Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), founded in 1946, is one of the oldest medical universities nationwide. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences was first established as the "Institute of Health for Higher Education".

This institute was turned into the Faculty of Medicine in 1949. "Nemazee Higher Institute for Nursing" and the School of Dentistry were founded in 1954 and 1970 respectively. Afterwards, other schools were shaped gradually.

All public higher educational schools in Shiraz (medical and non-medical) were initially under the auspices of Shiraz University – former "Pahlavi University". In 1986 education of medical sciences in Iran was taken over by the "Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education" with the purpose of utilizing national medical resources more desirably in addition to promoting healthcare as well as medical teaching and research. Consequently, all medical faculties and centers continued their activities under the new affiliation; "Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS)". Non-medical programs, however, are still offered under the supervision of Shiraz University.

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) is not only responsible for training students in medical areas, but also manages all public hospitals, clinics and healthcare centers in Fars Province in southern Iran. The private sector of the health system in Fars is also under the surveillance of SUMS.

The following feature SUMS:

17 Schools
63 Research centers
41 Public Hospitals (including 14 teaching hospitals)
6 Research Incubators

Over 900 faculty members and more than 25000 personnel are working at SUMS in different areas including health, treatment, research, and education. Currently, over 9000 students are studying in a variety of academic disciplines at SUMS schools and research centers. Iranian students are recruited to SUMS through National Entrance Exam (Konkur), whereas non-Iranian international applicants who would like to apply to SUMS are required to apply online after going through our A-Z program list. At SUMS, we have been capable of providing an intellectual environment to educate top students and send them out to practice their skills all over the world.

SUMS displays a good deal of tradition as well as modernity, aiming at training students, utilizing high-quality education and research. Since its foundation, SUMS has been active as one of the largest and most reputable universities in Iran and the Middle East and an influential figure in the region, regarding the services it offers to the students as well as the patients. SUMS is particularly proud of being considered by the Iran Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education as the main hub of four scientific areas as follows:

The hub of Liver Transplantation
The hub of Clinical Immunology
The hub of Clinical Microbiology
The hub of Advanced Electronic Learning

SUMS is also one of the main centers for cochlear implant Iran. Not only does it host hundreds of patients from southern Iran, it is also a well-known pivot for health tourism in Iran attracting hundreds of patients from nearby countries each year. Some of the specific medical services which attract patients to Shiraz include:

Organ transplantation
Cochlear implantation
Cardiovascular angiography
Hepatic angiography
Cancer radiation-therapy and chemotherapy
Different types of Eye surgery
Different types of heart surgery
Different types of orthopedic surgery
Fetal Surgery
Treatment of infertility by means of IVF tech