Journey from Tehran to Chicago
My Life in Iran and the United States, and a Brief History of Iran
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I began to write this book mainly for my children particularly my grandchildren in mind. My intention was to provide them some information about my beloved country, my place of birth. I wanted to tell them about my childhood, education, my home, parents, siblings, and my friends. As the work progressed I decided to modify my initial intention in writing this manuscript and expand it to include a brief history of Iran and some aspects of my professional life in the United States of America. I believe this book will be of interest to all readers interested in the history, culture, and lifestyle of people in Iran, which recently has been under relentless political attacks and accusations. The glorious history of Iran is a history of one of the oldest civilizations of the world. I am hoping to present the readers a true picture of Iran, Iranians, their culture and religion. To describe the cultural, socio-economic, political, religious, and educational aspects of Iranians during my living in Iran, in isolation without describing the historical events leading to that period of time probably will lead to misunderstanding and misiterpretation. Therefore I decided to discuss briefly and systematically the history of Iran and Iranians' origin. I started with the Medes, Achaemenid and Sasanid dynasties. Since Islam has been the major religion of Iran during the major part of Iranian history, I have discussed the Islamic civilization and the influence of Islam in the Iranian culture relatively in detail. The discussion then is focused on the growth and dominance of Shiism vs. Sunnism and idetification of Iranians with Shia's Imams rather than Sunni's Caliphs, and eventual adoption of Shiism as the official religion of Iran. Comparing the ruling dynasties before and after Islam helps to understand further the reciprocal influence of the Iranian culture and Islamic religion. This is not meant to be solely an autobiography, even though I am talking about myself. describing my professional life in Iran and in the USA and comparing the educational systems, the practice of medicine, and interaction among people in Iran and in the USA, indirectly reflect the different aspects of life during my stay in two countries. Despite differences in socioeconomic and religious aspects between two nations, all aspects of human behavior, adaptive and maladaptive are essentially similar, in both countries. During this work one concept became clear that in human evolution for the past several millennia we have progressed technically in an unimaginable pace, evolving from a primitive culture living in caves and hunting for foods to DNA mapping, space exploration, computer, and wireless communication. But how about our predatory instinct? Are we not still killing, destroying in a sophisticated fashion with superiorly sophisticated instruments and with justification and rationalization? Are we not using nationality, religion, freedom, and defense to justify and whitewash and cover up our aggression and the violence? Since 1962, except for a short visit in 1972, I have not been in Iran and I have ben residing in the USA and enjoying the privileges with a great deal of appreciation. However, a heart wrenching and omnipresent nostalgia has been my constant companion, nostalgia for my childhood, schools, family, the places I have lived in the past, Shahrak, Zanjan, Tehran, Bojnourd, and Arsanjan. These nostalgias and memories, sad or happy, have been like powerful magnetic forces attracting me to the past, enticing me to relive my past life at the present. I had to counteract these forces of the past and give more meaning to the present by focusing on my work, my love of family and children and my devotion to my patients.
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About the Book
After a brief overview of the glorious history of Iran interrupted by the invasion of external forces and periods of darkness, Journey from Tehran to Chicago addresses the mutual, beneficial interaction between Islamic and Iranian civilizations and cultures. It dissects and analyses maladaptive and adaptive behavioral patterns of certain Iranian leaders throughout history. Dr. Dizadji, an American-Iranian, describes his childhood, schooling, medical school training, and his army experience in Iran. He elaborates on the social, political, and economic states of Iran during that period, which he thinks have contributed to the Iranian revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. After the completion of his cardiology training in the United States, the author returns to Iran to achieve his intended goal, to practice medicine in Iran. However, disappointed, he returns to the United States as a postdoctoral fellow in cardiology sponsored by the National Heart Institute of the United States. He eventually engages in a successful medical practice, and teaching in Chicago. Holding several prestigious positions in the medical community, he then focuses on the health care system of the United States, discussing its rapid changes with advantages and weaknesses.
About the Author
A graduate of Tehran University Medical School, H. Dizadji, MD was born in Iran. He has practiced medicine in Iran and the United States. He is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and American College of Physicians. He lives near Chicago.