Originally Published by The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, July 27, 2023 Issue.

By Stephan S. Nigohosian

The Armenian American Healthcare Professionals Organization (AAHPO) honored four healthcare professionals for demonstrating exceptional leadership and service during the Covid-19 pandemic. The event, held during the organization’s Annual Winter Brunch, recognized AAHPO Board of Directors John P. Bilezikian, MD; Kim Hekimian, PhD; and Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, MD; as well as AAHPO Member Mihran Seferian, MD.

From left, AAHPO Vice President Garbis Baydar, MD; John Bilezikian, MD; Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, MD; Mihran Seferian, MD; AAHPO President Lawrence V. Najarian, MD (not pictured: Kim Hekimian, PhD)

During the global pandemic, the four dedicated individuals were located at the epicenter of the overloaded and fatigued healthcare system in the metropolitan New York City region. In March 2020, the gravity of the pandemic became clear when recorded cases of the coronavirus grew exponentially in New York, from one to 89 to 75,795 in just 30 days. “Our region was blessed with countless Healthcare Heroes, including our honorees, who bravely cared for the sickest patients during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said AAHPO President Lawrence Najarian, MD. “It is worth noting that within our organization, the actions of these four members in particular distinguished themselves in unique ways during extraordinary circumstances. Their actions benefitted countless numbers of people, including those in and outside of the Armenian community.”

Each of the honorees have volunteered their leadership, expertise, and time toward serving the critical healthcare needs of citizens in Armenia and Artsakh, as well as in the United States. Their inspiring commitment, support, and compassion during the Covid-19 pandemic served to demonstrate their dedication to the well-being of others worldwide:

John P. Bilezikian, MD, a leading endocrinologist and medical researcher at New York’s Columbia University, was recognized for his contribution to the body of scholarly publications that aided the understanding and treatment of COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic.

Kim Hekimian, PhD, a public health specialist and educator at New York’s Columbia University, was honored for tirelessly educating the medical community and the public by interpreting COVID-19 data from the U.S. and Armenia.

Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at New York’s Maimonides Children’s Hospital, was honored for tirelessly educating medical and lay communities with the latest COVID-19 information through articles and public webinars.

Mihran Seferian, MD, an infectious disease specialist, was recognized for caring for the sickest patients at Holy Name Hospital (NJ), considered by many to be Ground Zero for COVID-19 during the darkest days of 2020.

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According to a 2016 study of about 3,000 people, working even one more year beyond retirement age was associated with a 9% to 11% lower risk of dying during the 18-year study period, regardless of health. Working longer has benefits such as keeping people mentally engaged with work they value and/or enjoy, having a sense of purpose, and preventing or reducing loneliness.

Below are two inspiring stories about the value of “unretiring” to work longer, or simply continuing to work well beyond the traditional retirement age.

Why this 100-year-old Woman is Never Retiring

When Jayne Burns turned 100 last summer (photo at right), she told her friends that she had one wish: “to keep working.” She’s had the same part-time job as a fabric cutter at Joann Fabric and Crafts store in Mason, Ohio for 26 years — and it’s still one of her favorite ways to spend time.

“I enjoy what I do, so I want to keep doing it,” she says. “I’ll work for as long as I can or as long as they’ll have me.”

Burns — who turns 101 on July 26 — didn’t plan on working past 100. She tried retiring several times throughout her 70s and 80s, then would “unretire” just a few months later, taking bookkeeping jobs at veterinarian offices and accounting firms. Prior to joining Joann, Burns was a bookkeeper for most of her career.

“I like the routine, I like to keep moving,” she says.

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Advice from the Oldest Practicing Physician

The world’s oldest practicing doctor knows a thing or two about how to live a long and happy life — but you might not like everything he has to say.

For Dr. Howard Tucker — who just turned 101 on July 10 — a key secret to his longevity is meaningful work.

Tucker received his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1947 and he has practiced neurology for 75 years — eventually earning the Guinness World Records title of the world’s oldest practicing physician.

The chipper centenarian has lived a remarkable life, sharing many happy years with his wife Sara (who still practices psychoanalysis and psychiatry at age 89), his four children and 10 grandchildren.

While Dr. Tucker says “good genes and a bit of luck” can help to extend your life, he also follows a few simple lifestyle rules that boost his health and happiness.

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Note from AAHPO Member Meroujan Maljian, MD, a forensic psychiatrist working in the New Jersey prison system: “I see a lot of substance use disorders among the prison inmate population. I mostly agree with the following article [from Johns Hopkins University] that Cannabis products are substances of abuse which can often be harmful. They are potentially addictive and can lead to medical complications, drug interactions, and mental health problems. I also agree that more research and data are needed to understand how legalization of recreational Marijuana affects patterns of drug use and associated drug-related crime in the community. The article seems to suggest that depending on what that data and research shows that recreational Marijuana is something that people can decide whether or not to have as a society, but I disagree with that notion. As a physician who has seen the harmful effects of casual Cannabis use and how it is often a gateway drug leading to the use of more harmful drugs like Heroin and Cocaine, I personally can only support the use of medical Marijuana with medical supervision as a society for treating specific illnesses like terminal cancer where it was shown to help symptoms like pain and appetite.”

On July 1, Maryland joined 23 other states (including New Jersey, New York and Connecticut) permitting anyone 21 and older to buy and use cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes. But as more states make cannabis legal, what are policymakers and government agencies doing to ensure its safety? What does the latest research on cannabis indicate that can help the public make informed decisions?

For answers, The Hub recently sat down with Ryan Vandrey, an experimental psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who works with an interdisciplinary team in the Cannabis Science Laboratory.

Q. As someone who spends day in and day out studying cannabis, what does the legalization mean to you?
A. People get harmed by drugs all the time, even prescription drugs, and cannabis is no exception. But if there wasn’t good reason to believe that some value would come from legalization, it wouldn’t have happened. On the benefits side, there’s been a clear demonstration that the long-lasting war on drugs has been largely ineffective and has marginalized subgroups of individuals. There’s also clear evidence that making cannabis illegal hasn’t stopped people from accessing it. This isn’t my area of expertise, but from a criminal justice perspective, it makes sense to try to establish quality control for this commodity and to pull manufacturing and revenue out of the hands of drug dealers and into the hands of responsible businesses.

But there’s always risk and some level of concern when you grant open access to the public of a substance that can produce intoxication and impairment. My biggest worry is with public education and the information about the risks and potential harms of using cannabis that might get lost in the excitement of legalization.

Q. What important research findings do you think are getting left out of the public conversation about cannabis?
A. [As a society,] we need an open dialogue and increased education about the risks and how to minimize the likelihood of harm for individual users. There just isn’t enough discussion currently. For example, research tells us that there are subgroups of people with certain health conditions who should not use products with high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component that produces the “high” in cannabis. These include individuals with a personal or family history of psychosis, who can end up in an acute psychotic state that lasts hours or days. Likewise, individuals with heart conditions or even asymptomatic cardiovascular disease can end up having a heart attack or heart failure, despite exhibiting no previous signs of trouble.

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Hearing loss is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In the United States, one in eight people over age 12, and more than 65 percent of individuals over 60 years old, experience hearing loss, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The impact of hearing loss is not limited to difficulty hearing; it is also linked to other health issues such as cognition, dementia, social isolation, and depression.

Here are five important facts you may not know about hearing loss:

• Individuals with hearing loss are at higher risk of dementia
• Hearing loss can lead to depression and social isolation
• Hearing loss is not a normal part of aging and should be treated
• Treating hearing loss can improve cognition
• There are many steps you can take to prevent hearing loss

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Congratulations to Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian for being named Cultural Advisor to the Embassy of Armenia. Shoghag, as her friends call her, has been a long-time supporter of AAHPO, one of many causes she has championed. She is the widow of the late Raffy Hovanessian, MD, a beloved AAHPO Board Member for whom the AAHPO, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program was named.

“Shoghag is a tremendous force for good. She has helped many people directly and indirectly through the numerous charitable causes she and her family have supported. AAHPO congratulates Shoghag on receiving this honor which she so well deserves. We are fortunate to have her as part of our community,” said AAHPO President Lawrence V. Najarian, MD.

The article, below, about Mrs. Hovanessian and her well-deserved appointment was published in the July 9 edition of the Newsletter of the Armenian News Hour of New Jersey. To read the Armenian Mirror Spectator coverage, click here.

Kudos to AAHPO Board Member Kim Hekimian, PhD, and AAHPO colleague Sharon Chekijian, MD, for their participation in the 6IMCA Medical Conference session on Emergency Medicine and Disaster Preparedness and the Outlook of Health Care in Armenia.

Kudos to AAHPO Board member John Bilezikian, MD, for his participation as a Plenary Speaker at 6IMCA. Doctors participating in the 6th International Medical Congress of Armenia not only bear professional responsibility to Artsakh and Armenia, but also bear political responsibility.

In the framework of the 6th IMCA, through the US ambassador to Armenia, the American Armenian doctors urged the US government to put pressure on Azerbaijan.

The members of the delegation of doctors told NEWS.am, the information partner of the Congress, about the meeting held at the US Embassy.

Already we are experiencing soaring summer temperatures. Extreme heat can pose a significant health risk– especially for the elderly, young children and those with chronic medical conditions. Notably, anyone participating in strenuous activities in high temperatures is at a significant risk for heat-related illnesses.

Follow these tips to stay safe in the summer heat:

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day – don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Avoid coffee, alcohol or sugary drinks before going in the sun.
• Protect against sunburn. Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool itself, so protect yourself with broad-spectrum sunscreen, even if you’re only in the sun periodically.
• Pay attention to warnings on medications. Check the provided information on any medicines you may be taking for warnings about heat-related problems. Many common medications can affect the body’s ability to stay hydrated or dissipate heat.
• Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. Only exercise or perform physical labor during cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening. In the middle of the day, take regular breaks in air-conditioned spaces.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. Wearing excess clothing or clothing that fits tightly won’t allow your body to cool properly. Dark clothing also traps heat (When wearing less clothing, don’t forget the sunscreen!).

When spending time in the sun, always monitor for signs of heat exhaustion, including headache, dizziness, nausea, and heat rash. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should immediately try cooling measures such as drinking cold water, taking a cool shower or applying wet towels to exposed skin. If symptoms do not improve, seek medical attention.