Jahanshah Saleh (1905–1995) was an Iranian physician and politician. He served as health minister and education minister in the 1950s and 1960s. He was the

obstetrician Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

of Queen Farah Diba, spouse of

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980) was the last Shah of Iran, ruling from 1941 to 1979. He succeeded his father Reza Shah and ruled the Imperial State of Iran until he was overthrown by the Iranian Revolution, which ...

Early life and education

Saleh was born in Kashan in 1905. He obtained a degree in

obstetrics and gynecology Obstetrics and gynaecology (also spelled as obstetrics and gynecology; abbreviated as Obst and Gynae, O&G, OB-GYN and OB/GYN) is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics (covering pregnancy, childbirth, and t ...

from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, the US. He received further education at

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

in the USA on gynecology. He graduated from the university in 1934 and returned to Iran.

Career

Saleh worked at the faculty of medicine in Tehran and was promoted to the title of

associate professor Associate professor is an academic title with two principal meanings: in the North American system and that of the ''Commonwealth system''. In the ''North American system'', used in the United States and many other countries, it is a position ...

. Later he became professor of gynecology. In 1936 he was appointed instructional head of the newly founded nursing school in Tehran. He headed the surgery department of women at Vaziri Hospital and also headed the midwifery school. He also worked at the Women's Hospital which was later renamed Jahanshah Saleh Hospital. In 1948 Saleh was appointed dean of the faculty of medicine at the

University of Tehran The University of Tehran (UT) or Tehran University (, ) is a public collegiate university in Iran, and the oldest and most prominent Iranian university located in Tehran. Based on its historical, socio-cultural, and political pedigree, as well as ...

. Saleh was the health minister in the cabinet led by

Haj Ali Razmara Ali Razmara, also known as Haj Ali Razmara (; 30 March 1901 – 7 March 1951), was a military leader and prime minister of Iran. He was assassinated by 26-year-old Khalil Tahmassebi of the Fadayan-e Islam organization outside the Shah Mosqu ...

in the period 1950–1951. He replaced

Mohammad Ali Varasteh Mohammad Ali Varasteh (1896–1989) was an Iranian statesman who held several cabinet posts in the 1950s and also, served as the governor of Isfahan province. He was the head of the regency council which was formed soon after the Shah Mohammad ...

in the post. Saleh remained in office in the next cabinet formed by

Hossein Ala' Hosein Alā (; 13 December 1881 – 13 July 1964) was a prominent Iranian diplomat and statesman who held several key positions during the early 20th century, including two terms as Prime Minister. Background He was born in 1881 in Tehran and s ...

. In the cabinet formed by

Fazlollah Zahedi Fazlollah Zahedi (, pronounced ; 17 May 1892 – 2 September 1963) was an Iranian military officer and statesman who replaced the Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh through a coup d'état supported by the United States and the United Kingd ...

after the 1953 coup against Prime Minister

Mohammad Mosaddegh Mohammad Mosaddegh (, ; 16 June 1882 – 5 March 1967) was an Iranian politician, author, and lawyer who served as the 30th Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953, elected by the 1950 Iranian legislative election, 16th Majlis. He was a membe ...

Saleh was also appointed minister of health in August 1953. Saleh served as the obstetrician of Farah Pahlavi. He accompanied her during the birth of Prince Reza Cyrus Pahlavi in 1960. Saleh was appointed minister of education in the cabinet formed by

Jafar Sharif-Emami Jafar Sharif-Imami (; 17 June 1912 – 16 June 1998) was an Iranian politician who was prime minister from 1960 to 1961 and again in 1978. He was a cabinet minister, president of the Iranian Senate, president of the Pahlavi Foundation and the ...

in March 1961. In 1966 he was serving as the president of the University of Tehran.

Later years and death

Saleh was not only interested in medicine, but also in environmental protection. He was one of the Iranians who reported concerns over the quality of air in the cities. Initially his views were not taken into consideration, but in 1963 the Supreme Council of City Safety stated that air in the capital city, Tehran, was not healthy. Saleh died in Tehran in 1995.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saleh, Jahanshah 20th-century Iranian physicians 1905 births 1995 deaths Chancellors of the University of Tehran Iranian obstetricians and gynaecologists Syracuse University alumni Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons alumni Health ministers of Iran People from Kashan Education ministers of Iran