Abstract
Pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) emerged as a subspecialty of both emergency medicine and pediatrics to address the specific needs of children requiring urgent care. Originating in the United States (US) in the late 20th century, PEM was formally recognized following collaborative efforts by pediatricians, notably Dr. Foster Jerry, and the establishment of fellowships and certification boards. Since its inception, the subspecialty has significantly advanced pediatric emergency services, with over 29 fellowship programs active in the US by 2021. In Iran, the need for specialized pediatric emergency care led to the first formal request to develop PEM in 2021. Following approval from the Medical Education and Specialization Council and endorsement, Iran University of Medical Sciences initiated the implementation of this vital subspecialty. This article explores the global and national development of PEM and outlines the rationale, progress, and institutional efforts toward its establishment in Iran.