Dr Mahmoud Jabarvand

I was born on the 10th of Farvardin, 1338 (March 30, 1960) in Tabriz. I grew up in a large family with seven brothers older than me and only one sister. My father owned a small grocery store but had completed six years of secondary education, which was quite remarkable for his time when most men of his age were illiterate. My father read Saadi and Hafez, and his Quranic knowledge was strong. He placed great importance on education and acquiring knowledge. Apart from my eldest brother, who was fifteen years older than me and helped my father in the shop, I and my other brothers were all able to pursue our studies. My second brother became a pharmacist, and the rest of my brothers studied in technical and engineering fields. All my brothers chose the mathematics track in high school. I had both a talent for mathematics and an interest in the subject. On the other hand, my father hoped I would become a doctor, and because of the respect people had for doctors, I too became interested in studying medicine. I completed my high school education in Tabriz. At that time, Tabriz was the second major center of the Islamic Revolution, and my high school years coincided with the rise of the revolutionary movement. Following the example of one of our teachers, the late Mr. Khaghani, who was a religious and thoughtful man, I became a member of the Islamic Student Association of Tabriz.

At that time, Dr. Daneshvar, who established the heart surgery department at Tabriz University, was also a close friend of my father, as was Dr. Tabeeb Azar, who lived next door to us, and whose kind behavior has always stayed with me. Generally, the behavior of great individuals has a significant impact on the character and decisions of children, and my orientation toward medicine was influenced by their actions. Amid the revolution and its turmoil, I entered the University of Medicine in Urmia, but after two terms, the Cultural Revolution occurred, and universities were closed. After the Cultural Revolution and the reopening of universities, the medical school at Urmia University was shut down due to workforce shortages and other issues arising from the revolution, and we medical students were all transferred to Tehran University.

On the 25th of Mehr, 1361 (October 17, 1982), I got married. My wife is the cousin of one of my classmates, who is now a professor at Shahid University in the field of parasitology. During my studies, I spent about one to one and a half years intermittently in a war zone, most of which was spent on the Majnun Island. In 1366 (1987), when I completed my general medicine studies, it was time for military service. During this period, I was given a responsibility at the Islamic Revolutionary Committee, and after one year, I was able to establish fifty-four medical centers along the eastern front of the country, from Ahvaz and Shalamcheh to Khorramabad and Ilam. After completing my off-center service, I worked for a few months at a charity clinic, and then I took the specialization exam. At that time, a score of 105 was the benchmark, and I passed with a score of 116. However, I had to start my specialization six months later than my colleagues, beginning in Esfand 1370 (February or March 1992).

In 1374 (1995), after completing my specialization, I got approval to work at Farabi Hospital, and I began my work there as a faculty member on the 15th of Farvardin (April 4, 1995). After a while, I became the head of the emergency department and later the hospital management position, where I started initiating changes. Soon after, I became the head of the hospital and head of the department, helping to shape the comprehensive nature of Farabi with the assistance of my colleagues. In 1378 (1999), I opened a private practice and began working in a private hospital, but financial motivation has never been important to me. I don't need it now, and I have provided a good life for my family within my means. Our home, no matter how luxurious, is just a place to sleep at the end of the day. Once you're asleep, what difference does it make where you're sleeping? This mindset is something I share with my wife.

An eye doctor must be a patient person, someone with good manners and tolerance. The expectations of an eye patient are different from those of patients in other specialties. When an eye patient opens their eyes after surgery, they expect to see. The stress of this profession is high, and there is direct judgment of the doctor's work. The surgeries performed are microsurgical, and the smallest mistake can affect the outcome of the procedure. Decision-making and planning are essential in this field, and having skill in these two aspects requires a particular set of abilities.