From the earliest documentary evidence surviving from the ancient civilizations of Persia, it is clear that medical sciences has an old background in our country. The history of Iranian medicine can be traced back to Zoroastrian teachings which is mentioned in Avesta. The first known dentistry dates to c. 7000 BC in Baluchistan where Neolithic dentists used flint-tipped drills and bowstrings. The Sassanid Empire in Persia (224–637 AD) which was one of the global powers in ancient times organized medicine in its official system. Hospitals, medical centers, and universities were developed throughout Persia during their reign. But the most remarkable Sassanid action in science world was forming the University of Jondishapoor which was one of the most famous centers of medical learning of the ancient civilized world. Establishment of the University of Jondishapoor was the peak of medical sciences in ancient Iran. The rise of Islam opened a new chapter in the medical sciences in Iran. Arabic became the official language of the Iranian Muslim scientists. Of the Iranian Physicians of that era who are well known in the West and who wrote their great works in Arabic, it is sufficient to mention Zakariya Razi with his Al hawi and Abu Ali Sina famed as Avi-cenna in Europe with his ‘Cannon of Medicine’. The medical works of these physicians are well known worldwide.
Modern medicine started with the establishment of Dar al-Funun in 1851 by efforts of Mirza Taghi-Khan Farahani, known as Amir-Kabir, the Prime Minister of Naser al-Din Shah , the Shah of Iran.  Dar al-Funun was established as a polytechnic college to train upper-class Iranian youth in medicine, engineering, military science, and geology. The first modern training of medicine started in 1918 by European teachers and trainers.  In the next few years, about 50 students were sent to France for studying medicine, which were the first modern Iranian Physicians. Today our great country is known for having strong medical systems because of accomplishments and the unending curiosity and tenacity our famous Physicians showed to change the face of medicine as we know it today.