AAHPO was established in the fall of 1994 after a series of meetings between Nabet Kasabian, M.D., Khoren Nalbandian, R.Ph. and John Nercessian, M.D. All three were active individuals in the Armenian community of the New York and New Jersey Metropolitan area.
They felt that the Armenian community was devoid of a medical healthcare group. It was through their vision and determination that they formed a steering committee by identifying key individuals who would be appropriate to recruit in this endeavor.
The original steering committee consisted of Dr. Nabet Kasabian, Khoren Nalbandian, R.Ph., Dr. John Nercessian, Dr. Pierre Maljian, Dr. Haikaz Grigorian, Dr. Edmund Gergerian, Dr. Kourkin Tchorbajian, Dr. Knarig Khatchadourian, Dr. Harout Mekhjian, Dr. Hrair Shahinian, Annette Choulfayan, M.A., Dr. Robert Aslanian and others. After several meetings, preliminary by-laws were drafted and the organization achieved non-profit status.
It was decided that AAHPO membership would be open to individuals with professional degrees in all health-related fields including physicians, dentists, pharmacists, podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists, nurses, physical therapists, etc…