Dr. Gayane Tevosyan, 47, started her career more than two decades ago as an ENT specialist at Stepanakert Republican Medical Center. Back then, she served around 90 patients per day, covering night shifts in Stepanakert and nearby areas. “I often worked at night as we had a huge gap in ENT specialists. However, I liked it and would do it repeatedly if needed,” said Gayane, who has resettled in Yerevan since the September 19 attack by the Azeris.
While her professional journey began in Artsakh, Gayane’s desire to enhance her skills led her to embrace continuous learning. In 2016, she participated in the AAHPO, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program (above, Gayane is holding her graduation certificate from the program), an initiative to provide healthcare professionals with opportunities to expand their knowledge and expertise. Gayane’s first experience with the program, hosted at Erebuni Medical Center, was a revelation, introducing her to new insights, particularly in ear-related procedures.
Encouraged by the enriching experience and to distract herself from psychological traumas, Gayane has recently been enrolled in the ENT training program at the Astghik Medical Center in Yerevan. The program exposed her to cutting-edge techniques, including endoscopy and various methodologies not previously practiced in Artsakh.
Gayane emphasizes the importance of ongoing education for doctors, citing the information acquired during retraining sessions that significantly contribute to patient care: “Being retrained is crucial for every doctor,” Gayane affirmed, “It equips us with the latest knowledge on treating patients, explaining medical complexities to them and developing effective therapeutic tactics. I am eager to apply for the program again.”
The AAHPO, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian Medical Education Program was initially introduced in 2011 within Artsakh. The program has now been extended to include healthcare providers who were displaced from Artsakh to Armenia. Currently, AAHPO is assisting the physicians with finding employment and resettling in Armenia. AAHPO is trying to prevent a “brain drain” of talented Armenian physicians. “We want these physicians to continue to practice and contribute to the health of Armenians in Armenia and not leave Armenia during this most turbulent time,” noted AAHPO President Lawrence V. Najarian, MD.
