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2009 Health Fair: A Day of Care
Glendale, CA – at the Saint Mary’s Armenian Church the AAMSC annual Health Fair was held on Saturday February 28th. The Armenian American Nurses Association along with the Armenian Dental Society helped to facilitate this event.
Primary Preventive Health Care
The annual Health Fair, now in it’s 18th running, was met with the same dedication from members and supporters as pervious years. Booths, providing a wide range of medical services from internal medicine to pediatrics, were set up and managed by seasoned and young physicians alike. These volunteers gave up a few hours of their Saturday to help members of the Armenian community.
In fact these Health Fairs are targeted to members of the community that can’t afford health insurance or fall short of being eligible for government aid. At least this event provides services, brings specialists, and connects attendants to resources that are available within their local community year round. But most importantly, the Fair is primarily a preventive care service. These medical services are available because of the effort put forth by the AAMSC. Evaluations can run from simple eye and ear exams to more sophisticated tests such as cholesterol and EKG readings, Pap smear and Mammograms.
“It’s amazing what they do here,” said Evelyn Baghdasraian, who started coming to this event first as a medical student volunteering at her uncle’s optometry booth in 2004. After finishing her residency, she focused her volunteering efforts on pediatrics. The pediatrics booth is a recent addition to the Health Fair, most patients that stop by the booth have questions about shots, vitamins, and about weight management.
According to Baghdasraian, several years ago at mammogram screening, they detected one person with early stages of cancer. “That’s a life saved. Even if it’s one patient at a time, that one person, who didn’t have insurance, didn’t know what to do, just came here and they took care of her. It just makes you want to be apart of something like that.”
Also present at the Health Fair was Membership Chairwoman of AAMSC, Mireille Hamparian, who was volunteering at the optometry booth. “As any health professional we have this need to help people,” said Hamparian, who commented how thorough the services at the Health Fair were from: diabetes screenings, cholesterol checks, and blood pressure readings.
“I just saw a lady with a cholesterol level of 485! I said to her if you don’t take care of this right now, you won’t be around in a couple of years. At the very least, with whatever small resources they have they can focus their efforts and take care of major issues before it becomes worse,” shared Hamparian.
The Health Fair has become such an integral part of the community that some physicians see the same patients every year because of the extent and quality of services the fair provides.
A Collaborative Effort:
Dr. Tachdjian attributes the success of this year’s Health Fair to communication between the physicians and the patients. The combination of communication and collaboration is key in any health care related event. “Though the attendants cannot receive a completely comprehensive care, at least there is good communication among the people who are present.”
During the event, there was a pause to award groups and individuals plaques of appreciation to: AAMSC Ladies Auxiliary, the Armenian American Nurses Association, the Los Angeles County Office of Women's Health and John Krikorian, in recognition of their dedication to the success of AAMSC’s Health Fair and in appreciation of their collaborative efforts to benefit the community at large.
However, one such individual who deserves a special mention is Zarmine Naccashian, who is regarded by many to be the backbone of AAMSC’s annual Health Fair.
While chairing the Health Fair Committee for the last 8 years, the event has grown to add new services and equipment available for a more thorough testing; which is made possible through her years of working in the medical field. Along with establishing these contacts she is able to bring together doctors, pharmacists and equipment donated from local hospitals.
Since then, the Health Fair has been a collaboration between the AAMSC and other health related organizations. “Something like this and of this magnitude cannot be done alone. It has to be multi-disciplinary to have extensive services available and to cover a wide range of needs or else it’s a narrowly focused venture,” said Naccashian.
For the Future
Even though the Health fair has been running like a well-oiled machine, improvements and expansions for future events are on the horizon.
When asked about these improvements, Dr. Alaverdian said, “[I] think there needs to be some constructive changes in the future.” Alaverdian was concerned that an open hall, like the one at the St. Mary’s Armenian Church, offered little privacy for proper examinations to be conducted. “In the coming years, we may need to organize the event in a school hall with classrooms for each specialty.” Which would also mean moving towards building each booth into self-sufficient stations that are established and coordinated by the volunteers themselves.
While moving forward with these changes, the main objective still remains the same, which is connecting people who really need the services to take advantage of the resources that are available in their community year round.
“I don’t think they realize the value of an event like this that is major resource center to connect these people to services they can get year round. You have to be proactive and make use of what’s available in your community. The Health Fair is only once a year, but those clinics are there year round and you’re entitled to these services. A healthy community starts from our own backyards and grow from there,” said Naccashian.
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2008: A Year in Review
We have actively worked towards getting medical aid to Armenians in rural parts of the homeland as well as in our local communities for the past 22 years. For over 2 decades, our organization has been going strong with our mission to provide adequate and affordable health care for all. With the tireless efforts of our board and the steadfast support of our members, the AAMSC strives to maintain our mission in upcoming year. Below is a synopsis of some of the events and programs the we initiated in 2008.
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The AAMSC General Assembly took place on November 15, 2008
New board members are:
Varoosh Alaverdian, M.D., FACOG
President
Vicken Sepilian, M.D., MMS, FACOG
Vice President
Zarmine Naccashian,
PhD(c), RN, MN, GNP, CDE, Treasurer
Advisors:
Boris Bagdasarian, D.O.
Harry Balian, M.D., FACC, FSCAI
Armen J. Cherik, M.D., M.B.A.
Mireille P. Hamparian, M.D.
Leo Polosajian, M.D.
Raffi Tachdjian, M.D., MPH.
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December 2008:
Female Physicians Network
Over 25 female physicians and health care professionals attended this networking event held at Mrs. Vany Cherik's residence. The event served as a great opportunity for members to socialize, network, and help individual practices. The AAMSC would like to extend a special thank you to Mrs. Vany Cherik for opening her home for its members.
Membership benefits include:
A profile on the AAMSC Website Member Directory
A comprehensive listing in the
Biannual Physicians’ Directory
Meeting peers at networking events
CME Credits offered to members
Specialty-based lecture opportunities
Guest appearances on AAMSC Health Show
Volunteering at Health Fair
Mentorship by senior healthcare practitioners
Complimentary membership to residents and fellows
The AAMSC is the largest Armenian medical society outside of Armenia and its directory of practitioners is a vital resource for Armenian patients seeking treatment from Armenian doctors.
As part of its mission, the AAMSC offers monthly Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses to its members, as well as an annual nine-credit offsite program. These courses allow physicians from a variety of fields to maintain their competence while educating fellow healthcare practitioners about the advances being made in their specialty.
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October 24, 2008
The 6th annual CME meeting was held at the Bellagio Hotel, in Las Vegas on the weekend of Oct. 24-26 (9 CME credits were offered).
The guest speakers at this event
and their topics include:
Romic Eskandarian, Pharm. D.,
on Current Challenges of Pharmacy Practice
Raffi Tachdjian, M.D., MPH
on Asthma and the Allergic Airway
IL Woo Park, M.D., FACOG
on HPV Vaccine, a Cancer Vaccine
Boris Bagdasarian, D.O.,
on Diagnostic
and the Therapeutic Management of Anemia
Noune Pashinian, M.D., on Fibromyalgia:
From Mechanism to Treatment
A. John Vartanian, M.D., on Combining Beauty
and Function in Rhinoplasty: The Natural Look
Armen Kassabian, M.D., on Male Menopause
Arbi Ghazarian, M.D., on The State of Aging
& Health in America
Armen Cherik, M.D., MBA on Update on Dementia
Details for the 7th annual CME meeting will be released as the date approaches.
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June 2008: AAMSC Health Show
The AAMSC has launched a one-hour primetime talk show. Featuring physicians and healthcare professionals whose areas of practice cover the entire spectrum of allied healthcare, the show is a dynamic resource for viewers interested in improving their health. The program emphasizes the importance of preventive care, and focuses on how people can maintain a healthful lifestyle.
The television show, hosted by VP Vicken Sepilian of AAMSC, provides an opportunity for the Armenian community to address their concerns with the counsel of bilingual healthcare professionals. The show also provides viewers with information about AAMSC’s activities in California and Armenia.
Special Guests that have appeared
on the program have been:
Hakop Gevorkyan, MD
Vigoosh Badalian & Elizabeth Kilbashian
Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH
Armen Kassabian, MD
Samuel Malayan, MD
Zarmine Naccashian, PhD(c)RN, MN, GNP, CDE
Glendale Memorial Hospital Special
Chris Kaypekian, MD
Armen Cherik, MD, MBA
Noune Pashinian, MD
Arbi Nersissian, MD
Harry Balian, MD, FACC, FSCAI
A. John Vartanian, MD
Leo Polosajian, MD
Evelyn Baghdasraian, MD
Ayleen Marganian, MS, RD, CN
Boris Bagdasarian, D.O.
Raffi Tutunjian, MD
Lukas Alexanian,MD
Raffi Minasian, MD
Tsolag J. Kazandjian D.C., L.Ac.
Garo Kassabian, MD
In June, AAMSC also launched a Mentorship Program. The members of the AAMSC provide guidance to Armenian medical students and residents, for whom membership is free of charge. The AAMSC strongly believes in a collegial relationship between veteran physicians and their student counterparts.
The AAMSC Mentorship Program gives young Armenian medical students, residents and fellows access to a broad spectrum of Armenian physicians and healthcare practitioners who can advise them as they choose their specialty.
Also in June AAMSC initiated Scholarship Opportunities for medical students pursuing their education in the United States. This program is aligned with AAMSC’s mission to providing healthcare to Armenians.
Board member Raffi Tachdjian, M.D., MPH, heads both the Mentorship Program & Scholarships.
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May 2008
In May of 2008, the AAMSC held their Annual Gala and raised $100,000.00 to build a clinic in Armenia’s rural Voskevan village. More than 400 members and supporters attended the event held at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
According to Dr. Alaverdian, “We have a responsibility to tend to those in need—especially those who cannot afford the services that they may require. The tireless commitment of our members continues to make it possible for our society to ensure that our indigent communities receive the healthcare that they need and deserve."
Along with the clinic in Voskevan, the AAMSC has also established clinics in three villages that border Karabagh and Azerbaijan: Aregouni in 2005; Pokr Mazrik in 2006; Tsapatagh in 2007.
Proceeds from the Annual Gala have gone towards the construction of the Voskevan clinic; and the creation of a program through which the AAMSC will sponsor residents and physicians to volunteer in Armenia on a one-month to three-month basis and make rounds among the three clinics.
At the event, Dr. Alaverdian introduced the evening's guest of honor-- Dr. Andranik Ovassapian -- to receive the 2008 AAMSC Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long work in the field of anesthesiology and difficult airway management.
Dr. Alaverdian also recognized the dignitaries and civic leaders who were in attendance, including Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Armen Liloyan; Haig Kartounian on behalf of Congressman Adam Schiff; Rita Hadjimanoukian on behalf of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich; Glendale City Council members Ara Najarian and Bob Youssefian; and former Glendale City mayor Rafi Manoukian as well as Lisa Kalustian on behalf of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Kalustian presented a certificate of commendation to the AAMSC on behalf of Governor Schwarzenegger, and noted how the work of the medical society in Los Angeles and Armenia echoes the goals and objectives that the governor has for the people of California.
"The Governor knows that government should not, and cannot, be the sole solution for most public policy issues. As he continues his work to reform our healthcare system, he builds upon the coalition that came together—government and non-profit, business and labor, healthcare providers and consumer groups," said Lisa Kalustian.
As part of the evening's festivities, Artists for Kids coordinated the entertainment of Kev Orkian, a renowned comedian hailing from London who offered his congratulatory remarks. "It is wonderful to see the number of people here today supporting the efforts of the Armenian American Medical Society of California," he said, adding lightheartedly that, "without your generous contributions, those grandmothers in Armenia could not be dancing for joy."
The evening concluded with the rousing music of singer Koko Hayitian, as guests danced well into the night.
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Second International Medical Congress Organizing Committee
