Persisting Pandemics was authored by Powel H. Kazanjian, MD, PhD, a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan Medical School and School of Public Health. The book explores the history of syphilis and AIDS to provide insights into the limits of biomedicine and our experience with epidemics today. The need for a public health approach to address mistrust in science, government indifference, and racial inequalities is relevant for strategies to eliminate COVID-19 today.

To learn more or to order the book

“Soul on Fire” is a movie to be released nationwide on October 10. This is based on a remarkable and true story involving a famous plastic surgeon, Dr. Vatche Aivazian, a graduate of American University of Beirut Medical School.

“Dr. Aivazian was a dear classmate of my late husband, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian,” noted Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian, who serves as Cultural Advisor to the Embassy if Republic if Armenia to the United States. The late, great Dr. Hovanessian founded the AAHPO – Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program.

In “Soul on Fire,” Dr. Aivazian’s name is changed to Dr. Kendrick Khachikian, and he portrays an Armenian-American plastic surgeon who is living in Lebanon

The true story happened in 2006. While working in a makeshift clinic in Lebanon, Dr. Aivazian treated John O’Leary, an American photojournalist who had been severely burned in a roadside bombing during a conflict. The burns were incredibly extensive and complex, requiring a level of skill and dedication that was rarely seen.

The burns were deeply embedded and required. multiple surgeries, complex skin grafting, and constant immaculate care to prevent infection

Dr. Aivazian and his team worked tirelessly, often operating over 24 hours at a time, to save O’Leary’s life. The situation was very difficult, with limited resources and at high risk for complications.

The title “Soul on Fire” reflects the immense emotional and physical toll the operation took on Dr. Aivazian – the intensity of his dedication and the personal sacrifice he made. It’s also a reference to the intense physical suffering of John O’Leary.

Learn more about “Soul on Fire”

AAHPO extends sincere congratulations to Dr. Ara Tekian, PhD, MHPE for his upcoming investiture as the Dr. Georges Bordage Professor of Medical Education at University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Dr. Ara Tekian

Dr. Tekian is collaborating with AAHPO Board Members John Bilezikian, MD, PhD and Samuel Badalian, MD, PhD to renew the directive of the AAHPO-Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program.

Dr. Tekian is an internationally recognized scholar and leader in health professions education. He organized and conducted over 300 workshops in more than 45 countries and 60 cities, as well as presented over 250 keynote addresses nationally and internationally. He has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and is the Principal Investigator of 15 research and training grants totaling over 5 million U.S. Dollars. His consultations and workshops have focused on curriculum development, assessment, program evaluation, simulations, and international medical education. His scholarship in health professions education is reflection in publications in the premiere medical education journals.

Currently, Dr. Tekian is Professor at University of Illinois College of Medicine, as well as Director of International Affairs at the Department of Medical Education (DME), and the Associate Dean for the Office of International Education. He joined DME in 1992 and is involved in both teaching courses offered in the Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) program and advising graduate students.

Prior to joining DME, he was the founding Director of the first Medical Education Department in Saudi Arabia, at King Saud University, College of Medicine in Riyadh (1983 – 1990). He served during the 80s and 90s as a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) for projects in the Division of Development of Human Resources for Health. He also served as consultant to the Ministries of Health and Education in most of the Eastern Mediterranean countries. Dr. Tekian established several medical education departments/ units in the Eastern Mediterranean countries.

A donation of more than 32,000 toothbrushes has reached Armenia and is being distributed to Armenians through a number of charities, including Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Armenian International Dental Association, Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), Children of Armenia Fund (CAF), Fund for Armenia Relief (FAR), and Knights of Vartan (see photo of a child in Armenia displaying some of the donated toothbrushes). The donation was received by AAHPO through President Lawrence V. Najarian, MD, and AAHPO facilitated the shipment of the donation.

“AAHPO will be forever indebted for this gift, which will have a positive impact on Armenian people through needed, improved dental hygiene,” Dr. Najarian said.

“Oral health and dental care is directly linked to overall general health and well being. The link between periodontal health (gum disease) and heart disease has been known for years. Inflammation has been recognized as a common denominator in many diseases. There is a link between inflammation in the oral cavity and Cardiovascular disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Endocarditis, GI health, Rheumatoid arthritis as well as Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia,” noted AAHPO Treasurer Joyce Kurdian, DMD, who owns a private practice, Ridge Family Dentistry in Basking Ridge, NJ.

Dr. Kurdian added: “Oral care including toothbrushing is a simple way to help reduce inflammation in the mouth. In many areas of rural Armenia access to simple tools such as toothbrushes or floss is limited, which makes this donation so much more impactful. We are grateful for this very thoughtful donation.”

The donors of the toothbrushes are patients of Dr. Najarian, and have asked to remain anonymous. The toothbrush manufacturer intended to discard the toothbrushes because the packaging was mislabeled. The toothbrushes themselves are not defective.

When Dr. Najarian agreed to receive the donation on behalf of AAHPO, the donors made multiple trips in the sweltering summer weather to Dr. Najarian’s Bedminster office to deliver 111 cases of toothbrushes.

“I want to personally thank these anonymous donors for impacting the health trajectory of Armenian people, and making the world a healthier place,” Dr. Najarian said.

The donors were aware of Dr. Najarian’s connection to AAHPO. Dr. Najarian observed that any person who is involved with a charitable cause should make this connection known to others, as donations can come from unexpected places; “The funny thing about philanthropy is that it inspires more philanthropy. You never know when you might become part of a larger cycle of giving that impacts many people far beyond your immediate circle of influence. Helping others who are less fortunate is very rewarding.”

He added that members of the Armenian community and the local community are invited to support improved health care by participating in the Seventh Annual Run/Walk for Charity on November 4. The event raises funds to assist AAHPO’s Mission to provide medical support and education to local communities and Armenia.

Please donate directly to AAHPO to support our mission to assist Armenians here and in Armenia.

Imagine that you are a 45-year-old pediatrician who has spent your life caring for children with warmth, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to their well-being. Now imagine being forced to flee your clinic and your home, abandoning the life you have so treasured, thankful just to be alive with your partner and children in a new country.

This is the reality of Dr. Margarita Hasratyan, who with hundreds of other physicians and more than 120,000 other ethnic Armenians were forced to flee Artsakh in September 2023 – literally with only the shirts on their backs. Although grateful to find safe harbor in Armenia, Dr. Hasratyan faced formidable challenges.

“After we were displaced, my family was living in a rented house, barely making ends meet. My husband and I had no income, and we had two children to support,” Dr. Hasratyan remembered.

Dr. Hasratyan was not able to work because she lacked the credentials required by the Ministry of Health of Armenia. Fortunately, Dr. Hasratyan had connected previously with the AAHPO-Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program (Med Ed Program) which stood ready to assist the Artsakh physicians as they resettled in Armenia.

Because the Med Ed Program had already worked with 80% of the physicians in Artsakh, it had on file the information physicians needed to apply for credentialing. The Med Ed Program team in Armenia, led by Hambardzum Simonyan, MD, MPH, also leapt into action to provide any additional training or networking that was needed to assimilate the Artsakh physicians into the Armenian health care system. Along with assisting the physicians, the Med Ed Program helped to prevent a ‘brain-drain’ of physicians leaving Armenia to find employment elsewhere

“When crisis forced physicians from Artsakh to leave everything behind, the Med Ed Program gave them a way forward—transforming despair into resilience and safeguarding Armenia’s future in health care,” said AAHPO Board Member and distinguished medical expert Samuel Badalian, MD, PhD.

Dr. Hasratyan is just one example of the 359 physicians who, while practicing in Artsakh, received grants to travel to Yerevan for Continuing Medical Education (CME) that updated their skills and enhanced their medical knowledge, which no doubt saved lives.

Since 2023, when the physicians were forced to flee Artsakh, the program has nimbly shifted its focus from providing CME to becoming a professional lifeline for these physicians in Armenia. The Med Ed Program enabled the physicians to work and reside in Armenia.

“If it weren’t for the Med Ed Program, I wouldn’t be working right now,” said Dr. Hasratyan. “The support came at a time when we desperately needed it. Without the Med Ed Program, I truly don’t know where my family would be.” She also expressed gratitude for being enabled to provide health care to Armenian children (photo at right with patient).

AAHPO Board Member, medical researcher and educator John P. Bilezikian, MD, PhD noted: “It is hard to imagine the reality of these physicians and their families forced to leave behind, literally at a moment’s notice, a lifetime of work and family life in Artsakh to a warmly welcoming but utterly new environment. How this transformation occurred so quickly and successfully is a testament to the ability of the AAHPO-Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program to make possible a brighter future for our colleagues.”

Due to the resounding success of this program and the assimilation of these physicians into the Armenian health care system, plans are under active consideration to expand the scope of their educational opportunities. These plans will be announced in November at a fundraiser for the AAHPO-Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program.

“We are so grateful to the late, great Dr. Raffy Hovanessian for conceiving this program that has taken on a life of its own to impact the Armenian community in ways never anticipated,” said AAHPO President Lawrence V. Najarian, MD. “It is a great collaboration of Armenian health care providers as well as donors who have supported the program for 14 years. The Med-Ed Program has exceeded all expectations.”

Click Here to Read Comprehensive Update on Med Ed Program