Bijan Safai, M.D., D.Sc. Receives the Honorary Science Doctorate Bestowed by New York College of Podiatric Medicine

Bijan Safai, M.D., D.Sc. Chair and Professor of Dermatology at New York Medical College, receives the prestigious D.Sc. Honoris Causa bestowed upon him by New York College of Podiatric Medicine at their May 2018 Commencement. Dr. Safai was recognized for his seminal contributions, prolific scholarships and clinical and humanitarian practice, his seminal role on advances in dermatology, immunology and cancer, his practice of specialized dermatology, and his pivotal founding leadership role in Physician Affiliate Group of New York.

Furthermore, Dr. Safai holds joint professorships in microbiology and immunology at NY medical College since 1993. For 1984 -93, Dr. Safai served as professor of dermatology at Cornell University School of Medicine. He founded the first dermatology program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and he served as its Director for twenty years with an integrated approach to dermatology education, research and patient care. Dr. Safai is the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed articles in Medical/Scientific Journals and a textbook on immune-dermatology, thereby pioneering the inter-relationship between dermatology and immunology.

Dr. Safai served on the editorial boards of Cancer Investigations, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome journals. He has, for the past decades, served as the Chief of Dermatology in a dozen primary hospitals in the Greater New York City area training hundreds of residents and fellows. He was also awarded the National Brazilian Medal of Medicine in 1985; the recipient of the International Khawrizmi (Algorithm) Scientific Award in 2000; Wing of Hope Humanitarian Award for Melanoma Research in 2013 and Distinguished service award, from New York Medical College in 2015.

Bijan Safai the elder of three siblings, was born in a well-learned family in Ardestan, the historical sleepy hamlet rich in its millennia long Zoroastrian heritage is tucked in between two adjacent ancient towns of Natanz and Naein of Iran. He has earned his M.D. from Tehran University Medical School in 1965; he then immigrated to the U.S. where he completed his internal medicine and dermatology residencies at NYU School of Medicine and his fellowship in immunology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After years of seminal research and clinical practice, he earned his D.Sc. from the University of Gutenberg in Sweden in 1981. Equally pivotal to Bijan Safai’s practice of dermatological medicine and melanoma and immune deficiency research, has remained his unwavering gratis role toward altruism, volunteerism, charity and philanthropy worldwide.