The passing of Professor Seyed Alireza Taghavi marks the loss of one of Iran’s most distinguished clinicians and researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology. This memorial article reflects on his scientific achievements, educational legacy, and human qualities. Through more than 180 peer-reviewed publications, original clinical contributions, and a lifetime of mentorship, Dr. Taghavi exemplified intellectual excellence and service to medicine.

Figure 1.

Dr. Taghavi’s academic career was defined by breadth, depth, and impact. As a principal investigator and co-author, his work helped shape Iran’s approach to gastrointestinal disease.

His work on symptom association of gastroesophageal reflux disease was one of the earliest works in the world disclosing the complexity of clinical presentation of this common disease. ¹ This work was well recognized by the experts in the field, cited more than 160 times. He also received the prestigious award of Dr. Hadavi from Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences for this work as it was one of the hot papers from Iran on the year of publication.

His leadership in establishing Iran’s first inflammatory bowel disease registry enabled large-scale epidemiologic studies and clinical stratification of disease severity. ²

Dr. Taghavi authored several studies on liver transplantation (LT) including topics such as predictors of pre and post-transplant survival, hormonal dysregulation in cirrhosis, and the role of serum biomarkers in liver failure. ³ His final work on use of artificial intelligence in recognizing biliary complications after LT was very innovative. ⁴ He was involved in several clinical trials ranging from novel H. pylori eradication regimens to pharmacologic treatment for chronic constipation which promoted practice of gastroenterology in Iran. ⁵

He contributed to evaluating chromoendoscopy vs. conventional endoscopy for gastric premalignant lesions, a study diversely cited in endoscopy literature. ⁶

His scholarship exemplified a model of localized excellence—aligning global standards with the clinical needs of Iranian communities. As professor at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Taghavi became a cornerstone of academic life:

• Introduced case-based learning modules in gastroenterology.

• Designed culturally resonant medical ethics curricula infused with Persian literary themes. ⁷

• Supported young clinicians in pursuing publication, encouraging analytical depth and academic rigor.

His impact on Iranian medical education was generative, not just instructive—creating platforms, cultivating thought, and inspiring innovation.

As Dr. Taghavi’s former mentor and lifelong colleague, I witnessed his transformation from a gifted student into a leader of extraordinary vision and humility. He remained unassuming, generous with knowledge, and firmly rooted in service. We mourn his loss not only for what he accomplished, but for the grace with which he led.

Let this tribute be more than remembrance. Let it be a continuation—of inquiry, mentorship, and compassionate care—echoing the legacy he leaves behind.

Figure 2.

References

1. Taghavi SA, Ghasedi M, Saberi-Firoozi M, Alizadeh-Naeeni M, Bagheri-Lankarani K, Kaviani MJ, et al. Symptom association probability and symptom sensitivity index: preferable but still suboptimal predictors of response to high dose omeprazole. Gut. 2005; 54:1067-71. Publisher Full Text | DOI | PubMed [ PMC Free Article ]
2. Taghavi SA, Safarpour A, Hosseini SV, Noroozi H, Safarpour M, Rahimikazerooni S. Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in Iran: a review of 740 patients in Fars Province, Southern Iran. Iranian Journal of Colorectal Research. 2013; 1:1-2.
3. Khademolhosseini F, Malekhosseini S, Salahi H, Nikeghbalian S, Bahador A, Lankarani KB, et al. Outcome and characteristics of patients on the liver transplant waiting list: Shiraz experience. Middle East Journal of Digestive Diseases (MEJDD). 2009; 1:63-7.
4. Andishgar A, Bazmi S, Lankarani KB, Taghavi SA, Imanieh MH, Sivandzadeh G, et al. Comparison of time-to-event machine learning models in predicting biliary complication and mortality rate in liver transplant patients. Sci Rep. 2025; 15:4768. Publisher Full Text | DOI | PubMed [ PMC Free Article ]
5. Taghavi SA, Shabani S, Mehramiri A, Eshraghian A, Kazemi SM, Moeini M, et al. Colchicine is effective for short-term treatment of slow transit constipation: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2010; 25:389-94. DOI | PubMed
6. Taghavi SA, Membari ME, Eshraghian A, Dehghani SM, Hamidpour L, Khademalhoseini F. Comparison of chromoendoscopy and conventional endoscopy in the detection of premalignant gastric lesions. Can J Gastroenterol. 2009; 23:105-8. Publisher Full Text | DOI | PubMed [ PMC Free Article ]
7. Ejtehadi F, Shahramian I, Niknam R, Taghavi SA, Tahani M, Sharafi F. Ethics in Gastrointestinal Procedures: A Comprehensive Review. Govaresh. 2025; 29:187-92.