Rheumatology was first introduced at Tehran University School of Medicine in 1969 by Fereydoun Davatchi, a young Rheumatologist having studied in Paris (France). Later, Reza Moghtader, Firouz Panahi, and Amir-khan Shafie-zadeh, all Rheumatologists from Paris, joined the faculty of Tehran University School of Medicine. In 1973 Rheumatology was accepted as one of the eight subspecialties of the Internal Medicine and a subspecialty ward of Rheumatology with 16 beds was created in the Dariush Kabir Medical Center, which later was renamed Shariati Hospital. 

With the help of Dr Behrooz Nikbin and Dr Nooshin Foroozanfar, Immunologists at Tehran University, a small Research Lab was created alongside the inpatients ward. FANA, Anti DNA and complements fractions C3 and C4 soon became a routine examination in the Rheumatology ward, and were quickly adopted at Tehran Medical School, and later at other medical labs. Meanwhile, two outpatient clinics for Rheumatology were established. This small unit grew up to become the Rheumatology Research Center in 1981. In 1994, the "Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education" registered the Rheumatology Research Center as an accredited medical research center.

With the creation of the Rheumatology department in 1973, the Program of Internal Medicine Education for undergraduates was modified and 1/8th of its total course load (16 units, each unit equal to 16 teaching hours in a semester) was allocated to Rheumatology (i.e. 2 units, equal to 32 teaching hours). Beside the theory courses of Rheumatology, bedside teaching and training of Rheumatology for medical students (rotationally), interns, and residents started.

In 1983, four years after the revolution, the Medical Division of the Revolutionary Council for Education decreased the allocated time of Rheumatology teaching to 20 hours in a semester. The decision applied to all the Medical Schools in Iran. However,  the Tehran University for Medical Sciences continued to provide the undergraduates the extended Rheumatology program of 32 hours. The program comprised of a historical background, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, clinical forms of the disease, Para clinical investigations, and an essential of therapeutics for each disease. Gradually, other universities adopted the program designed in Tehran University for Medical Sciences. Since 1987, RRC increased the Rheumatology course for undergraduates to 40 hours.

In 1985 a "National Board of Rheumatology Subspecialty" was created by the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education. Actually, the following five Iranian academic centers are qualified for Rheumatology subspecialty training:

1) Tehran University for Medical Sciences (Tehran).

2) Shahid Beheshti University for Medical Sciences (Tehran).

3) Iran University for Medical Sciences (Tehran).

4) Shiraz University for Medical Sciences (City of Shiraz).

5) Mashad University for Medical Sciences (City of Mashad).

Dr. Mohammad Reza Hatef, is the first Rheumatology sub specialist, graduated from RRC in 1987. He is now associate professor of Rheumatology at Mashad University for Medical Sciences. Since 1985, RRC has had 31 Rheumatology subspecialty graduates.