Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Nafisi (Persian: میرزا علی‌اکبرخان نفیسی; March 12, 1847 – June 14, 1924),[1][2] known mononymously as Nazem al-Atebba (ناظم‌الاطباء, lit.

[12] Nafisi completed his early education in Kerman, learning the basics of sciences and medicine from his father and other doctors of the time.

[14] In 1865, at the age of 19, he moved to Tehran and enrolled in the Dar ul-Funun to study medicine under Joseph Désiré Tholozan.

[11] After returning from his first trip to Europe in 1873, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar decided to establish a hospital in Tehran modeled on European institutions.

[10][11][12] Later in 1876, he also played a role alongside Joseph Désiré Tholozan in forming the first assembly of experts for health or Majles-e Hefz-e Sehhat in Tehran.

[15] Nazem al-Atebba first married a woman from the Dowlatshahi family, descendants of Mohammad-Ali Mirza Dowlatshah, who passed away at a young age, leaving him with two children.

[10][4][11] On Monday, June 9, 1924 (26 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1342 AH), he passed away in Tehran at the age of 79 after several days of illness due to dysentery.

His son, Saeed Nafisi, in the preface he wrote for Farhang-e Nafisi, says:"The most important work of the late Nazem al-Atebba, which occupied his mind until the end of his life, even three hours before sunset on Monday, June 9, 1924 (26 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1342 AH), when he passed away in Tehran at the age of 79 after several days of being bedridden due to dysentery, is this very book.

Moreover, as a result of sitting for long hours day and night without any physical activity while working on the project, he developed gangrene in his thighs, which he had to treat for some time.