[FAR Health Programs]: CME Doctors Participate in Maternal and Child Health Seminar.

  • May 10, 2012 1:39 pm

By Hambartzum Simonyan

A two-day seminar on maternal and child health protection was held at the end of April in Tsakhkadzor. Neonatologists, obstetricians and gynecologists who are involved in the FAR Training of Provincial Doctors Program, or CME, participated in this seminar by attending professional lectures given by leading specialists. Lectures covered important topics, which pertained to both practical medicine and health strategies in maternal health.

The rapid development of medicine demands that doctors be prepared to treat patients in the best way possible by possessing the latest knowledge about developments in the field. The CME program is testament to the fact that FAR values the importance of continuous medical training in Armenia. In addition to spending one month in Yerevan for training, CME participants are continually able to participate in seminars to keep up on the latest advancements, and to connect with other medical professionals.

The maternal and child health seminar was approved by Armenia’s Ministry of Health, which also granted participants certificates of completion.

Neonatologists, obstetricians and gynecologists gathered
in Tsakhkadzor to participate in a seminar on maternal
and child health protection.

Credit: FAR Staff

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[FAR Health Programs]: New Equipment Helps Bolster Healthcare Systems of Armenia and Karabagh.

Three medical centers in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh received bone densitometer machines—indispensable equipment in the evaluation of bone health—thanks to the generosity of Dr. John Bilezikian, professor of medicine and pharmacology at Columbia University, and the Massachusetts-based Hologic Company. This is just one of many examples of Dr. Bilezikian’s continued support of Armenia’s medical institutions and professionals. Dr. Bilezikian, in collaboration with a number of specialists from Yerevan, has also organized lecture series on modern diagnostic and treatment approaches to osteoporosis

The Scientific Research Center of Mother and Child Health Protection, Yerevan State Medical University’s Muratsan University Hospital, the Erebuni Medical Center and the Scientific Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, all received the densitometer machines last year through an effort coordinated by Fund for Armenian Relief.

FAR is also helping organize the training sessions that local doctors need to use the new equipment. This includes a recent visit in March by instructor Larry Mowat of the Hologic Company to train medical staff. Specialist Anahit Hakobyan, a Continuing Medical Education (CME) fellow from Nagorno-Karabagh, recently attended one of the trainings.

Thanks to a generous donation from Professor John Bilezikian
and the U.S.-based Hologic Company, three medical centers in
Armenia have new medical equipment.

CME participant Anahit Hakobyan was one of several doctors
who recently attended trainings on proper use of the equipment.
Credit: FAR Staff

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[FAR Health Programs]: A Visit to VOAH.

  • March 27, 2012 11:08 am

By Natalie Abrahamian

On March 22, I had the inspiring opportunity to visit the Vanadzor Old Age Home. The visit was nothing short of fulfilling. I was able to experience a firsthand “day in the life” of the patients who are staying at this institution. During the visit, I communicated with VOAH’s director, who provided me with information regarding both the successes and difficulties that the institution faces on a daily basis. I also measured the vital signs of and administered medication to patients. At the end of the day, I helped serve the residents their supper and dined with them.

Some of the challenges that VOAH faces involve the lack of social activities for the residents, respite care for the staff members, and available nutritional accommodations for patients with specific health conditions, like diabetes. In addition, VOAH deals with a high rate of falls regularly.

I look forward to further strengthening my relationship with the Vanadzor Old Age Home by helping bridge their gap. Through these efforts, I anticipate developing health care support programs and workshops in, for example, nutrition, physical activity and social support, which will provide VOAH’s residents and staff members with further insight regarding common issues involving the geriatric population. I will also pass out informative brochures that will shed light upon tactics that the residents can use to decrease their risk of falls, strengthen their social skills, and promote a healthy lifestyle in Armenia. I look forward to working together with my team at Fund for Armenian Relief in order to develop and facilitate an effective risk assessment plan and intervention for the institution, in an ultimate effort to advance the quality of life of both its residents and caregiving staff members.

Birthright Armenia volunteer Natalie Gasparian recently spent a day
at Vanadzor Old Age Home and got acquainted with the residents.

Natalie intends to help develop health care support
programs and workshops for VOAH’s residents.

Credit: FAR Staff

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[FAR Health Programs]: FAR Birthright Armenia Volunteer Lectures on Geriatric Medicine.

Last week, Birthright Armenia volunteer Natalie Abrahamian had the opportunity to present the first in a series of lectures on geriatric medicine at the National Medical Library (NML) to the March 2012 CME Program  participants, a diverse audience of physicians from various regions of Armenia.

Prior to Natalie’s presentation, National Institute of Health Professor and chief editor of the FAR-sponsored Armenian Medical Review Journal Doctor Ruben Hovhannisyan, lectured on the history, significance, and application of evidence-based medicine. Dr. Hovhannisyan is actively involved at NML. He also discussed the methodologies that are generally used for evidence-based trials in health care. Dr. Hovhannisyan stressed the importance of integrating these approaches into Armenia’s health care system.

Natalie’s presentation focused on geriatric biology and pharmacology. She discussed the significance of geriatric medicine within the health care environment, gave a general description of physiological factors that tend to affect both normal and pathologically-impaired older adults, and shared possible interventions that can be developed in Armenia to increase the quality of life of older patients.

The audience’s receptivity toward the topic was inspiring, and we anticipate sharing this series of presentations at future events.

“With the support of a strong team at Fund for Armenian Relief, I look forward to the experience that is going to develop within the forthcoming few months as I continue to pursue my fellowship in Armenia,” Natalie said.

Lectures were simultaneously presented at Ijevan Medical Center via skype. FAR’s Medical team plans to develop this model and organize lectures in this format on a regular basis.

Continuing Medical Education Program participants recently attended a
series of medical lectures at the National Medical Library in Yerevan.
Credit: FAR Staff

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[FAR Health Programs]: Reflections of a Birthright Armenia Volunteer.

  • March 20, 2012 11:42 am

By Natalie Abrahamian

My name is Natalie Abrahamian, and I have traveled to Armenia through a fellowship opportunity under the guidance of Fund for Armenian Relief and Birthright Armenia. It is a great pleasure to be coordinating with such inspirational visionaries in a fort to contribute toward the health care system in Armenia.

I am originally from Los Angeles, California, and have a strong background in gerontology due to the preparation of my Alma Mater, the University of Southern California. In America, I prepared and translated a Geriatric Medical Curriculum into Eastern Armenian, with the plan of introducing these topics to Armenia’s health care system. I look very forward to experiencing both the urban and rural milieus of this system. For instance, I will be traveling with my FAR mentors to the Vanadzor Old Age Home  within the forthcoming few weeks in order to absorb a community-based perspective of the standard older adult’s quality of life in the “Marzes” of Armenia. Through these visits, I look forward to working with the FAR team to conduct an appropriate risk assessment intervention among the older adult cohort in Armenia. I am also blessed to be part of the Birthright Armenia family. The organization provided me with support in multiple ways so that I would be able to fulfill my aspirations in the motherland. Their primary vision is absolutely beautiful and unifies Armenian youth in a powerful manner.

Overall, I am ensured that my experience in Armenia is going to be fulfilling. I look forward to learning more about myself throughout this trip. I am also confident that I will return to Armenia in the future to further strengthen my efforts as I continue to pursue my aspirations toward the medical discipline.

Birthright Armenia volunteer Natalie Abrahamian will be
working with FAR’s healthcare programs over the next few months.

Credit: FAR Staff

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[FAR Health Programs]: FAR Regional Doctors Training Program Continues to Address Important Issues in Armenian Healthcare.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of death worldwide and their impact is resonating in Armenia. Prevention, timely diagnosis and proper treatment are incredibly important for reducing its mortality rate.

FAR has a comprehensive approach to this problem. In December 2011, a two-day intensive workshop on cardiology was organized for Armenian provincial cardiologists who are currently FAR Continuing Medical Education Program (CME) fellows. Leading Armenian cardiologists delivered the session, which focused on clinical case presentations and modern protocols.

In addition, 2012 has been announced as the Year of Cardiology for FAR’s Regional Doctors Training Program, or CME. Thus, cardiology applicants will be given special consideration within the framework of the program.

The January 2012 group recently completed another month-long refresher course. Dr. Levon Harutyunyan, a cardiologist from Gyumri was among them. By the end of the course, Dr. Harutyunyan presented an actual clinical case and a theoretical review of it.

“The most important achievement for me was having a clear understanding of new diagnostic and treatment protocols and evidence-based approaches in cardiology. It helped me more precisely evaluate advantages and disadvantages of both Western and Russian schools,” he said.

This month, CME fellows completed a refresher course on cardiology.
“The most important achievement for me was having a clear
understanding of new diagnostic and treatment protocols and evidence-based
approaches in cardiology,” said participant Dr. Levon Harutunyan.
Credit: FAR Staff

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[FAR Health Programs]: National Medical Library Takes Another Step Toward Closer Relations with Armenia’s Provincial Hospitals.

Medical technologies, treatments and diagnostic approaches are rapidly changing. One of the important objectives for Armenia’s healthcare professionals, particularly those who work in the provinces, are regular updates on the latest medical information.

During the past four years, the World Bank has reconstructed and refurbished seven provincial hospitals throughout Armenia, bringing them up to today’s standards. Because these hospitals are now equipped for teleconferencing, the National Medical Library (NML)  has organized lectures for some of them.

In 2011, NML organized a lecture by FAR’s Continuing Medical Education Program fellows, which was broadcast at the Aparan Medical Center as a part of a pilot project.

Last week, another teleconference was organized between NML and three provincial hospitals in Ijevan, Goris and Ararat marzes. In the future NML hopes to be able to broadcast some of its courses at provincial hospitals. It will also be an opportunity for complex clinical cases to be discussed online.

 

FAR’s National Medical Library is bringing medical teleconferences
to Armenia’s regional hospitals.

Credit: FAR Staff

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