History

The Community Nutrition Department of the School of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics at Tehran University of Medical Sciences has a rich history as one of the essential pillars in education and research in the field of food and nutrition. The establishment of this department dates back to the 1960s when biochemistry and nutrition were key components of the Faculty of Public Health at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In 1992, this unit was independently formed as the "Nutrition and Biochemistry Unit," offering graduate programs including MSPH in Nutrition (since 1971) and a PhD in Nutrition (since 1995).

In 2009, this unit was divided into three departments: "Community Nutrition," "Clinical Nutrition," and "Cellular and Molecular Nutrition," and continued its independent activities with the establishment of the School of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics (SNSD) in May 2010.

Since 2014, the PhD program in "Food and Nutrition Policy" has been added to the educational programs of the Community Nutrition Department, focusing on the analysis and formulation of food and nutrition policies. In 2024, the department began enrolling students in the Master's program in "Community Nutrition" as a replacement for the "Health Sciences in Nutrition" program, to place greater emphasis on community engagement and health promotion.

Today, the Community Nutrition Department, with a team of distinguished national faculty and researchers, strives to play a pivotal role in achieving public health and food security goals by advancing knowledge and nurturing top leaders and professionals in the field of community nutrition and food and nutrition policy.