Origins of the Department of Psychiatry
The National University of Iran (officially renamed Shahid Beheshti University in late 1981) was initially established as a non-governmental university. During its early years and up to two years after the Iranian Revolution, the university did not have an independent Department of Psychiatry.
At that time, medical students completed their psychiatry clerkships at Rezaei Hospital, a private psychiatric facility. In the university’s two main teaching hospitals—Saadat-Abad Hospital (now Modarres Hospital) and Loqman al-Dowleh Hospital (now Loghman Hakim Hospital)—only one psychiatrist served as a consultant in each hospital, with limited involvement in medical .education. Both psychiatrists left the university during the early post-revolutionary years
Establishment of the Psychiatry Unit at Taleghani Hospital
In late 1979 and early 1980, Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital, which had remained an unfinished Ministry of Health project before the Revolution, gradually developed into a comprehensive general hospital
In late 1980, Dr. Mohajer, who had returned to Iran after completing his psychiatry residency, obtaining board certification in the United States, and serving for three years as an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, established the first psychiatry ward within a general hospital in Iran at Taleghani Hospital
:The first members of the multidisciplinary team included
- The late Dr. Leon Davidian, psychiatrist trained in the United Kingdom
- Dr. Elāheh Karimi, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the National University of Iran
- Ms. Pourmand, Clinical Psychologist with a Master’s degree from the United States
Because universities were closed during the Cultural Revolution and formal approval from the Council for Medical Education and Specialty Training was required, admission of the first psychiatry residents was delayed until 1983. In that year, Dr. Hosseini became the first psychiatry resident of the program. The second cohort included Dr. Mahyar Azar and Dr. Azviyans
As the department expanded, additional faculty members joined. By 1984, the academic team consisted of five psychiatrists, three PhD-level clinical psychologists, and two master's-level clinical psychologists. This group formed the nucleus of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Shahid Beheshti University, with Dr. Mohajer appointed as its founding Chair
Expansion of Psychiatric Education and Establishment of a Second Unit
During the same period, under the leadership of Dr. Mehdi Bina, and despite the challenges imposed by the Iran-Iraq War and other resource limitations, Imam Hossein Educational and Medical Center was established as the university’s largest teaching hospital
In 1986, the second hospital-based psychiatry ward was founded at Imam Hossein Hospital under the direction of Dr. Bina, with contributions from several faculty members including Dr. Dezhkam. The first residents of this unit were Dr. Sadr and Dr. Zahiroddin
Formation of the Ministry of Health and Transfer of Psychiatric Centers
Following major reforms in the national healthcare system and the establishment of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 1986, two important psychiatric institutions were transferred to Shahid Beheshti University
Shahid Sahami Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Center, a semi-academic center affiliated with the Tehran Institute of Psychiatry
Vanak Psychiatric Hospital, formerly operated by the Ministry of Health
The integration of these centers with the psychiatry ward of Imam Hossein Hospital resulted in the formation of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Complex of Imam Hossein Hospital
The directors of this complex were
- Dr. Bina (until 1998)
- Dr. Zahiroddin (1998–2006)
- Dr. Sadr (2006–2021)
- Dr. Shams (2021–present)
Leadership of the Taleghani Hospital Psychiatry Unit
Heads of the Psychiatry Unit at Taleghani Hospital
- Dr. Mohajer (until 1986)
- The late Dr. Davidian (1986–1999)
- Dr. Hamdieh (following Dr. Davidian’s election to the Sixth Iranian Parliament)
- Dr. Farahdinasab (2012–present)
Chairs of the Department of Psychiatry
Department Chairs since its establishment
- Dr. Mohajer (1984–1998)
During Dr. Mohajer’s sabbatical leaves in 1987 and 1995, Dr. Bina served as Acting Chair
- Dr. Zahiroddin (1998–2003)
- Dr. Sadr (2003–2010)
- Dr. Samimi (2010–2012)
- Dr. Zahiroddin (2012–2015)
- Dr. Farahdinasab (2015–2024)
- Dr. Shams (2025–present)
Establishment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship and Subspecialty Training
For several years, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at Imam Hossein Hospital was responsible only for the training of psychiatry residents.
In 1990, through the efforts of the Department and under the leadership of Dr. Mohajer, who at that time served as Vice Chancellor for Education and Deputy President of the University, and with the collaboration of Dr. Bina, the first two-year Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program was launched
The unit was headed by Dr. Tavakolian, with Dr. Esmaeili and Dr. Hashemi serving as faculty members. The first fellow was Dr. Bina, while Dr. Mohammad-Vali Sahami played a pivotal role as senior advisor in bringing the program to fruition
In 1993, in collaboration with the National Board of Psychiatry Examiners and Evaluation Committee, official approval was granted for the establishment of Iran’s first accredited subspecialty training program in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
The inaugural board committee consisted of
- Dr. Mohajer (Secretary of the National Psychiatry Board)
- Dr. Bina
- Dr. Tavakolian
- Dr. Alaghebandrad