The Foreign Doctor: A Biography of Joseph P. Cochran, M.D. of Persia

Joseph P. Cochran was the son of Rev. Joseph Gallop Cochran, one of the early members of the American Mission to the Assyrians. He was born in Urmia on January 14, 1855. He returned to the United States in 1868 to pursue a medical education. After completing his studies and marrying, he returned to Urmia in 1878 to join the mission as a physician. He persuaded the mission to purchase land for a 100 bed hospital and was able to get funding for the project from the United States. In 1880 the Westminster Hospital in Urmia was opened. The need for more doctors prompted Dr. Cochran to found a Medical College that was attached to the hospital. This was the first Medical College established in Iran. Joseph P. Cochran served Assyrians in many other capacities in addition to his medical work. He died of typhoid fever on August 18, 1905 and is buried in the mission cemetery in Seir. This extensive biography provides many details of his selfless devotion to the Assyrians.