On May 30, Doctor Mohammad Mazaheri (Dr. Mo) passed away, but his influence on the Clinic endures. Dr. Mo joined the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic in 1952 as a resident in maxillofacial prosthetics and stayed until his retirement over 50 years later. He worked tirelessly to provide the very best care for his patients, advance research in craniofacial differences (over 100 published research articles and over 100 research presentations), and lead the Clinic and other organizations such as the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). He leaves a legacy of supporting students, as he established the ACPA Mazaheri Young Professional Scholarship, and patients with a cleft, as he was the founder of the Happy Face Foundation, which is dedicated to the treatment of Iranian children with craniofacial differences.
We published excerpts of memories from those at the Clinic who knew Dr. Mo in our Summer 2025 newsletter. Below are the full memories. Dr. Mo was appreciated and adored by many.
On Friday, May 30, 2025, we lost one of our own, Dr Mohammed Mazaheri, at 97. “Mo” was a GIANT in our field, something I realized after working with him after a few years. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to have worked side-by-side with him, to tap into his vast experience with facial differences, and mostly call him a friend and colleague. Although our relationship was occasionally tumultuous, he always treated me with respect…..you always knew where you stood with “Mo”, whether you agreed with him or not.
My lasting memories of “Mo” and those I will forever cherish, typify his caring, and fun-loving spirit. When I was much younger, and shortly after he came to the LCPC in the 1950’s to work with my grandfather, Dr. HK Cooper, I that recall that on my visits to the Clinic, he used to give me rides on the “new-fangled” dental chairs with electric motors. These chairs went up and down. Then as I got older, and finished my education in the same field as my grandfather, father, and “Mo” himself, I recall ACPA meetings where “Mo” was revered for his depth of knowledge and experience, but simultaneously was the life of the party in social events, with his “dancing”. Although many of us could not figure out what his dance step was called (including me), he didn’t seem to care.
Several years later when my Dad died suddenly, I remember “Mo” showing up at Mother’s apartment with flowers and tears in his eyes, being unable to speak. He was rarely at a loss for words and I was touched by his compassion.
Last, as a tribute to “Mo’s” contribution to our field, he single-handedly made sure that patients in the Longitudinal Growth Study, were seen in a timely fashion for the x-rays and dental impressions that were part of that study. When I became the Clinic’s Director, we renamed the Study to the Mazaheri Growth Study in his honor. It remains one of the largest studies of growth in patients with clefts in the world today.
For these reasons and many others, “Mo” Mazaheri will be sorely missed by all, especially me. Godspeed “Mo”.
-Ross (Rusty) Long, Jr., DMD, MS, PhD
Dr. M was certainly was a force to be reckoned with on the outside but really he was a very kind hearted individual once you got to know him. I will always treasure those moments of him saying, “hun come in here I need to ask you something.” I actually miss those days as I never knew what his questions would be about, they were always so random. Working with him at the beginning of my time here at LCPC, 34 years ago, was truly a challenge. One of which I wouldn’t change because I really got to see how much he cared about his patients and only wanted the best for them. He is one man I will never forget, but then again how could I because he would always remind you exactly who he was. He was the best, he really was, and seeing him decline was very hard on me and a few others here at LCPC that worked with him for so long. I could go on and on about him. I have many stories from all the years about the man, the legend.
-Brenda Hohman
Mo was the eternal optimist and an incredible mentor to anyone who showed an interest in cleft care. His energy was endless and he never shied away from a microphone. He will be sorely missed.
-Thomas D. Samson, MD FACS FAAP
The influence Mo Mazaheri had in the development and operation of the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic and his care for his patients is known around the world. It has been my pleasure to have worked with him in the Clinic since 1978 until his retirement. Mo treated me as a personal friend and invited me to travel with him to his home country in Iran on two occasions. You get to know the real Mo when traveling through airports where he always had to be the first one on the plane, even if it meant pushing in front of a 6ft. 5in. German where a fight almost broke out. It was all I could do to keep up with Mo as we entered Tehran airport where everyone’s relative was there to greet friends. He just pushed his way through.
Every one of importance in Iran knew who he was. Mo was instrumental in establishing an Emergency Care Residency Training Program in Tehran, bringing experts from the United States. He showed me around Tehran including the Shaw’s Palace, the Gen Museum, and the huge covered market. We traveled to the splendid city of Isfahan, new better known for its Nuclear Center, and we drove over the mountains on a one lane road to the Caspian Sea. He introduced me to his family who was still living in Tehran where we experienced good home cooking of shish kabob, flat bread, and yogurt.
On a lighter note if you ever played golf with Mo, you quickly learned that there was “The Mo’s version of the Rules of Golf.” You could pick up the ball and place it wherever you wished for an easier or better shot.
Even though Mo was Muslim, he always sent me a Christmas card and an Easter card. Mo will be greatly missed but never forgotten “In the Future to Come”.
-David C. Leber, MD, FACS
