Abstract
This letter to the editor examines the historical significance of Dar al-Fonun, established in 1851 by Amir Kabir, as the first modern institution of higher education in Iran. Founded during a time of scientific and technological lag, Dar al-Fonun aimed to modernize Iran’s educational system, particularly in medicine and pharmacy. With the help of European experts such as Dr. Jacob Eduard Polak and Dr. Focchetti, the institution introduced advanced surgical methods, vaccination practices, anatomy, and pharmaceutical sciences. Polak was instrumental in promoting modern medical practices and public health measures, including the first systematic smallpox vaccination in Iran. Focchetti contributed to the foundation of pharmaceutical education, reducing dependency on imported medicine.
The letter also highlights the role of Iranian scholars trained at Dar al-Fonun, such as Nizam al-Atibba and Reza Qoli Hedayat, in localizing and expanding modern medical knowledge. Despite facing religious and cultural resistance, especially regarding dissection, supportive religious authorities helped integrate modern science with Islamic principles. Though Dar al-Fonun declined in later decades due to political and institutional changes, its legacy in shaping Iran’s scientific modernization remains profound. Today, it stands as a cultural museum, symbolizing the country’s first structured engagement with modern science.