Dr. Michael J. Kowolik, Director and Professor of Graduate Research in the Department of Periodontics and Allied Dental Programs at the Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, Indiana, visited TUMS from July 31st to August 2nd 2015. Dr. Kowolik had the opportunity to visit various TUMS affiliated hospitals including Sina hospital, Shariati hospital and Tehran Heart Center and also Digestive Diseases Research Institute (DDRI) in Tehran and become acquainted with TUMS faculty as well.
.JPG)
Dr. Kowolik started his visit of TUMS Affiliated hospitals with Sina Hospital.
During his visit of the hospital, Dr. Kowolik met Dr. Heydar, the Head of the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Ward. During this meeting, Dr. Heydar gave a brief presentation about Sina hospital and its facilities. He also emphasized that Tehran’s challenging driving culture is the main cause for car and motorbike accidents, which is the second cause of death in Iran. Therefore Trauma operations and Orthopedics Departments collaborate to tend to such accidents. Dr. Heydar and Dr. Kowolik also made a comparison of oral & maxillofacial surgery program at TUMS and IUPUI. After that, Dr. Kowolik engaged in academic conversations with a number of residents and also had an opportunity to visit patients having rare surgery operations and the surgery ward.
.JPG)
Later on, Dr. Kowolik paid a visit to Shariati Hospital and Digestive Diseases Research Institute (DDRI).
When Dr. Kowolik visited the Oral & Maxillofacial Ward of the hospital, he met with Dr. Bayat, Head of the Ward, who showed different rooms of the ward and also gave a brief explanation about research activities conducted at the ward, such as the JCR journal which had been recently published. Dr. Kowolik also engaged in talks with some of the residents at the ward and expressed his willingness toward initiating collaborations.
After that Dr. Kowolik had another meeting with the Head of the DDRI. Dr. Malekzade Head of the research institute introduced the research institute and explained the different research activities conducted there. He pointed out that the DDRI is currently the most significant research institute in its field in the Middle East and North Africa. Following his presentation, Dr. Malekzade, shared the different researches he had been doing in various cities of Iran. At the end of the meeting, both sides were hopefully looking forward to establishing future collaborations. Dr. Khami was present in both visits as well.
Lastly, Dr. Kowolik visited Tehran Heart Center.
Dr. Hajiqasemi, Dean of Executive Affairs of Tehran Heart Center introduced the great facilities provided in the center. Dr. Abbasi, one of the officials of Tehran Heart Center, explained many different cultural and educational programs have been implemented in Iran in order to increase the general public’s awareness concerning the prevention of heart diseases. He also talked about clinical follow-up policy, which is a specific program of the center. In this program the center follows up the patients’ general status after surgery and monitors their health improvement. Dr. Hajiqasemi provided his excellent suggestions regarding the collaboration of the center and IUPUI. In his talks, he pointed out that they can collaborate with the bioengineering Department of IUPUI to provide medical machines (Medicalrobots for instance) that the center may need in the areas of surgery, checkup, etc. Dr. Kowolik was very happy with the suggestions concerning the collaborations and was very hopeful to help initiate collaboration as soon as possible.
To get familiar with the history of medical sciences in Iran, Prof. Kowolik visited the National Museum of History of Medical Sciences. Dr. Amena Moinfar, Special Advisor to the Director of DIRAR, led Dr. Kowolik in the museum and gave detailed information about the objects of the museum.
Ms. Mohammadian, International Collaborations Officer accompanied Dr. Kowolik during all his visits of the TUMS.
.JPG)
Reported By: S. Mohammadian
Edited By: Dr. A. Moinfar
Photos: M. Vahidi
