzo Bonn, an Italian Psychiatrist Differentiates Pure Sciences from Medicine which is both Science and Practice

Dr. Renzo Bonn, an Italian Psychiatrist Differentiates Pure Sciences from Medicine which is both Science and Practice
Date: 6/29/2011

TUMSPR News: In a meeting held to introduce the Italian model of mental health, Dr. Renzo Bonn belives medicne is both science and practice and very much linked to philosophy on June 28, 2011.

The Italian psychiatrists, Dr. Renzo Bonn, a WHO consultant and a Social Psychiatry lecturer at the University of Udine in Italy, and Dr. Roberto Mezzini, a WHO consultant met with their Iranian peers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) upon an invitation by the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Iran, headed by Dr. Ambrogio Manenti, and coordination of the Ministry of Health’s Office for Mental Health and Narcotic Addiction Prevention on June 28, 2011.

The meeting mostly focused on analyzing the movie “Once upon a time there was the asylum, where was the madness ” which depicts the Italian community-based mental health system lead by Dr. Franco Basaglia, and its legislation in 1978.

In his comments, Dr. Renzo Bonn, a WHO consultant and a Social Psychiatry lecturer at the University of Udine in Italy, stressed that in many places of Italy the system had not been applied but in areas it had been put to use it had worked seamlessly.

Then he said Franco Basaglia was not a [pure] scientist and medicine is not [pure] science but science and practice and very much linked to philosophy.

On the resistance by the traditional asylum advocates that argue it should not be wise to disarm those centers from their daily practices and community based systems could address only some of the problems said: “We live in reality and not in pieces of reality. Science is continuously changing but we have to take the decision in practice. Human being is a project but an existential project. Medicine is science but health is our practice”.

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Dr Roberto Mezzini: in areas of Italy the community-based psychiatry system had been in place it had worked well

Dr Roberto Mezzini: in areas of Italy the community-based psychiatry system had been in place it had worked well
Date: 6/29/2011

TUMSPR News: In the meeting coordinated by the Ministry of Health and the WHO Country Office in Iran on discussing community-based psychiatry, Dr. Roberto Mezzini said in areas of Italy the system had been in place it had worked well and the help had been given by the community; a community-based psychiatry on June 28, 2011.

Dr. Roberto Mezzini, a psychiatrist and a WHO consultant, who met with Iranian peers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) upon an invitation by the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Iran analyzed the movement in the Italian mental health system which had started in 1961 by Dr. Franco Basaglia, and it had been made to law in 1978 through showing a movie named “Once upon a time there was the asylum, where was the madness was”.

During the discussions Dr. Mezzini expressed his pleasure of being a guest of such a meeting and in introducing the model he modestly said they would not be the best choices to represent the experience although he had been one of Basaglia’s assistants in the past.

He added that Basaglia confronted the core issue of traditional psychiatric hospitals which meant to protect the society from the patients but he changed the way people treated the mentally ill patients and said meet the human beings and their needs and discover them in their real life.

Dr Mezzini said at that time people who were admitted to asylums could be released within 28 days of the preliminary evaluation or be confined in the place for one or two decades or for life and they would be taken away from their possessions, home, or any other assets and be given to a third party unless the family could undertake the responsibility of keeping the patient.

He said Basaglia gave a voice to the patients and his greatest intuition was to change the reality and advocate for a social change to help the disabled people.

He said in areas of Italy the system had been in place it had worked well and the help had been given by the community; a community-based psychiatry.

He argued that social support networks could help and 60% of those with sever diagnosis could still work and the concept of dangerousness was changed ever since.

On offering his expertise t help he said, “We don’t have any solutions to propose to you and we don’t have the leadership in the world. We just want to convince and not win the minds of people with different thoughts and practice is the only way to witness the change”.

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A Team of Italian Psychiatrists Analyze the Italian Model of Mental Health with Iranian Peers

A Team of Italian Psychiatrists Analyze the Italian Model of Mental Health with Iranian Peers
Date: 6/29/2011

TUMSPR News: By the invitation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and coordination of the Ministry of Health’s Office for Mental Health and Narcotic Addiction Prevention, two Italian psychiatrists travelled to Iran to discuss the Italian model of mental health that relies on open-door mental hospitals with their Iranian peers on June 28, 2011.

Two Italian psychiatrists, Dr. Renzo Bonn, a WHO consultant and Social Psychiatry lecturer at the Udine University in Italy, and Dr. Roberto Mezzini, a WHO consultant met with their Iranian peers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) upon an invitation by the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Iran which is headed by Dr. Ambrogio Manenti, and coordination of the Ministry of Health’s Office for Mental Health and Narcotic Addiction Prevention on June 28, 2011.

The Italian team who had visited some of TUMS psychiatric and mental health centers and had been briefed about the health system in Iran analyzed the movement in the Italian mental health system which had started in 1961 by Dr. Franco Basaglia, and it had been made to law in 1978 through showing a movie named “Once upon a time there was the asylum, where was the madness was”.

As Dr. Kazemzadeh Atoufi, the WHO Collaboration Center's mental health expert at Tehran Psychiatry Institute said in an interview, the meeting ensued two visits by Iranian psychiatrists to Italy to witness the system in practice where they had been lectured by the two Italian psychiatrists there.

He said deinstitualization was a humanistic approach to psychiatry and this approach shows confinements in isolation wards in psychiatric hospitals is outdated. He emphasized that in this model the patient is managed in the community and it removes the stigma of being a psychiatric patient.

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Memorandum of Understanding between TUMS Children's Medical Center and Immunology Division of Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School

Memorandum of Understanding between TUMS Children's Medical Center and Immunology Division of Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School
Date: 6/28/2011

TUMSPR News: A memorandum of understanding was signed between TUMS Children's Medical Center and Immunology Division of Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School in late May 2011.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Children's Medical Center affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) and Immunology Division of Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School in late May 2011 upon a visit by Dr. Nima Rezaei, an assistant professor of TUMS and Chief Executive Director of Children's Medical Center from the immunology division and the laboratory facilities of that department in the Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Rezaie also participated in rounds and discussions, interviewed with a number of the fellows and staff, and gave a seminar on the relevant subjects at the immunology division.

Consequently,an MOU was between between TUMS Children’s Medical Center and the research centers located in the hospital, including Research Center for Immunodeficiency's, Molecular Immunology Research Center, Growth and Development Research Center, the Division of Immunology, and the Jeffrey Model Immunology Center at Harvard, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. This memorandum will expand collaboration on scientific programs and research projects, exchanges and training of scientists, sharing of information and technology in support of research activities, sharing of best practices, meetings, workshops and scientific conferences, according to the mutual interests and benefits of both.

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The Second National Antibiotic Stewardship Conference in TUMS to raise Awareness on Antibiotic Resistance

The Second National Antibiotic Stewardship Conference in TUMS to raise Awareness on Antibiotic Resistance
Date: 6/27/2011

TUMSPR News: The second National Infection Control and Antibiotic Resistance Conference was held in TUMS to raise awareness on the eminent treat of antibiotic resistance on June 27, 2011.

In the second National Infection Control and Antibiotic Resistance Conference held in Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) on June 27, 2011, the head of Nosocomial Infections Control Department at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) said when the World Health Organization (WHO) called for awareness on antimicrobial resistance in 2011, it asked member states had to follow its policies in four domains. They include infection prevention, rapid diagnosis and complete treatment of infected cases, rational prescription of antibiotics, and prevention of nosocomial infections. By these we could guarantee the prevention of antimicrobial resistance.

He added that physicians as well as people should be informed on the importance of the problem.

The head of Food and Water borne Diseases Department, added that by forming the antimicrobial resistance organization every hospital can then prepare and revise its guidelines on antibiotic use and infection control.

Dr. Afhami, the secretariat of the conference, believed inappropriate and inadequate dosage of prescribed antibiotic and missed intervals are the main sources of antimicrobial resistance which are not confined to developing countries.

Dr. Abolhassani, TUMS Vice-chancellor for Health, said any intervention in medicine has its own probable side-effects and prevention of complications necessitates well-defined strategies and regulations. He stressed that tougher regulations for proper antibiotic use was a must to raise awareness on the issue and make sure they are prescribed with caution.

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Professor Bernard Pavy, the renowned French Plastic Surgeon Brings Smiles of Hope in TUMS Vali-e-Asr Hospital

Professor Bernard Pavy, the renowned French Plastic Surgeon Brings Smiles of Hope in TUMS Vali-e-Asr Hospital
Date: 6/25/2011

TUMSPR News: Dr. Bernard Pavy, the French plastic surgeon who is famous for cleft lip, cleft palate and burn scar surgeries operated on some disadvantaged children during his week-long stay at TUMS Vali-e-Asr Hospital from June 9, 2011.

Dr. Bernard Pavy, the French plastic surgeon, who is famous for doing 300,000 cleft lip, cleft palate, maxillofacial anomalies and burn scar surgeries free of charge around the world and has given those children hope to compete with normal peers spent a week, starting from June 9, 2011, at Vali-e-Asr Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) to operate on some disadvantaged children.

This philanthropic surgeon of French nationality believes these children are of equal intelligence to their normal peers and have the right to live equally and not to be segregated for their disfigured body.

During an interview with TUMS PR representative at the Hospital, Professor Pavy pledges to help humans as much as he can and share his expertise.

Dr. Pavi is the 15th physician who has visited the country in coordination with Iran’s branch of the International “La Chaine de l’Espoir” (the Chain of Hope) charity organization. In the past two years, as many as 1240 surgeries in below 18 children have been done by the cooperation of Iranian and French surgeons. Most of the children have had spinal column deformities or congenital heart problems.

Iran’s Chain of Hope branch has helped Iranian surgeons by coordinating for their education in France in fields needed most by the country.

The expenses of some of the surgeries routinely about $20-40 thousand in Iran have been reduced to something below $5000 by the help of Iranian surgeons and volunteer hospitals while most of the expenses are also undertaken by good-doers.

Iran’s Welfare Organization is one of the allies of the Organization in identifying the children in need of the help.

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The 2nd International Leishmaniasis Management Workshop Commences at TUMS School of Public Health

The 2nd International Leishmaniasis Management Workshop Commences at TUMS School of Public Health
Date: 6/22/2011

TUMSPR News; The second international leishmaniasis management workshop kick-started at the School of Public Health affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences on June 19, 2011.

The second international leishmaniasis management workshop kick-started at the School of Public Health affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) on June 19, 2011.

At the presence of the vice-minister for health, Dr. Mesdaghinia, Dr. Mirza-zadeh, a representative from the Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Iran, Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Gouya, the head of the Communicable Diseases Control department at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and Dr. Ghazi-khansari, the head of TUMS International Relations Office, the second international leishmaniasis management workshop kick-started at the School of Public Health affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences on June 19, 2011. The workshop would last from June 19 to July 16, 2011.

The School of Public Health has been holding such workshops with collaboration of WHO for 25 countries, including the EMRO countries. The School recently held a malaria control workshop for the managers of of communicable diseases in the region.

The students are from Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. The course has been held by the cooperation of TUMS, the Ministry of Health, TUMS Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy (CRTSDL), the National Health Research Institute, and Isfahan and Kerman Medical Sciences Universities.

After the theoretical classes, the students accompanied by their teachers would travel to Isfahan and Kerman for field studies.

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Tehran Mayor Appreciates TUMS Chancellor for His Role in Creating Job Opportunities

Tehran Mayor Appreciates TUMS Chancellor for His Role in Creating Job Opportunities
Date: 6/22/2011

TUMSPR News: The Mayor of Tehran megacity, Mr. Morteza Tamadon, has appreciated TUMS Chancellor, Dr. Bagher Larijani for his role in helping create new job opportunities on June 11, 2011.

In an appreciation plaque signed by the Mayor of Tehran cosmopolitan city, Mr. Morteza Tamadon, and the director of the Occupational and Investment Workgroup, Mr. Mehdi Rafie, on June 11, 2011, have appreciated TUMS Chancellor, Dr. Bagher Larijani for his role in creating new job opportunities in the year 2010 and have wished him greater success.

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The 13th International Course on Malaria Control and Management Comes to an End at TUMS Bandar Abbas Health Research Station

The 13th International Course on Malaria Control and Management Comes to an End at TUMS Bandar Abbas Health Research Station
Date: 6/20/2011

TUMSPR News: The thirteenth international course on malaria management and control signed off at TUMS Bandar Abbas Health Research Station on June 15, 2011.

The thirteenth international course on malaria management and control which had started on April 14, 2011 by the participation of twenty malaria management authorities from Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iran came to a close at Bandar Abbas Research Station affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) on June 15, 2011.

In this 2-month course, basics of epidemiology, biostatistics, microscopic diagnosis of the parasite, communicable and non-communicable diseases management, malaria vector and some other related subjects are taught to the participants. The participants would also take a field study of about seven days and analyze the disease and vector sates in some nearby cities and plan for the control of the disease. In the end the participants would be asked to provide a report for their field studies.

The instructors of these courses are usually from TUMS and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Appreciating the importance of such courses, the vice-minister for health, D. Mesdaghinia who is the dean of the School of Public Health too, Dr. Mohagheghi, the vice-minister for education, Dr. Rashidian, the head of the Institute of Public Health Research, D. Ghazi-khansari, the director of TUMS Public Relations, Dr. Akhavan, the vice-dean of the School for Financial Affairs and Dr. Holakouie, the head of the Station participated in the graduation ceremony of the students and congratulated their success in their speeches.

In his speech, Dr. Mesdaghinia read the message by Dr. Jezayeri, the head of WHO in the EMRO, to the participants.

The representative of the students, Dr. Aref Ahmad Ali Saeed, from Yemen, thanked all the professors and authorities on behalf of the students and himself.

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A Team of Italian Psychiatrists in TUMS to Discuss the Italian Model of Non-hospital Psychiatric Services

A Team of Italian Psychiatrists in TUMS to Discuss the Italian Model of Non-hospital Psychiatric Services
Date: 6/19/2011

TUMSPR News: A team of Italian psychiatrist will hold a symposium in Tehran University of Medical Sciences to discuss the Italian non-public psychiatric hospital model on Tuesday June 28, 2011.

Based on the news by Tehran Psychiatric Institute affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), two Italian psychiatrists would pay a visit to the country on June 26 to 29, 2011 on an invitation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and coordination by the Ministry of Health’s Office for Mental Health and Narcotic Addiction Prevention. During their visit they would hold a symposium in TUMS on June 28, 2011 to discuss the Italian community psychiatry without mental hospitals model.

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A Memorandum of Understanding Signed to Hold International MPH Courses for ECO Member States

A Memorandum of Understanding Signed to Hold International MPH Courses for ECO Member States
Date: 6/18/2011

TUMSPR News: A memorandum of understanding was signed between TUMS International Relations Office and the Foreign Ministry’s School of International Relations to hold international MPH courses for ECO member states in late June 2011.

The International Relations Office of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) and Iran’s Foreign Ministry’s School of International Relations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to hold MPH courses for the members of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in late June 2011.

This moves ensues the allocation of studying opportunities to the nationals of ECO member states in line with the major policies of the country.

The MOU was brought about by great efforts put forward by the authorities of TUMS School of Public Health, ECO, TUMS International Relations Office and the Foreign Ministry’s School of International Relations.

The head of TUMS International Relations Office, Dr. Mahmoud Ghazi-khansari, and the dean of the Foreign Ministry’s School, Dr. Homayoun Hemati, signed the memorandum.

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Dr. Tom Marshall's visit to TUMS Digestive Disease Research Center

Dr. Tom Marshall's visit to TUMS Digestive Disease Research Center
Date: 6/15/2011

TUMSPR News: Dr. Tom Marshall, one of the executive collaborators of Polypill project in Digestive Disease Research Center, visited the center on June 8, 2011.

Based on the news by the Public Relations of the Digestive Diseases Research Center, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Dr. Tom Marshall, an epidemiologist and biostatistician from the University of Birmangham , UK and a public health planning fellow in the U.S. visited the Center on a 6-day trip to Iran from June 8 to 13, 2011.

Preventing chronic diseases in high risk populations is among the main health priorities. Strategies for primary and secondary prevention include controlling risk factors (e.g. hypertension and dyslipidemia) and prescribing medications. Regarding medications, instead of separate pills that are already prescribed to millions of people, a combination of pills, Polypill, has been developed. One kind of these medications is currently in use by individuals over 50 in Golestan province in a cohort study.

Dr. Tom Marshall, the head of the Research Center, Dr. Malekzadeh, and the executive board, travelled to Gonbad Kavous, the main site of Polypill research project, to oversee the recruitment of eligible subjects, which would be completed within one year and half, the follow-up phase of the study which would last for 5 years; holding sessions in Aq Ghola district to recruit colleagues among the physicians and health-care workers there. The group visited the Cardiovascular Research Center in Isfahan which is one of the collaborating centers in the project.

The Digestive Disease Research Center aims to conduct this project in two other areas: Aq Ghola and Kolaleh.

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Intelligent Surgical Navigation System, as Described by the Head of the Project

Intelligent Surgical Navigation System, as Described by the Head of the Project
Date: 6/13/2011

TUMSPR News: Dr. Alireza Ahmadian, a TUMS faculty member at Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine (RCSTIM) and the Intelligent Surgical Navigation System project manager looks for the development of the system for different organ systems and commercialization of the system upon its unveilment on June 9, 2011.

Dr. Alireza Ahmadian, a faculty member of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) at the Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine (RCSTIM) and the Intelligent Surgical Navigation System project manager spoke of the intention for the development of the system for different body organ systems in different surgical fields and the need to mass-produce and commercialize the system upon its unveilment on June 9, 2011.

Dr. Ahmadian informed that the machine had successfully passed its phantom, cadaver and clinical trials in 5 different hospitals in Tehran and it had proved to be operating with a 1-1.5 mm spatial precision in comparison with American or European products.

Describing the the technical features of the system, the project manager compared the intelligent surgical navigation to a global positioning system (GPS) that helped surgeons have more accurate estimates of lesions in difficult locations. He assured that the system would bring about both confidence for the surgeon as well as more safety in operations. He emphasized that the machine would increase the quality and success rate of delicate surgical operations.

Ambitious about equipping operating rooms with the intelligent navigation system in the country, Dr. Ahmadian hoped its mass production could bring about a solid presence in the regional markets. He also expressed the will for the constant development of the system and its applications in different surgical operations.

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Attaining the Intelligent Surgical Navigation System Competence is More Important than the Machine itself, Says TUMS Chancellor in a Televised Interview

Attaining the Intelligent Surgical Navigation System Competence is More Important than the Machine itself, Says TUMS Chancellor in a Televised Interview
Date: 6/12/2011

TUMSPR News: In a televised interview, TUMS Chancellor, Dr. Bagher Larijani, pointed out that achieving the intelligent navigation system is of more importance than the machine itself on June 9, 2011.

Upon the unveilment of an intelligent navigation system for head and neck surgeries at Imam Khomini Hospital Complex, the Chancellor for Tehran University of medical Sciences (TUMS) participated in a televised interview with two other TUMS faculty members, Dr. Sarkar, the head of TUMS Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine (RCSTIM) and Dr. Sadr-hosseini, the clinical ENT surgeon of the project in the evening of June 9, 2011. The head of the project, Dr. Ahmadian accompanied the rest via a telephone interview.

In the interview the Chancellor said one of the important issues in science development was technology and the University had had the opportunity to follow technology cycles parallel to research in the last ten years and exemplified the establishment of four technology incubator centers in the University while not forgetting to work on technology parks which would later shift to knowledge cities where we could manufacture the achieved technologies.

On the advantages of the technology incubation centers, the Chancellor said the inventors were working side by side the clinical surgeons and developed the machines mutually to meet the patients’ needs and this would tie science with technology. “Therefore, attaining the technology to produce such high-tech systems is more important than the machines themselves”, said the Chancellor.

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An Intelligent Navigation System for Surgery is Unveiled at TUMS

An Intelligent Navigation System for Surgery is Unveiled at TUMS
Date: 6/11/2011

TUMSPR News: An intelligent navigation system for performing delicate surgeries which had been designed by faculty members of Tehran University of Medical Sciences was unveiled at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex on June 9, 2011.

An intelligent navigation system used for performing delicate surgeries, especially those of head and neck, was unveiled at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex at the presence of Dr. Ahmadinezhad, Dr. Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi and Dr. Bagher Larijani on June 9, 2011. This high-tech apparatus had been designed by faculty members of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).

Eng. Amirinia, the head of the presidential Center for Technology and Innovation Cooperation said production of this machine is the fruit of tremendous efforts, identification of opportunities, reacting momentarily and facilitating bureaucratic functions without which this breakthrough would not have been possible.

He added that not only the domestic needs would be met by the mass production of the machine but also the country would be able to export as similar machines would cost about $500000-700000 in foreign countries but the one presented here would only cost $200000-250000. He then said foreign companies had estimated Iran’s market demand for those goods to be around $350,000,000.

Dr. Alireza Ahmadian, the project manager, who was the second to take the podium, compared surgical navigation to a global positioning system (GPS) that helped surgeons have more accurate estimates of lesions lying in inaccessible or less accessible locations and confirmed it would provide confidence as well as more secure and more precise operations. He emphasized that the machine would increase the quality and success rate of delicate surgical operations.

Dr. Ahmadian informed that the machine had successfully passed its phantom, cadaver and clinical trials and it had proved to be operating flawlessly in comparison with American or European products.

Talking about the clinical trial of the project, Dr. Sadr-hosseini, the clinical ENT surgeon of the project, said the navigation systems could help different surgical groups, especially endoscopic sinus surgeons, skull base surgeons and orthopedists neurosurgeons to locate the lesions precisely and minimize the risk of complications.

Having been trained by similar machines in the US, Dr. Sadr-hosseini said a decade ago Iranian ENT surgeons were able to compete with world surgeons but introduction of navigation systems made a huge difference but fortunately today we have produced this high-tech machine and could equip operating rooms with the device.

Outlining the Ministry of Health and Medical Education’s plan for economizing on foreign exchange expenditure, Dr. Vahid-dastjerdi said the opportunity created by the production of this machine would guarantee the rendered health services to be of higher quality. She then said the Ministry had saved $150 million by introducing some medications into the market that previously used to be imported in the past and estimated the savings would amount to $300 million by the introduction of 15 more drugs.

After unveiling the surgical navigation system, Dr. Ahmadinejad said it would be impossible to exclude surgery from the body of medicine as this would jeopardize the health of people and accommodating Iranian surgeons, who are well-known in the world for being skillful, with this device would lower human error rates close to zero.

On the necessity of useful and applied science, Dr. Ahmadinejad said any nation who sought to be respected had to believe in itself and continue its pioneering work on the frontiers of science. Referring to the estimate made by foreign companies about the domestic demands for the device, Dr. Ahmadinejad promised to equip the state’s hospitals with surgical navigation systems.

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Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital Inaugurates VIP Ward in Lines with TUMS Health Tourism Agenda

Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital Inaugurates VIP Ward in Lines with TUMS Health Tourism Agenda
Date: 6/7/2011

TUMSPR News: In lines with Tehran University of Medical Sciences health tourism agenda, Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital Complex inaugurated its VIP ward by hospitalizing 17 foreign patients on June 8, 2011.

Based on the news by the Public Relations of Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital Complex, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), the Hospital inaugurated its VIP ward by hospitalizing 17 foreign nationals on June 8, 2011. The move is in lines with the health tourism agenda of the University which holds some of hospitals unique to the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in the capital and it is equipped with state of art equipment to perform routine and special investigations and surgeries.

The head of the Hospital accompanied by its manager welcomed the patients and a wished them speedy recovery.

Photo gallery.
http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/gallery/detail.asp?galleryID=3398

http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/english/news/detail.asp?newsID=25059

TUMS to Unveil an Intelligent Navigation System for Surgery

TUMS to Unveil an Intelligent Navigation System for Surgery
Date: 6/7/2011

TUMSPR News: Tehran University of Medical Sciences will unveil an Intelligent Navigation System for head and neck surgeries on June 9, 2011.

Research Center for Science and Technology In Medicine (RCSTIM), one of the four technology incubation centers of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), will unveil its latest innovation, an intelligent navigation system for ear, nose and throat and also the central nervous system surgeries at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex on June 9, 2011.

The apparatus has been clinically tested and approved previously.

http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/english/news/detail.asp?newsID=25057

The New Chair of Philosophy, Law and Medical Ethics for the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council

The New Chair of Philosophy, Law and Medical Ethics for the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council
Date: 6/1/2011

TUMSPR News: TUMS Chancellor, Dr. Bagher Larijani, has been appointed as the Chair of Philosophy, Law and Medical Ethics for the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council.

The Chancellor for Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Dr. Bagher Larijani, has been appointed as the Chair of Philosophy, Law and Medical Ethics of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council’s Board for the support of the chairs of theoreticians, critics and debaters by Mr. Aliakbar Rashad, the head of the Board for three years.

As Mr Rashad has indicated, the suggestion had been made by the Boards' secretariat regarding the Chancellor's scientific background and authority [in the field of medicine and medical ethics].

Supreme Cultural Revolution Council (SCRC) is described as "the highest body for making policies and decisions in connection with cultural, educational and research activities within the framework of the general policies of the country".

Dr. Larijani is also the head of the policy-making council of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/english/news/detail.asp?newsID=24960

Completion of the Largest Renovation and Construction Project at TUMS Baharlou Hospital

Completion of the Largest Renovation and Construction Project at TUMS Baharlou Hospital
Date: 6/1/2011

TUMSPR News: The largest renovation and construction project at Baharlou Hospital which is affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences has been completed to better serve the patients in one of the southern parts of the capital.

Based on the news by the Public Relations of Baharlou Hospital, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), the largest construction project has been completed at the Hospital which is situated at the southern parts of the capital.

The Hospital authorities decided to launch the projects in order to improve services offered to the patients who were mostly from the not so affluent parts of Tehran. The project began on March 21, 2011.

The Hospital's operation rooms, with a total area of 450 squares meters, were renovated in three stages. A new surgery room was also added into the hospital. The hospital was equipped with new recovery and post-operation ICU beds.

The gynecologic surgery ward with an area of 500 square meters, was renovated too and a 30 beds were added to the ward. An isolation and a treatment room were constructed in the ward as well and the labor and neonatal wards of the hospital were also refurbished.

The hospital also constructed a skill lab with an area of 200 square meters and constructed a room with an area of about 700 square meters to accommodate university students.

A new library and a hall, with an area of 165 square meters, where classes and seminars could be held were also built into the hospital premises [H].

http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/english/news/detail.asp?newsID=24956

TUMS Chancellor’s Message for World No Tobacco Day 2011

TUMS Chancellor’s Message for World No Tobacco Day 2011
Date: 5/31/2011

TUMSPR News: TUMS Chancellor, Dr. Bagher Larijani, in his message on the World No Tobacco Day 2011 has asked the faculties, students and staff to help eradicate the habit in the environment.

The Chancellor for Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Dr. Bagher Larijani, in his message on the World No Tobacco Day 2011 which is held on the 31st of May, has asked the faculties, students and staff to help eradicate the habit in the environment.

In his message he has referred to the disease as the second cause of the non-communicable disease that took the life of about 100 million people, amongst them passive smokers, in the 20th century and it is estimated the figure will increase to one billion for the 21st century. The Chancellor has pointed out that tobacco-related death is second to those of hypertension among non-communicable diseases that have taken the lead over communicable diseases in recent years.

Embraced by more than 170 countries, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) has provided legal dimensions for tobacco control, the Chancellor said and emphasized that the responsibility is felt more than ever by the academic community of the country to inform, plan and take action to curb tobacco smoking.

http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/english/news/detail.asp?newsID=24918