As health care professionals, AAHPO leadership is focused on the health care needs created by this humanitarian crisis. Since 2011, AAHPO has had a special relationship with physicians from Artsakh, who have been trained within the AAHPO, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program. As these same physicians have been forcibly displaced themselves, AAHPO pledges its support to these physicians. Below, we are sharing an update on AAHPO Team efforts to assist physicians in Artsakh and Artsakh refugees:

• AAHPO’s platform facilitated the identification of supplies needed by the burn center in Armenia, as well as their purchase, delivery, and fundraising for approximately $10,000 worth of supplies. Special thanks to Raffi Barsoumian, MD, who did this almost single-handedly. This is an amazing effort to which we are indebted.
• AAHPO Board Member Kim Hekimian, PhD, is organizing a triage effort to assist Artsakh refugee women who are pregnant. Dr. Hekimian estimates that we will need to raise approximately $10,000 for this project.
• We have initiated the process for AAHPO to become a tax-exempt vendor for the medical supply company, McKesson. This effort should enable AAHPO to facilitate the purchase of point of care Hemoglobin measures and possibly other urgently needed supplies as the Armenia situation unfolds.
• AAHPO’s letter of solidarity with the Artsakh health care provider refugees has been sent to them in both Armenian and English. A survey of their needs is to go out shortly. Special thanks to Dr. Hambardzum Simonyan, Program Director in Armenia, for his assistance in this effort.
• The AAHPO, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program fundraising event is scheduled for November 4 (see article, below). Special thanks to our Co-chairs for contributing to this event. They include but are not limited to: Seta Nalbandian, Shoghag Hovanessian, Dr. Aram & Rima Cazazian, Dr. John & Dr. Sophie Bilezikian, Dr. Joyce Kurdian, and Dr. Lawrence V. and Magda Najarian.

At the November 4 Fundraiser for the AAHPO, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program, Pulitzer Prize Winner Peter Balakian will be talking about the book he translated, Bloody News from My Friend, by Siamanto, which depicts the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Turkish government against its Armenian population. The book is based on letters written by Mr. Balakian’s grandfather.

At the Fundraiser, 3 of Mr. Balakian’s books will be offered for sale, and Mr. Balakian will be available to sign them: Bloody News from My Friend, Ozone Journal, Black Dog of Fate.

Please note that admission will be free for all students (with current student ID). Please invite any students that you know.

Peter Balakian
Peter Balakian (born June 13, 1951) is an Armenian-American poet, prose writer, and scholar. He is the author of many books including the 2016 Pulitzer prize winning book of poems Ozone Journal. The son of orthopedic surgeon Gerard Balakian, MD and Arax Aroosian. Peter Balakian was born in Teaneck New Jersey and grew up there and in Tenafly, New Jersey. He attended Tenafly public schools, and graduated from Englewood School For Boys (now Dwight Englewood School).

Peter Balakian also is author of other award-winning books, including the memoir Black Dog of Fate, winner of the PEN/Albrand award in 1998 and The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response, winner of the 2005 Raphael Lemkin Prize and a New York Times best seller (October 2003). Both prose books were New York Times Notable Books. Since 1980 he has taught at Colgate University where he is the Donald M and Constance H Rebar Professor of the Humanities in the department of English and Director of Creative Writing.

Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Balakian

As health care professionals, AAHPO leadership is focused on the health care needs created by this humanitarian crisis. Since 2011, AAHPO has had a special relationship with physicians from Artsakh, who have been trained within the AAHPO, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Educaion Program. As these same physicians have been forcibly displaced themselves, AAHPO pledges its support to these physicians. We believe that enabling these physicians to better care for our Artsakh brethren is the most effective way to serve the AAHPO mission. AAHPO is also supporting the Armenian International Medical Committee (AMIC) effort to provide medical equipment and supplies to Armenia.

Below, we are sharing our letter of solidarity which has been delivered to physicians from Artsakh:

October 2, 2023

Dear Artsakh Colleagues:

These are challenging times. The members of the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) have been closely following the events transpiring in Artsakh over the last three years, and more particularly, over the past month. We stand in solidarity with your valiant, tireless efforts to provide medical care to our Artsakh brethren, often under difficult circumstances. It is with deep sadness that we view the magnitude of the humanitarian crises as the Artsakh population moves to Armenia.

We are grateful that you have arrived safely to Armenia and we will continue to work on your behalf, seeking solutions to the myriad of challenges posed by war, the blockade, and now the forced exodus from Artsakh. There are short- and long-term needs that need to be addressed. We at AAHPO, along with our colleagues at AMIC (Armenian Medical International Committee), are working hard to help to you and your families.

Shortly, you will be receiving a survey from us, that will help define what your personal and professional needs are. Please take the time to fill it out and return it. Depending upon your response, we will do all we can to help. In the meantime, please feel free to e-mail your concerns to either Hambardzum Simonyan, MD, MPH (Hambardzum.Simonyan@far.am) or to me (info@aahpo.org).

We are working with various agencies in Armenia to ensure you will be able to practice

medicine in Armenia once you are settled. Licensing guidelines related to CME credits and other requirements will be defined by local authorities like the Ministry of Health by December 2024.

AAHPO has been involved with providing hands-on and virtual training to Artsakh physicians since 2011. We are committed to continue to do so as you transition to work in Armenia. Because of our special kinship with you, we will do all we can to maximize your opportunities to be successful in Armenia.

We stand as one in our gratitude for all you do to help our people.

Larry Najarian, M.D.

President
Armenian American Health Professionals Organization
Board of Directors