Message from the President of Armenia, Mr. Armen Sarkissian
Delivered by Mr. Gevorg Melikyan
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Armenia
Anahit Avanesyan
Minister of Health, Republic of Armenia
Anahit Avanesyan was appointed as Minister of Healthcare in January 2021 from her previous position as First Deputy Minister of Health. She started working in governance of the health sector in 2018 assuming the position of Deputy Minister.
Ms Avanesyan is specialised in legal and regulatory issues, including in policy and regulatory frameworks of pharmaceutical products. She worked as Director and a Board member of the “Arpharmacia” CJSC company.
Ms Avaneysan held various positions working as a Director and a Legal Adviser for a number of private and public institutions, starting her career as a lawyer at the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and later as a Legal Adviser to the State Reserve Agency.
Mikael Hayriyan
Minister of Healthcare, Artsakh
Arsen Torosyan
Member of Parliament, National Assembly of Armenia Minister of health 2018-2021
Zareh Sinanyan
High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Armenia
Zareh Sinanyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and immigrated to the United States in 1988, settling in Burbank, California. In 1997 he earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and history at the University of California, Los Angeles. He then attended law school at the University of Southern California, where he obtained his Juris Doctor.
In 2006, Sinanyan served in multiple public offices in Glendale, including the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission; the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee; the Glendale Housing Authority; and the Eco-Rapid Transit Rail Authority. He was the President of Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, the founding Chair of the Glendale Economic Development Corporation, and served on the Metropolitan Water District Board and Southern California Association of Governments Board of Directors.
In 2013, Sinanyan was elected to the Glendale City Council and served as Mayor of Glendale for two terms. In 2019, Sinanyan was appointed to serve as the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. He has been living in Armenia since then.
Opening Plenary Session Day 1 CME
Moderators: Ara Babloyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
Lilian Grigorian (Madrid, Spain)
Kim Hekimian (New York, USA)
AMIC President’s Address
Vicken Sepilian, MD, FACOG
COVID in Armenia from First Reported Case to Overcoming the Pandemic
Araz Chiloyan, MPH
Consultant, Ministry of Health of Armenia
Diasporas’ Role in Armenia’s Healthcare Sector: Results from the NIH/MoH/AMIC Survey of Healthcare Professionals and Executives
Alexander Bazarchyan, MD, PhD
Director of RA MOH National Institute of Health named after academician S. Avdalbekyan
Alexander Bazarchyan, MD, PhD., is the director of RA MOH National Institute of Health named after academician S. Avdalbekyan. Dr. Bazarchyan has been the head of the Health Informatics Analytic Center since 2013. He completed his two-year mandatory military service in 1997. Between 1999-2011, Dr. Bazarchyan served as an Assistant/Associate Professor of Epidemiology in the RA MOH National Institute of Health named after academician S. Avdalbekya, during which time he was also Assistant/Associate Professor of Epidemiology. He served as the Head of the Public Health Unit of the Ministry of Health from 2011-2013.
Since 2000, Dr. Bazarchyan has served as the Coordinator of the National Tobacco Control Program, where he coordinated many important research projects. He was one of the authors of Tobacco Law in Armenia. In 2004, he earned the World Health Organization (WHO) award for recognition of outstanding contribution to tobacco control - WHO Director General’s award. He has also participated in various research programs and has been involved in the development and implementation of strategies and measures of public health, establishing strong bonds with medical institutions and facilities. He is the author of more than 60 abstracts, articles, and reports.
Dr. Bazarchyan will be presenting on "Introduction of Preliminary Result of the Survey on the Armenian Diaspora Involvement in Armenia’s Healthcare Sector" & "NIH's experience Working with the Armenian Diaspora during the COVID-19 Pandemic."
International Organizations Engaged in Healthcare in Armenia CME
Vicken Sepilian (Santa Monica, USA)
Hambardzum Simonyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
Araz Chiloyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
Welcoming remarks from the director of the World Bank, Adanna Chukwuma
Adanna Chukwuma is a Senior Health Specialist in the Health, Nutrition, and Population Global Practice, leading the design, implementation, and evaluation of investment operations in Armenia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Romania. She has over ten years of experience advising national reforms to improve access to high-quality healthcare through service delivery organization, strategic purchasing, revenue mobilization, and demand generation, including in Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, India, Moldova, Tajikistan, the South Caucasus Countries, and Romania. Adanna obtained a medical degree from the University of Nigeria, a Master of Science in Global Health from the University of Oxford, and a Doctor of Science in Health Systems from Harvard University.
WHO in Armenia: Together for a Healthier Future
Emma Ghazaryan
Project Office, World Health Organization
Health and Nutrition Challenges for Armenia’s Children. UNICEF Response
Christine Weigand
UNICEF Representative to Armenia
Christine Weigand is the newly appointed UNICEF Representative to Armenia. Under Ms. Weigand’s leadership, UNICEF Armenia will continue working in partnership with the Armenian Government, civil society, and other stakeholders so that all children in Armenia increasingly benefit from equitable enjoyment of their rights to survive, thrive, learn, be protected and participate.
Prior to this assignment, she was the Representative for UNICEF in Turkmenistan, providing overall leadership in the development and management of the UNICEF Country Programme and expanding national as well as international partnerships for its implementation. In addition, she served as UN Resident Coordinator ad interim to the Republic of Turkmenistan between December 2020 and July 2021, providing overall leadership and coordination to the UN Country Team as well as representing the UN Country Team in high-level national and international fora and fostering partnerships. Previously, she served as UNICEF Deputy Representative in Iran providing overall leadership in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the UNICEF country programme in close collaboration with government partners.
Ms. Weigand joined UNICEF in January 2012 as Chief Social Policy and Evaluation in Antananarivo, Madagascar. She was responsible for the technical leadership in the design and implementation of social policy, advocacy and research programs and private sector partnerships.
Ms. Weigand, a national of Austria, holds a Master’s degree in International Economic Studies from Maastricht University, in Maastricht, The Netherlands. She is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and German.
Armenia Tobacco Control Investment Case
Dr. Dudley Tarlton
Program Specialist for Health and Development at UNDP
The Power of the Diaspora Alliance
Anne-Marea Griffin
Senior Director, Diaspora and Multicultural Partnerships – UNICEF USA
Anne-Marea Griffin joined UNICEF USA as Senior Director, Global Cause Partnerships at UNICEF USA in April 2020. She is the team lead for Diaspora and Multicultural Partnerships.
Anne’s experience ranges from positions at nongovernmental organizations with programs in Africa to international think tanks, policy centers, and government agencies in the U.S. Her early career began within foreign policy advocacy, later moving to Capitol Hill, where she joined the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
While in Africa for 20+ years, Anne held positions with major philanthropic institutions such as the Ford Foundation, ELMA Philanthropies, and the MasterCard Foundation. She was recently Deputy Director, Program Partnerships, the U.S. African Development Foundation, and also recently served as Director, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, a program of the Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids/Bloomberg Philanthropies. She founded and directed an education-focused NGO while living abroad.
Dr. Griffin earned her B.A. degree from Harvard University, M.A. from Northwestern University, did graduate work at Yale University, and earned her Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Bath, U.K.
Arantxa Moreno Baeta-Neves, Manager, Diaspora and Multicultural Partnerships – UNICEF USA
Arantxa joined UNICEF USA as Manager for Diaspora and Multicultural Partnerships within the Global Cause Partnerships team in July 2020. She is passionate about creating new opportunities by connecting a diverse set of groups through development and relationship management, which she has pursued throughout her career.
She has over five years of work experience focusing on global and multicultural partnerships at Bloomberg and Yelp. Before her role at UNICEF USA, Arantxa founded a mission-driven company called Snag aimed at empowering Latin American students through practical education, for example partnering with international nonprofits like Fundación Uno to bring Harvard’s CS50 course to Nicaragua. Arantxa can natively navigate different political and cultural environments, born in Madrid, growing up between Spain and Brazil, and being educated in the United States, Australia, and Spain. She is a native speaker of Portuguese, Spanish, and English. She is also proficient in Italian and has a rudimentary knowledge of French and Catalan.
She holds an M.A. in International Relations and Development from the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She lives in San Francisco and enjoys yoga and traveling, preferably with her dog Aida.
Collaboration Between Armenian & Diasporan Medical Associations & Specialty Groups
Moderated by: Gevorg Yaghjyan (New Haven, USA)
Viken Babikian (Boston, USA)
Gayane Hovhannisyan (Toronto, Canada)
Armenian Medical Association: Bridge Between Armenian and Diasporan Medical Societies
Armen Soghoyan, MD, PhD
President, Armenian Medical Association
Dr. Armen Soghoyan established the Center of Psychosocial Recovery (CPSR) in 2014. He is the Scientific Head of the CPSR since 2015. He has more than 50 scientific and professional print publications in local and international journals and other media.
He graduated from the Department of General Medicine of the Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi (YSMU) in 1993 and the Clinical Residency of the Department of psychiatry and medical psychology at the same university. He also participated in many local, regional and International educational and training programs, seminars, workshops and conferences, received corresponding diplomas and certificates.
Dr. Armen Soghoyan graduated from the Department of General Medicine of the Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi (YSMU) in 1993 and the Clinical Residency of the Department of psychiatry and medical psychology at the same university. He also participated in many local, regional and International educational and training programs, seminars, workshops and conferences, received corresponding diplomas and certificates.
Dr. Armen Soghoyan worked as a Deputy Director at the Department of Healthcare of Yerevan Municipality from 2000 to 2003 and continued worked in the municipality as Head of the Department of Healthcare and Social Affairs from 2003 to 2009. Meantime, he worked as Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology (2001 - 2003) and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry (2004 - 2016) of the YSMU.
Dr. Armen Soghoyan was the Deputy Director of Psychiatric Medical Center of the Ministry of Healthcare (MOH) of Armenia since 2009, and became the Head of Licensing Agency of the MOH in 2011. He was the Director of AVAN Mental Health Center from 2013 to 2014; and the Deputy Director of NUBARASHEN Psychiatric Center from 2014 to 2015.During the years of 2015-2016 Dr. Armen Soghoyan was the Head of the Agency for Medical and Social Expertise.Dr. Armen Soghoyan also worked for the World Health Organization (WHO), as an expert, for elaboration of the National Mental Health Program of Kyrgyzstan.
Armenia Stroke Council: Highlighting the Importance of Independent Autonomous Advisory Bodies
Dr. Nune Yeghiazaryan
Head, General Neurology Department, Erebouni Medical Center, Chair
Nune S. Yeghiazaryan, MD, is head of the Neurology Department and Stroke Center, at Erebouni Medical Center. In this role, she both implemented and leads its acute stroke care program. Previously, Dr. Yeghiazaryan was an associate professor and Chair of Neurology, NIH, Yerevan Armenian. She is active in neurological research and has had many articles published in medical journals.
Dr. Yeghiazaryan received her medical degree from Yerevan State Medical University, where she also served her internship in emergency medicine and neurology residency.
Viken Babikian, MD
Professor Neurology, Boston University, Chair, Stroke Initiative Advisory Group for Armenia
A New Initiative of Armenia and Diaspora Medical Experts
Aramayis S. Galumyan, MD, Expert Council of Artsakh’s Ministry of Health. Head of interventional Radiology Service at Wigmore Clinic, President of Progressive Medicine NGO
Dr. Aramayis Galumyan is a medical doctor of field abdominal surgery and non-vascular interventional radiology. Dr. Aramayis Galumyan is a pioneer physician of non-vascular interventional radiology in Armenia. Before practicing in Yerevan, Dr. Galumyan served in the army in Stepanakert central military hospital as a surgeon of general practice. Nowadays Dr. Aramayis Galumyan practices in Wigmore clinic, Yerevan. Dr. Galumyan is the head of IR service at Wigmore Clinic. This department is a unique department of non-Vascular interventional radiology and interventional oncology in Armenia, Dr. Aramayis also practices an open Hepatobiliary surgery at Astghik Medical center in Yerevan.
In 2020 Dr. Aramayis Galumyan founded Progressive Medicine (PM) NGO with friends. PM NGO actively participated in various serious programs during the pandemic in and War. During the pandemic, Progressive Medicine NGO organized big cooperation between Armenian medical associations which was named an Armenian Medical Alliance. Nowadays Progressive Medicine NGO is in partnership with Artsakh’s MOH, and now is engaged in various modernization programs in Armenian and Artsakh’s healthcare.
War in Artsakh and COVID-19: Developments on Mental Health Field
Armen Soghoyan, MD, PhD
President, Armenian Psychiatric Association
Scientific Manager, Psychosocial Recovery Center
Rehabilitation in post conflict in Armenia and Artsakh
Nicholas Tavoukjian, MS, ATC
Founder & CEO, Armenian American Sports Medicine Coalition
V. Armineh Babikian, MS, OTR/L
Founder & Executive Director of Therapists for Armenia
Armineh Babikian is first year PhD student studying rehabilitation sciences and global health at University of Toronto. She received her B.S. in psychology from Drexel University and M.S. in occupational therapy from Columbia University. For five years Armineh has worked as an occupational therapist in New York City supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the lifespan.
In 2019, she authored the Occupational Therapy Guidebook to Inclusion and was awarded the Birthright Armenia Next Step Grant to translate and publish 500 copies for inclusive schools in rural Armenia. Armineh is also the founder and executive director of Therapists for Armenia, a multidisciplinary organization aimed at enhancing rehabilitation and disability services in Armenia through education, advocacy, and networking.
Pediatric and Adult Armenian Epilepsy Group: Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. Viken Babikian
Professor of Neurology, Boston University
Chair, Stroke Initiative Advisory Group for Armenia
Aline Herlopian, MD
Assistant Professor, Yale School of Medicine
Updates on the 6th International Medical Congress of Armenia (6IMCA)
Gevorg Yaghjyan, MD – Co-Chair 6IMCA
Dr. Gevorg Yaghjyan was born in Yerevan and graduated with honors earning his MD degree from Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU). He later completed his PhD from YSMU in outcomes research after complex surgical reconstructions.
After completing his residency in general and plastic reconstructive surgery he started his hand and reconstructive microsurgery practice at the Mikaelyan Surgical institute and subsequently at the University Hospital No 1. In addition to his own full-time academic surgical practice, he has been on staff as a consulting physician to many leading general and sub-specialty surgical centers in Armenia.
Over the past 15 years, Dr. Yaghjyan has been active in educational and professional training programs at renowned medical centers and universities worldwide, including the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Cornell University, and the University of Salzburg. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to attend Yale University in 2008 but had to postpone his participation because of academic professional duties at YSMU. In 2013 he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship a second time for Boston University Medical School, where he worked under the tutelage of Dean Karen Antman
From 2011-2015 Dr. Yaghjyan served as Director of Medical Programs at the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA) and the Founding and Acting Director of the Isotope Production Center in Armenia. During the construction of the Armenian Center of Excellence in Oncology, Dr. Yaghjyan developed connections with world-renowned oncology centers including MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers, Obninsk Center in Russia, and MSK Spain for professional consultations. During his tenure, he supervised and completed a $12M project to build an isotope center from the ground up.
Dr. Yaghjyan serves on several boards including the Armenian Medical Association. He is a board member of the clinical Institutional Review Board (IRB) for American University of Armenia since 2013. As part of the IRB, he has reviewed countless medical device protocols.
Presentations by AMIC Affiliated Organizations Part I
Moderated by:
Garni Barkhoudarian (Los Angeles, USA)
Tagui Sarkisyan (Los Angeles, USA)
Armenian American Medical Association (AAMA)
Armenian International Medical Fund (AIM Fund)
Armenian Healthcare Association of the Bay Area (AHABA)
Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario (ACMAO)
Armenian Medical Association – Great Britain (AMA-GB)
Armenian Russian Medical Association (ARMA)
opening Remarks
Opening Session Day 2 CME
Moderated by:
Bagrat Alekyan (Moscow, Russia)
Vicken Sepilian (Santa Monica, USA)
John Bilezikian, (New York, USA)
Minister of Health's Address
Engaging the Diaspora: Working Together to Ensure a Healthier Future
Anahit Avanesyan, Minister of Health, Republic of Armenia
Anahit Avanesyan was appointed as Minister of Healthcare in January 2021 from her previous position as First Deputy Minister of Health. She started working in the governance of the health sector in 2018 assuming the position of Deputy Minister. Ms. Avanesyan specializes in legal and regulatory issues, including in policy and regulatory frameworks of pharmaceutical products. She worked as a Director and a Board member of the “Arpharmacia” CJSC company. Ms. Avaneysan held various positions working as a Director and a Legal Adviser for a number of private and public institutions, starting her career as a lawyer at the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and later as a Legal Adviser to the State Reserve Agency.
Minister of Health’s Address
The Status of Healthcare System in the Republic of Artsakh: Healthcare Agenda and Opportunities for Diaspora Involvement and Engagement
Mikael Hayriyan, Minister of Health, Artsakh
Crisis Response with the Diaspora: Successes, Challenges, Future Directions
Zareh Sinanyan, High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Armenia
Zareh Sinanyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and immigrated to the United States in 1988, settling in Burbank, California. In 1997 he earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and history at the University of California, Los Angeles. He then attended law school at the University of Southern California, where he obtained his Juris Doctor.
In 2006, Sinanyan served in multiple public offices in Glendale, including the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission; the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee; the Glendale Housing Authority; and the Eco-Rapid Transit Rail Authority. He was the President of Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, the founding Chair of the Glendale Economic Development Corporation, and served on the Metropolitan Water District Board and Southern California Association of Governments Board of Directors.
In 2013, Sinanyan was elected to the Glendale City Council and served as Mayor of Glendale for two terms. In 2019, Sinanyan was appointed to serve as the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. He has been living in Armenia since then.
Healthcare Education and Lifelong Learning in Armenia and Artsakh
Moderated by:
Jerry Manoukian (San Francisco, USA)
Viken Babikian (Boston, USA)
Georges Mosditchian (Paris, France)
Asadour Tchekmedyian (Montevideo, Uruguay)
Tsoline Kojaoghlanian (New York, USA)
Medical Education in Armenia
Yervand Sahakyan, MD
Vice Rector, Yerevan State Medical University
Dr. Hambardzum Simonyan is the Deputy Country director on developments and the Healthcare programs director of Fund for Armenian Relief of America (FAR). Along with his work in FAR, Dr. Simonyan holds the position of the monitoring officer in Armenia of Artsakh-Armenia Fund (AAF).
Education in Health Sciences Based on the Example of AUA Programs and Projects
Varduhi Petrosyan, PhD, MS
Professor and Dean, Turpanjian School of Public Health, American University of Armenia
Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan is a professor and dean in the Turpanjian School of Public Health (SPH), American University of Armenia (AUA). She also directs the Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development (CHSR). Dr. Petrosyan was the associate dean in 2007-2015. She earned her PhD from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management. She also has a Master of Science, focusing on environmental health, from the University of Idaho and a degree in biochemistry from Yerevan State University
She has successfully led health services research projects in Armenia and the region focusing on public health services, tobacco control, tuberculosis control, primary care, ophthalmic care, diabetes care, environmental health, and other important topics. Dr. Petrosyan teaches graduate courses in health services research, program evaluation, and comparative health systems. In 2011-2016, she was a member of the Country Coordination Mechanism for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programs in the Republic of Armenia. In 2012-2014, Dr. Petrosyan was the Advisor on Health Reforms to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia on a voluntary basis.
Currently she is a member of the Public Council next to the Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia, and the Management Council of the Health Inspectorate Body of the Government of Armenia. Prior to her arrival to AUA, she held a position of Research Assistant at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she conducted research on comparative health systems (focusing on health spending and cross-national comparison of quality) in member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. She has been elected to Delta Omega Alpha Chapter, the US National Public Health Honorary Society in 2006. Dr. Petrosyan has authored many peer-reviewed publications and has extensively presented her work at international scientific meetings and conferences. She is currently the Associate Editor of the International Journal for Equity in Health, an open access, peer-reviewed journal.
NIH's experience Working with the Armenian Diaspora during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Alexander Bazarchyan, MD, PhD
Director of RA MOH National Institute of Health named after academician S. Avdalbekyan
An Active Platform for Enhancement of Talent Creation & Development - International Center for Professional Development (ICPD)
Rafi Avitsian, MD, FASA
Rafi Avitsian M.D. FASA, is a Professor of Anesthesiology in the department of General Anesthesiology, and serves as the Secretary of Medical Staff Office of Cleveland Clinic. He is the program director of Neuroanestheisology Fellowship and one of the founders of International Council for Perioperative Neuroscience Training (ICPNT). He is the past president of Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC), American Board of Anesthesiologists Applied Senior Examiner, a member of the Association of University Anesthesiologists & recipient of ASA-SEA Distinguished Education Award. He is a founding board member of International Center for Professional Development (ICPD) in Armenia.
His academic interest is mostly in brain tumors, anesthetic methods for seizure surgery, brain protection and outcomes of spine surgery as well as Difficult Airway Management. His clinical studies are mostly directed to finding ways to improve the outcome of surgery after neurosurgical procedures. He is also interested in medical innovations with many filed and published patents.
More than 45 published peer reviewed manuscripts, two book chapters and many abstract presentations also highlights his academic achievements. He is on the editorial board of Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology and an ad hoc reviewer for Anesthesiology, Anesthesia Analgesia, World Neurosurgery Journal.
Development of the Sustainable Model of Continuing Professional Development for Healthcare Practitioners of Armenia Regions and Artsakh
Hambardzum Simonyan, MD
Fund for Armenian Relief, Healthcare Programs Director
Dr. Hambardzum Simonyan is the Deputy Country Director on Developments and the Healthcare programs director of Fund for Armenian Relief of America (FAR). Along with his work in FAR, Dr. Simonyan holds the position of the monitoring officer in Armenia of Artsakh-Armenia Fund (AAF).
Along with all the administrative work, Dr. Simonyan has never given up practicing pediatrics. Treatment of children has always been one of the most important and favorite activities that Dr. Simonyan is involved in. Dr. Simonyan earned his Medical Doctor degree from the Yerevan State Medical University Pediatrics department in 1997.
The geography of Dr. Simonyan’s trainings includes Austria, Armenia, USA and Russia, the topics are even more diverse – from clinical (pediatric cardiology, intensive therapy etc.) to more broad and public health related (medical education and leadership, good clinical practice, biosafety, monitoring and evaluation).
Dr. Simonyan authored articles, which published in both local and international journals. He is a Board member of FAR Fellowship Alumni's Association, International Medical Advisory Board Member of a Direct Relief International organization, Scientific Board Member of National Medical Library, a member of Pediatric Association of Armenia.
Multi-Sectoral Cooperation and Coordination
Moderated by:
Lawrence Najarian (New Jersey, USA)
Elena Sagayan (San Francisco, USA)
Garni Barkhoudarian (Los Angeles, USA)
Determination Conquers all Challenges
Ani Aprahamian, PhD
Director A.Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory of Armenia
Frank M. Freimann Professor of Physics, University of Notre Dame
Professor Ani Aprahamian is the director of A. Alikhanyan Science Laboratory of Armenia and an endowed chair professor in Nuclear Physics at the University of Notre Dame. Prof. Aprahamian traveled to Armenia to launch the operation of an 18 MV cyclotro—to start the production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine, and to start a program in low energy Nuclear Physics. Aprahamian got the cyclotron operational in July of 2019, and F-18 was produced for diagnostics of patients in Armenia in 2020.
This was especially helpful during the Covid-19 global shutdown of borders. Armenian patients could be diagnosed in Armenia. Aprahamian participated in the fight against COVID by developing ozone generators for sterilization of large rooms in hospitals and hotels with the engineers and physicists of AANL. She encouraged the development of new materials including masks with internal metallic nanoparticle layers against bacterial and viral sterilization at AANL.
She has secured funding from diaspora medical doctors to purchase a new cryogenic station for Armenia to ensure further scientific and medical advances by guaranteeing a pure liquid oxygen supply for Armenia. The former cryogenic center at AANL is over 60 years old and was breaking down every two weeks.The new cryogen station is now in Yerevan and fully operational. Aprahamian is now developing a 1000-class clean room for materials research at AANL with funds from the ARPA Institute (Analysis Research & Planning for Armenia). This would be the first cleanroom of its kind in the RA and will be open for use to all universities and other institutes of Armenia. Additional plans include an advanced detector laboratory with state-of-the-art electronics so that the team of researchers from AANL can participate in the new USA DOE-funded project to build an Electron-Ion Collider.
Prof. Aprahamian chairs the science advisory council of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams in the USA (largest construction project by Department of Energy). She is also on the science councils of laboratories in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation. Professor Aprahamian has served as a program director in Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics at the US National Science Foundation, as department chair of Physics, and the director of the Nuclear Science Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame. She has published over 240 papers, given over 250 invited addresses at national and international conferences, and mentored 19 Ph.D. students and over 70 undergraduate students.
Unifying Diasporan Organizations, the United AIO Experience
Maral Mouradian, MD, FAANS
Armenia Fund in Healthcare
Anna Aghajanian
Head of Programs and External Relations Department
Anna joined HAAF in April of 2019 in the position of Advisor to the Executive Director, and in September of 2019, she became the Head of Programs and External Relations Department.
Prior to joining HAAF Anna was the Business Development Manager in Public Sector & Education at Microsoft Corporation Yerevan, Armenia. Also, she has worked as Associate Director for YSIP at AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union) Yerevan, Armenia.
Earlier in her professional career, she worked with different international financial institutions in Dublin, Ireland. Anna is also the Co-Founder and the President of ‘Sahman’ NGO which carries out development projects in Armenia’s Tavush region.
Anna holds an International Business & Marketing degree from University College Dublin (UCD) and Business Management Degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).
The New York Area Diaspora Impact on Healthcare Delivery in Armenia
Lawrence V. Najarian, MD
President, The Armenian American Health Professionals Organization, PA
AMIC Executive Committee Advisor
Assistant Clinical Professor, New York University School of Medicine
Updates on the 6th International Medical Congress of Armenia (6IMCA)
Hambardzum Simonyan, MD
Co-Chair 6IMCA
Presentations by AMIC Affiliated Organizations Part II
Moderated by:
Shant Shekherdimian (Yerevan, Armenia)
Salpy Akaragian (Yerevan, Armenia)
Armen Soghoyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
American Armenian Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO)
Armenian American Nurses Association (AANA)
Armenian Medical Association of Quebec (AMAQ)
Armenian Medical Association of Spain (AMADeA)
Eternal Nation Foundation
Fighting Infectious Diseases in Emerging Countries (FIDEC)
Sante Arménie, France
Union Medicale Armenienne de France, Lyon (UMAF – Lyon)
Union Medicale Armenienne de France, Paris (UMAF – Paris)
Panel Discussion to Follow