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AAHPO MEMBERS COMPLETE FIRST MEDICAL MISSION IN ARMENIA
By: Taleen Babayan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/10/12/aahpo-members-complete-first-medical-mission-in-armenia/
Wed, Oct 12 2011
In an effort to continue contributing to the improvement of the
healthcare system in Armenia, the Armenian American Health Professional
Organization (AAHPO) organized its first medical mission that took
place in conjunction with the Third International Medical Congress
in Armenia last summer.
AAHPO medical mission participants During the month of July, AAHPO
members visited hospitals and clinics throughout Armenia, ranging
from Hospital #8 in Yerevan to the Armavir Medical Center, 30 miles
outside of the capital city.
The mission allowed participants to become familiarized with and gain
a better understanding of the medical system in Armenia. Components of
the program included direct patient care, learning how the healthcare
system in Armenia functions, and networking with local physicians.
Returning to the U.S., AAHPO members concluded that two areas most
in need were medical training and the allocation of resources.
"I found the doctors to be knowledgeable but lacking the medical
technology we use here in the U.S.," said pediatrician Dr. Garbis
Baydar, who noted that there is not a single MRI machine in the
entire country.
One highlight of the mission was when the group visited a 60-bed,
new pediatric hospital in Yerevan, which provides both general
pediatric and intensive care. While there, the head of the Neonatal
and Pediatric Intensive Care Units provided the AAHPO group with a
detailed tour of the hospital and its laboratories, and each member
met with doctors in their fields of specialty.
"The doctors in Armenia know the capabilities of Western medicine but
they just don't have the resources," said gastroenterologist Dr. Greg
Koobatian. "They don't have the tools to do more advanced things such
as endoscopic ultrasounds."
While participants in the medical mission saw the limited resources
in the hospitals in Yerevan, they saw even more of a disparity in
the rural villages. Two other Armenian humanitarian organizations,
the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and the Children of Armenia Fund
(COAF), worked with AAHPO to allow them access into hospitals and
clinics in the rural villages.
In one of the hospitals, they learned that only one ambulance covers
the needs of six villages, some of which are up to half an hour away.
"Some of the villages weren't as affected by the medical system,"
said Dr. Alicia Demirjian, a pediatric infectious disease doctor. "It
was a striking difference, but it was important to see these kinds
of things."
While it became evident that vast changes need to be made to the
healthcare system in Armenia, something as basic as continuing medical
development is a positive first step in improving patient care.
"If the doctors in Armenia could receive continuing medical education,
it will have a high impact on the medical system," said Demirjian.
To this end, AAHPO has been working with FAR to help train physicians
in Armenia through the Continuing Medical Education Program (CME),
which brings doctors throughout Armenia to Yerevan for one month of
intensive training.
"AAHPO's support of the Continuing Medical Education Program is helping
doctors in Armenia learn new techniques, treatments, and medications,"
said Koobatian. "This approach is more efficient than sending doctors
over from the U.S. for a week or two for patient care."
Reflecting on their time in Armenia visiting various hospitals
and clinics and meeting with healthcare professionals as well as
patients, the participants said they were happy to be a part of the
mission and are looking forward to building on the relationships they
developed there. They also invite other Armenian American healthcare
professionals to join the initiative.
"I encourage every Armenian healthcare professional to pitch in,"
said Baydar.
"AAHPO is doing a great job in making a connection between Armenians
in the diaspora and in Armenia," adds Koobatian. "I hope going forward
we are able to make more of an impact."
By: Taleen Babayan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/10/12/aahpo-members-complete-first-medical-mission-in-armenia/
Wed, Oct 12 2011
In an effort to continue contributing to the improvement of the
healthcare system in Armenia, the Armenian American Health Professional
Organization (AAHPO) organized its first medical mission that took
place in conjunction with the Third International Medical Congress
in Armenia last summer.
AAHPO medical mission participants During the month of July, AAHPO
members visited hospitals and clinics throughout Armenia, ranging
from Hospital #8 in Yerevan to the Armavir Medical Center, 30 miles
outside of the capital city.
The mission allowed participants to become familiarized with and gain
a better understanding of the medical system in Armenia. Components of
the program included direct patient care, learning how the healthcare
system in Armenia functions, and networking with local physicians.
Returning to the U.S., AAHPO members concluded that two areas most
in need were medical training and the allocation of resources.
"I found the doctors to be knowledgeable but lacking the medical
technology we use here in the U.S.," said pediatrician Dr. Garbis
Baydar, who noted that there is not a single MRI machine in the
entire country.
One highlight of the mission was when the group visited a 60-bed,
new pediatric hospital in Yerevan, which provides both general
pediatric and intensive care. While there, the head of the Neonatal
and Pediatric Intensive Care Units provided the AAHPO group with a
detailed tour of the hospital and its laboratories, and each member
met with doctors in their fields of specialty.
"The doctors in Armenia know the capabilities of Western medicine but
they just don't have the resources," said gastroenterologist Dr. Greg
Koobatian. "They don't have the tools to do more advanced things such
as endoscopic ultrasounds."
While participants in the medical mission saw the limited resources
in the hospitals in Yerevan, they saw even more of a disparity in
the rural villages. Two other Armenian humanitarian organizations,
the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and the Children of Armenia Fund
(COAF), worked with AAHPO to allow them access into hospitals and
clinics in the rural villages.
In one of the hospitals, they learned that only one ambulance covers
the needs of six villages, some of which are up to half an hour away.
"Some of the villages weren't as affected by the medical system,"
said Dr. Alicia Demirjian, a pediatric infectious disease doctor. "It
was a striking difference, but it was important to see these kinds
of things."
While it became evident that vast changes need to be made to the
healthcare system in Armenia, something as basic as continuing medical
development is a positive first step in improving patient care.
"If the doctors in Armenia could receive continuing medical education,
it will have a high impact on the medical system," said Demirjian.
To this end, AAHPO has been working with FAR to help train physicians
in Armenia through the Continuing Medical Education Program (CME),
which brings doctors throughout Armenia to Yerevan for one month of
intensive training.
"AAHPO's support of the Continuing Medical Education Program is helping
doctors in Armenia learn new techniques, treatments, and medications,"
said Koobatian. "This approach is more efficient than sending doctors
over from the U.S. for a week or two for patient care."
Reflecting on their time in Armenia visiting various hospitals
and clinics and meeting with healthcare professionals as well as
patients, the participants said they were happy to be a part of the
mission and are looking forward to building on the relationships they
developed there. They also invite other Armenian American healthcare
professionals to join the initiative.
"I encourage every Armenian healthcare professional to pitch in,"
said Baydar.
"AAHPO is doing a great job in making a connection between Armenians
in the diaspora and in Armenia," adds Koobatian. "I hope going forward
we are able to make more of an impact."